ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Animation Technical Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site

$115K - $131K/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 ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$115K - $131K/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 · 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.

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site

... 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.

ZAGG, Inc.

Senior 3D Animator

Midvale, UT · On-site

$100K - $114K/yr

You'll work closely with the Creative Director, motion design, and product marketing teams to ... Provide creative and technical mentorship to junior animators and freelance contributors as needed.

ZAGG Inc

Senior 3D Animator

Midvale, UT

$100K - $114K/yr

You'll work closely with the Creative Director, motion design, and product marketing teams to ... Provide creative and technical mentorship to junior animators and freelance contributors as needed.

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Both upcoming Avengers films are directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and co-produced by AGBO and ... You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsAnimation Technical Director Jobs

Animation Technical Director information

See salary details

$26K

$115.5K

$232K

How much do animation technical director jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 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 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.

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.

More about Animation Technical Director jobs
What cities are hiring for Animation Technical Director jobs? Cities with the most Animation Technical Director job openings:
What states have the most Animation Technical Director jobs? States with the most job openings for Animation Technical Director jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animation Technical Director jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Technical Director jobs are:
Animation Technical Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Technical Director job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% As Needed, 67% Part Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,510 per year, or $55.5 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

CD PROJEKT RED

Boston, MA • On-site

$115K - $131K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Company Description
To create revolutionary, story-driven RPGs which go straight to the hearts of gamers - this is our mission. Want to dive deeper into our company's culture? Explore our social media and check out our YouTube channel and Beyond the Game Blog where we share behind-the-scenes insights and stories direct from our team members!
Job Description
CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus on locomotion to join our Boston hub and the team working on Cyberpunk 2, the next mainline Cyberpunk 2077 game.
As a hands-on individual contributor, you will define the look and feel of player and NPC locomotion-from grounded movement to cybernetically motivated actions-for a high-quality animation experience. You will work from previsualization and prototyping through final in-engine implementation, collaborating with Art, Design, Technical Animation, and Engineering. Your goal will be to ensure animation content and runtime systems deliver a responsive, readable, and compelling player experience, setting the quality bar and best practices for locomotion animation across gameplay.
Daily Responsibilities:
  • Drive locomotion animation quality for player and NPC movement across gameplay states and contexts.
  • Partner with the Animation Lead and key stakeholders to align animation quality, style, and execution with the project's aesthetic goals, gameplay pillars, and overall player experience.
  • Collaborate daily within a cross-disciplinary team to define gameplay experiential goals and deliver features from concept through final implementation.
  • Create pre-visualizations and prototypes to assist in communication and development.
  • Create high-quality finished animation using hand-keyed, procedurally generated animation, and motion capture techniques to achieve seamless, expressive, reactive movement.
  • Implement and iterate within Unreal Engine to ensure locomotion animation feels responsive, readable, and polished in real-time gameplay.
  • Research, explore and advocate new techniques, systems, and workflows to improve animation quality, efficiency, and support evolving gameplay and previsualization needs.
  • Curate motion capture shot list and provide performance direction, preparing locomotion patterns and reference videos, and assisting on-stage as necessary.
  • Provide clear feedback and animation insight during reviews and collaborations, helping raise quality.
  • Provide mentorship, inspiration, and support to early-career animators through feedback, collaboration, and example.

Qualifications
  • 5+ years of professional experience in gameplay animation development with major contributions to player locomotion.
  • Experience on a shipped title with extensive 3Cs mechanics.
  • Professional experience developing animation for locomotion in Unreal Engine (or comparable engines), including Animation Blueprints, state machines, animation montages, blend spaces, motion matching, Control Rig, and runtime animation behaviors.
  • Proficient in 3D animation skills using Maya, MotionBuilder, or equivalent DCC tools.
  • Solid animation fundamentals, including weight, timing, posing, and clarity.
  • Ability to author hand-keyed animation and motion capture into compelling performances, refining motion capture to support gameplay dynamics while maintaining the integrity of the source.
  • Deep understanding of body mechanics and physics as they relate to believable character movement and locomotion.
  • Ability to deliver work in accordance with the artistic direction of the project.

Nice to Have:
  • Experience directing motion capture, particularly for motion matching.
  • Experience developing motion-matching locomotion systems.

Candidates should include a portfolio in their application.
Additional Information
The application window for this position will close by 07/30/2026.
This job requires working in Boston, US.
Working mode: in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity.
Health & Well-being
  • Company paid medical healthcare (dental vision & mental health included).
  • Paid leave - 26 days of vacation, 10 sick days, & 12 calendar holidays per year.
  • No dress-code - we like to keep it casual.
  • 401K with employer matching.
  • Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) - $100 per month to use towards fitness, wellness, internet, home office equipment, learning, streaming services, and more.
  • Menstrual Leave.

Perks & Professional Growth
  • Flexible working hours.
  • Trainings, lectures and courses - internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes are all available. There's always something to learn!
  • Merch - regular chances to nab some cool swag!
  • Access to the cafeteria platform.
  • A welcome pack filled with goodies - to help you feel right at home once you join the team.

Life in the Office
  • Dog-friendly office - dog owner? Bring your pooch with you and look after them while working! There's always a furry friend or two to meet at the studio.
  • Truly international working environment - a chance to meet and work with a diverse selection of people from all around the world.

This position is a new role.
Estimated pay range for this position: $95,000 - $174,000 USD annually
At CD PROJEKT RED compensation for our roles in North America are determined based on competitive market data, geographic location, and individual factors tied to business needs. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Final offers are dependent on job-related factors like experience, qualifications, and location.
If you've observed any irregularities (i.e. legal or ethical violations) in our recruitment process, please click here to report them anonymously.
#LI-Hybrid
Videos To Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5alL6_Kc_k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=mhwWW3QByaQ5MYz8&v=B8YxIdK6mj8&feature=youtu.be

Apply