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Animation Work Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description * Create, test, and iterate on gameplay animations related to combat and interactive events

Work closely with technical animation and other stakeholders to develop and improve animation pipelines. * Collaborate with the Director, Leads, and other artists on the team to create a cohesive ...

Lead the architecture design of animation state machines, animation trees, and animation pipelines. * Establish technical specifications and best practices; provide clear technical roadmaps for the ...

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Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

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 ...

Strong portfolio demonstrating cinematic 3D animation and visualization work * Experience working across the full 3D pipeline: modeling, texturing/shading, lighting, rigging, animation, rendering ...

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Animation Work information

See California salary details

$10

$38

$69

How much do animation work jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation work in California is $38.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.59 and $63.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What cities in California are hiring for Animation Work jobs? Cities in California with the most Animation Work job openings:
Senior Gameplay Animator

Senior Gameplay Animator

Ember Lab

Orange, CA • On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

At Ember Lab, our goal is to create powerful, transformative experiences that impact people for a lifetime. Having released our debut game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, in 2021 this journey is just beginning. We're looking for collaborative team members who share our passion for storytelling and are eager to help us shape the future of Ember Lab.
We believe a strong, collaborative environment is critical to creating memorable experiences. As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life!
Description
  • Create, test, and iterate on gameplay animations related to combat and interactive events
  • Integrate animations into game project and relevant animation systems
  • Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints.
  • Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and playtesting.
  • Attend to bugs related to tasks and maintain relevant animation features
  • Contribute to the development of animation workflows and tools to streamline the animation process.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends and techniques to continually improve the quality of animations.

Requirements
  • 5+ years of gameplay animation experience
  • Strong skills in animating body mechanics and action
  • Excellent Maya animation skills
  • Proficient with animation systems in UE5
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
  • Shipped 1+ title
  • Unreal Engine 4 or 5 experience

Location
  • In Office

To Apply
  • Please include a portfolio

Compensation Range
The standard annual base salary range for this role in the U.S. is $88,000 - $120,000 USD. Actual pay will vary depending on experience, qualifications, performance and location. The base salary range for locations outside of the U.S. will be adjusted according to location.
At Ember Lab, we like to keep things professional and straightforward when it comes to hiring. All of our recruitment happens through official channels like an Ember Lab email, our recruitment platform BambooHR, or LinkedIn.
If you ever get a message from someone claiming to be us through an unexpected or suspicious platform, it's probably not legit-feel free to ignore it or give us a heads-up at contact@emberlab.com.
We've got your back when it comes to keeping the process safe and secure!