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Animation Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

DK Global

3D Generalist

Redlands, CA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

The candidate must have strong Modeling, Animation, Rigging, and Lighting skills, and be versed in current rendering technology. The artist will create a wide variety of Models for Architecture ...

DK Global

3D Generalist

Redlands, CA · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

The candidate must have strong Modeling, Animation, Rigging, and Lighting skills, and be versed in current rendering technology. The artist will create a wide variety of Models for Architecture ...

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. * Character Performance experience. * Effectively tell the story in a meaningful way through vivid and ...

M&S Consulting

3D Animator

Pasadena, CA · On-site +1

Experience working across the full 3D pipeline: modeling, texturing/shading, lighting, rigging, animation, rendering, and compositing * Proficiency with tools such as Unreal Engine, Blender, Maya ...

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$13

$25

$36

How much do animation rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigging in California is $25.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.79 and $29.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Animation Rigging job?

An Animation Rigging job involves creating the digital skeletons that allow characters and objects to move in animation and video games. Rigging artists design and implement the control systems, including joints, bones, and deformers, that animators use to bring models to life. They work closely with modelers and animators to ensure smooth movement and realistic deformations. Strong technical skills in 3D software and scripting are often required for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Animation Rigging position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Animation Rigging, you need a solid understanding of anatomy, movement, and 3D animation principles, usually supported by experience in computer graphics or related fields. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, as well as scripting languages such as Python or MEL, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and clear communication help riggers effectively integrate with animators and technical artists. These competencies are crucial for building flexible, efficient rigs that enable high-quality animation and seamless production workflows.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Animation Rigging artist?

Animation Rigging artists spend their days designing and building digital skeletons and control systems that allow animators to create lifelike movement for characters and objects. You may work closely with modelers and animators to ensure rigs are user-friendly and optimized for the production pipeline, regularly troubleshooting or refining rigs based on animation feedback. Collaboration is a big part of the job, as you often interact with technical artists, animators, and supervisors to maintain the quality and efficiency of the rigging process. The role can involve balancing technical tasks with creative problem-solving, making it both challenging and rewarding for those passionate about animation.

How much do animation rigging people make?

Animation rigging artists typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level riggers may start lower, while experienced professionals working on high-profile projects or in major studios can earn higher salaries. Skills in software like Maya or Blender and a strong portfolio can influence earning potential.
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What job categories do people searching Animation Rigging jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Rigging jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Rigging jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Rigging job openings:
Animation Rigging jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Rigging job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 55% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 13% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 69% In-person, and 31% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.
Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Animation Integration

Senior Machine Learning Engineer, Animation Integration

Genies, Inc.

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$180K - $270K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Genies is an AI avatar technology company powering the visual and embodiment layer for AI. Through the Genies SDK, their proprietary avatar framework brings AI to life as fully realized AI personas that look, think, behave, and play like living identities. Genies powers AI companion, NPC, and agent use cases across enterprise, consumer, creator, entertainment, and gaming. Genies has raised $200M from Silver Lake, BOND, and Bob Iger. Genies is built on the belief that every website, app, game, brand, and human will have an AI persona.
Genies is looking for a Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join our Avatar Technology team, focused on building the next generation of AI-driven animation systems. This role is focused on integrating machine learning systems into production animation pipelines and realtime environments, while also owning the applied ML work required to make these systems effective in practice. You will work across data, modeling, and runtime systems to ensure ML-driven animation performs reliably and at high quality in production.
What You'll Be Doing:
  • Integrate machine learning models into realtime animation systems across mobile and web environments.
  • Develop systems that translate inputs such as audio, text, and intent into responsive avatar motion in production.
  • Work with generative models (e.g., diffusion, transformer-based systems) and adapt them for specific use cases such as facial animation, gesture generation, and character behavior.
  • Collect, process, and manage animation datasets (mocap, facial capture, simulation data) for training, fine-tuning, and evaluation.
  • Build data pipelines for extraction, preprocessing, and validation of motion data.
  • Fine-tune and adapt existing models to improve quality, stability, and performance in production environments.
  • Collaborate with Behavior and LLM teams to integrate predictive motion systems into state machines and character logic.
  • Design and build tools and workflows that enable Technical Artists to work effectively with ML-driven animation systems.
  • Develop pipelines that connect DCC tools (Maya, Blender) with ML systems and runtime engines.
  • Debug, profile, and optimize runtime performance across CPU, GPU, and memory constraints.
  • Develop automation and validation systems to support asset quality and iteration speed.

What You Should Have:
  • 7+ years of experience in machine learning, animation systems, or related technical roles in games, VFX, or interactive media.
  • Experience developing and shipping ML systems in production environments.
  • Strong programming skills in Python, along with C++ and/or C#.
  • Experience working with animation systems, including skeletal animation, rigging, or simulation pipelines.
  • Familiarity with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
  • Experience working with datasets and building data processing pipelines.
  • Experience integrating systems into realtime engines such as Unity, Unreal, or web-based runtimes.
  • Strong understanding of performance constraints, including latency, memory, and scalability.
  • Experience building tools or workflows for Technical Artists or content teams.

Who You Are:
  • You are comfortable working across machine learning, animation systems, and realtime applications.
  • You can take models from prototype to production and understand the tradeoffs involved.
  • You care about animation quality and user experience, not just model outputs.
  • You work well with cross-functional teams across ML, engineering, and content.
  • You are proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable owning systems end-to-end.
  • You communicate clearly and can translate technical concepts across disciplines.

How Genies will support you
  • Competitive salary and equity packages
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Parental leave
  • Hybrid work structure (minimum 4 days in office weekly)
  • Monthly wellness reimbursement

Genies is a well-funded, fast-growing start-up that values innovation, creativity, and ownership. Our roles and their responsibilities are created with a breadth of scope that introduces each employee to exciting new challenges and opportunities that a growing start-up encounters. The actual base pay is dependent upon a number of factors, including: professional background, training, transferable skills, work experience, education, location, business and product needs, and market demand. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
These are for our full time, benefits eligible positions

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