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Animation Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Collaborate with Design, Engineering in the development of in-game animation systems. Troubleshoot ... Thorough knowledge of Maya and other animation software. Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging ...

Kanak Elite Services Inc

MO · On-site

$133K/yr

Job Title - Senior Software Engineer (IOS) Location - Hybrid, O'Fallon, Missouri (Hybrid - 3 days ... design, animations and interactions using SwiftUI * knowledge on common Xcode tooling (fastlane ...

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INNIO

Augmented Reality Learning Developer

Waukesha, WI

$52.50 - $67.75/hr

Strong knowledge of augmented reality development tools (PTC Creo Parametric, Illustrate, Vuforia Studio, and Thingworx a plus), programming languages, and 3D animation software. * Experience using ...

PlayStation Global

Senior Software Engineer

San Mateo, CA · Hybrid

$193K - $289K/yr

Senior Software Engineer San Mateo, CA Role Overview Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC seeks a ... animation tools and middleware game engines, including Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine and Unity to ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Collaborate with Design, Engineering in the development of in-game animation systems. Troubleshoot ... Thorough knowledge of Maya and other animation software. Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging ...

Innio

Augmented Reality Learning Developer

Waukesha, WI

$52.50 - $67.75/hr

Strong knowledge of augmented reality development tools (PTC Creo Parametric, Illustrate, Vuforia Studio, and Thingworx a plus), programming languages, and 3D animation software. * Experience using ...

Apple

Senior iOS Software Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$172K/yr

The Wallet Apps & Frameworks team is looking for hardworking software developers to join our ... C++ experience Core Animation experience Familiarity with NFC and related technologies ...

Apple

Sr. Prototyping Software Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

We are seeking a versatile Sr. Prototyping Software Engineer with end-to-end expertise to ... a keen eye for detail, animation, and interaction quality. Familiarity with home-related ...

BAE Systems

Eng II - SW

Merrimack, NH · On-site

$79K - $134K/yr

Mission Assessments has a need for a creative engineer skilled in software development, programming ... Personal or professional experience with 3D modeling software or 3D animation concepts * The ...

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All JobsAnimation Software Engineer Jobs

Animation Software Engineer information

See salary details

$63.5K

$147.5K

$205.5K

How much do animation software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation software engineer in the United States is $147,524.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Highly experienced software engineers, including those working in specialized fields like machine learning, AI, or at major tech companies, can earn $500,000 or more annually. Such compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, and typically requires advanced skills, extensive experience, and working in competitive environments.

What does an Animation Software Engineer do?

An Animation Software Engineer develops and optimizes software tools, frameworks, and pipelines used in animation production. They collaborate with animators, artists, and technical teams to improve workflows, enhance rendering performance, and integrate new animation technologies. Their work often involves programming in languages like C++, Python, or CUDA, and using graphics libraries such as OpenGL or DirectX.

Are animators still in demand?

Animators, including those working as animation software engineers, continue to be in demand due to the growth of digital media, gaming, film, and advertising industries. Skills in industry-standard tools like Maya, Blender, or Adobe After Effects, along with a strong portfolio, are valuable for securing employment in this field.

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

To thrive as an Animation Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (C++, Python, or similar), a background in computer graphics or animation technologies, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with graphics APIs (such as OpenGL or DirectX), 3D animation software (like Maya, Blender), and version control systems is frequently required. Excellent problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills set candidates apart in collaborative production environments. These capabilities are vital for developing robust, efficient animation tools and ensuring seamless integration into creative pipelines.

What does an average workday look like for an Animation Software Engineer?

On a typical day, an Animation Software Engineer collaborates closely with artists, animators, and other engineers to develop and refine tools and systems that power animation workflows. Daily responsibilities often include writing and optimizing code, troubleshooting technical issues, participating in design discussions, and integrating feedback from creative teams. The work environment is highly collaborative, requiring frequent communication to translate artistic needs into technical solutions. This role can be fast-paced, especially when meeting project deadlines, but also offers the satisfaction of seeing your tools and features directly impact the quality of animated content.

Can a software engineer work in animation?

Yes, a software engineer can work in animation by developing tools, software, or algorithms used in creating animated content. Skills in programming languages such as C++ or Python, along with knowledge of graphics APIs and animation software, are often required for such roles.
More about Animation Software Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Software Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Animation Software Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Animation Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Animation Software Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animation Software Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Software Engineer jobs are:
Animation Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Temporary. Highlights an 72% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,524 per year, or $70.9 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 8 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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