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Animation Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Anatomage, Inc.

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will also handle character rigging and animation for MetaHumans. While you may have a stronger background or personal specialization in one of these areas, you will be expected to actively ...

Anatomage, Inc.

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

You will also handle character rigging and animation for MetaHumans. While you may have a stronger background or personal specialization in one of these areas, you will be expected to actively ...

Roblox

3D Animator (Short Term)

San Mateo, CA

Proficiency in FACS-based facial animation (Facial Action Coding System) or equivalent high-quality facial rigging/expression work * Expert-level skills in Autodesk Maya for animation production and ...

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 ...

Epic Games

Animation Systems Programmer

Larkspur, CA · On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Experience with rigging systems, animation state machines, low-level animation systems, physics-based, procedural, and/or IK animation systems * Experience with multi-threaded programming and system ...

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All JobsAnimation Rigging JobsAnimation Rigging Jobs in California

Animation Rigging information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$36

How much do animation rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 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?

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.

How to become an animation rigger?

To become an animation rigger, you typically need a strong foundation in 3D modeling, rigging, and animation, often gained through a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in rigging tools like Maya or Blender and understanding of character anatomy and movement are essential, along with building a portfolio to showcase your skills. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions helps develop practical expertise in rigging workflows and industry standards.

What does an animation rigging artist do?

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.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed for animation rigging?

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 most commonly searched types of Animation Rigging jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animation Rigging jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Rigging jobs in California?

For Animation Rigging jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 60% In-person, and 40% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Intern - Animator and Rigging Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Internship

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a technical animator to rig LeLamp, our first robot, and own the animation pipeline that brings it to life on physical hardware people will actually live with. This role sits at an unusual intersection: the technical depth to build a rig that maps onto real joint constraints and actuator limits, and the creative sensibility to design motion that feels intentional and warm, shaping whether the robot comes across as alive or mechanical. You'll work closely with the CEO and engineers to translate design intent into motion that runs on the robot itself, not just in a viewport.
In this role, you will:
  • Build and maintain the robot rig, defining joint hierarchies, constraints, and control structures aligned with hardware limits
  • Design and animate behaviors including idle motion, reactions, transitions, gestures, and interaction sequences
  • Work with controls and firmware engineers to translate animation intent into real robot motion
  • Stay aligned with mechanical updates and maintain the rig as the platform evolves
  • Maintain a URDF-compatible or simulation-ready representation of the robot
  • Help define the robot's motion language and expressive vocabulary
  • Build internal tools, workflows, and documentation for the animation pipeline
  • Evaluate animations on physical hardware and iterate until intent translates reliably

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Have professional experience as a technical animator or rigger with a strong rigging and animation portfolio
  • Are fluent in Maya, Blender, or similar DCC tools and can build production-quality rigs from scratch
  • Understand animation principles such as timing, weight, anticipation, and follow-through
  • Have experience rigging mechanical or non-organic subjects with real-world constraints
  • Have strong intuition for what makes motion feel alive rather than mechanical
  • Are comfortable building pipelines in environments where they don't yet exist
  • Have experience animating robots, mechanical characters, or non-humanoid subjects
  • Have exposure to procedural animation, motion graphs, or behavior trees
  • Are familiar with URDF, ROS, or simulators such as Gazebo, MuJoCo, or Isaac Sim
  • Have experience working in Unity, Unreal, or other real-time animation environments
  • Have experience collaborating with engineering teams on hardware or robotics projects

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Care deeply about motion as a form of communication
  • See constraints like joint limits and actuator bandwidth as part of the creative process
  • Take ownership of the robot's motion language from keyframe to hardware execution
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams across animation, engineering, and design
  • Want to create motion for a physical object that lives in someone's home, not just on a screen

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

Apply