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Animation Technical Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Qualcomm

Director of Game AI Production

San Diego, CA · On-site

$189.60K - $284.40K/yr

Director of Game AI Production Qualcomm's Snapdragon Game Studios are seeking an experienced ... Animation, Technical Artist, Scripting, MEL, Python, Pearl, Blueprint, scripting, GPU, Shader ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site

$115.20K - $131.50K/yr

... direct from our team members! CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus ... Technical Animation, and Engineering. Your goal will be to ensure animation content and runtime ...

Mercor

Acting & Animation Expert - AI Trainer

Boston, MA

$60 - $90/hr

Character Animation, Character Technical Design, Acting Teacher or Coach, or Director of Photography. * A meticulous eye for micro-expressions, emotional beats, and the subtleties that make a human ...

New

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$115.20K - $131.50K/yr

... direct from our team members! CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus ... Technical Animation, and Engineering. Your goal will be to ensure animation content and runtime ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA

... align animation with gameplay systems, technical realities, and the overall player experience ... Are self-directed, adaptable, and able to focus on what matters most for the game right now.

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

... align animation with gameplay systems, technical realities, and the overall player experience ... Are self-directed, adaptable, and able to focus on what matters most for the game right now.

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes to polished game ... Proactive and self-directed, with a good sense of when to explore and when to get things done.

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Take ownership of the full gameplay animation process, from rough prototypes to polished game ... Proactive and self-directed, with a good sense of when to explore and when to get things done.

The Mill

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY

$139.20K - $166.60K/yr

The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of art and animation pipelines in general ... Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using ...

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Animation Technical Director information

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$26K

$115.5K

$232K

How much do animation technical director jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for animation technical director in the United States is $115,510.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,000.00 and $154,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Animation Technical Director do?

An Animation Technical Director (TD) is responsible for developing and maintaining the technical aspects of animation production. They create tools, scripts, and workflows to streamline animation pipelines and solve technical challenges. TDs collaborate with animators, modelers, and software engineers to optimize performance and ensure seamless integration of assets. Their role is essential in balancing artistic vision with technical efficiency in animated films, TV shows, or video games.

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

To thrive as an Animation Technical Director, you need a strong background in computer graphics, programming (such as Python or C++), and animation pipeline management, often supported by a relevant degree in computer science, animation, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Maya, Houdini, and proprietary production tools, as well as scripting and shot management systems, is essential. Problem-solving, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate with artists and engineers are key soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the smooth integration of artistic and technical elements, allowing for efficient production pipelines and high-quality animated content.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of an Animation Technical Director?

As an Animation Technical Director, your typical day involves developing and maintaining animation pipelines, troubleshooting technical issues, and creating custom tools to support artists and animators. You will collaborate closely with creative teams to ensure assets and processes meet both artistic and technical requirements, and often serve as a liaison between technical and artistic departments. Additionally, you may participate in technical reviews, optimize rendering workflows, and mentor other team members on best practices. This dynamic role requires balancing hands-on technical problem-solving with clear communication to ensure smooth project delivery.
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Animation Technical Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Technical Director job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, and 97% Full Time. Highlights an 100% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $115,510 per year, or $55.5 per hour.
Character Animator- Generative AI Experiences Software

Character Animator- Generative AI Experiences Software

Apple

Cupertino, CA

$147.40K - $272.10K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Posted 28 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

At Apple, we strive to make great products that empower people and improve their lives. We are looking for a great Character Animator to join our diverse team of engineers, artists and designers and help us take our state of the art character animation systems to the next level. This position focuses on creating high-quality, stylized character animation with emphasis on creative expression, performance, and facial animation to push the limits of the next generation of interactive computing.
Description
This role requires a deep understanding of animation artistry, technical proficiency in Maya, and the ability to work within real-time constraints while maintaining high creative standards.","responsibilities":"Create compelling character performances using creative and stylized animation techniques
Develop expressive facial animation that conveys emotion and personality
Collaborate with directors and technical teams on animation pipelines and workflows
Explore emerging animation technologies and techniques
Work with motion capture data to create polished, performance-driven animation
Ensure animation quality meets real-time performance requirements
Preferred Qualifications
USD format and workflow familiarity
Experience with procedural animation techniques
Motion capture cleanup and performance enhancement experience
Experience with real-time game engines (Unity, Unreal, or proprietary engines)
Experience with non-linear animation systems, animation statemachines and/or motion matching techniques.
Skilled in modeling and rigging is a plus
Minimum Qualifications
Solid grasp on the traditional principles of animation
Experience in expressive facial animation
Expert level of knowledge of Autodesk Maya
Understanding of technical constraints in real-time environments
Great at providing and receiving feedback
Ensure animations run efficiently across target platforms and use cases, both real time with frame rate budgets and non-real time
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $147,400 and $272,100, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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