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Character Design Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with a strong foundation in anatomy, sculpting, and character design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of various ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with a strong foundation in anatomy, sculpting, and character design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of various ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with a strong foundation in anatomy, sculpting, and character design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of various ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

The role requires a skilled artist with a strong foundation in anatomy, sculpting, and character design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of various ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Technical Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Take Initiative - Design and enhance our character performance pipeline with new tools and techniques. Drive technological solutions to enhance productivity and quality of our products. * Grow ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Technical Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Take Initiative - Design and enhance our character performance pipeline with new tools and techniques. Drive technological solutions to enhance productivity and quality of our products. * Grow ...

Atwell, LLC

Survey CAD Technician

Annapolis, MD · On-site

As a Survey CAD Technician at Atwell, you will work on diverse projects with various sizes, scopes ... Your judgment, experience, and character matter most, so we encourage you to showcase what makes ...

bassett

DESIGN CONSULTANT

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$70K - $105K/yr

Bassett Furniture - Design Sales Opportunity Do you love interior design? Do you have an eye for color and fashion? Would you like to help customers see their dream rooms become a reality? If you are ...

Floor & Décor

Design Consultant

Gaithersburg, MD

$17.75 - $20.90/hr

The Design Consultant at Floor & Decor is the entry point into design and is responsible for engaging customers on the sales floor to support their design projects, conduct design appointments with ...

Bassett Furniture

DESIGN CONSULTANT

Annapolis, MD · On-site

$70K - $105K/yr

Bassett Furniture - Design Sales Opportunity Do you love interior design? Do you have an eye for color and fashion? Would you like to help customers see their dream rooms become a reality? If you are ...

Bassett Furniture

DESIGN CONSULTANT

Rockville, MD · On-site

$70K - $105K/yr

Bassett Furniture - Design Sales Opportunity Do you love interior design? Do you have an eye for color and fashion? Would you like to help customers see their dream rooms become a reality? If you are ...

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All JobsCharacter Design JobsCharacter Design Jobs in Washington

Character Design information

See Washington salary details

$11

$21

$43

How much do character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for character design in Washington is $21.61, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.24 and $27.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Character Designer typically collaborate with other team members during the production process?

Character Designers work closely with art directors, animators, writers, and sometimes 3D modelers to ensure their designs align with the project's visual style and narrative. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are common, where designers present sketches, receive input, and make iterative changes. Effective communication and openness to feedback are essential, as character designs often need to be adapted for animation, merchandising, or game mechanics. Collaboration helps ensure the characters not only look appealing but also function well in different media formats.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Character Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Character Designer, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, color theory, and visual storytelling, often supported by a degree in art, illustration, or animation. Proficiency with digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and drawing tablets is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication help character designers collaborate with teams and bring unique concepts to life. These skills are essential for creating compelling, memorable characters that visually support narratives and resonate with audiences.

How much do character designers make?

Character designers typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level designers may start lower, while experienced professionals working in animation, gaming, or film can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by strong portfolios and proficiency in design software like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.

What is the difference between Character Design vs Character Modeling?

AspectCharacter DesignCharacter Modeling
Primary FocusCreating the visual concept, style, and personality of charactersBuilding the 3D digital model based on designs
Required SkillsDrawing, illustration, concept art, creativity3D modeling, software proficiency (e.g., Maya, Blender)
Work EnvironmentConcept art studios, animation, gaming companies3D animation studios, game development, VFX
Common UsageDesigning characters' appearance and personalityCreating detailed 3D models for animation or games

While both roles are essential in character creation, Character Design focuses on conceptualizing and visualizing characters, whereas Character Modeling involves transforming those concepts into detailed 3D models. Understanding these differences helps professionals and employers identify the right skill set for each stage of character development.

What is character design?

Character design is the process of creating the visual appearance, personality, and style of characters for use in media such as animation, video games, comics, and films. Character designers combine art skills and storytelling to develop unique and memorable characters that fit the project's narrative and aesthetic. This includes designing physical features, clothing, expressions, and poses, often collaborating with writers, directors, and animators to ensure the characters support the story and appeal to the target audience.
What are the most commonly searched types of Character Design jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Character Design jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Character Design jobs in Washington? For Character Design jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Character Design jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Character Design jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Character Design jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Character Design job openings:
Character Design jobs near you

3D Character Artist

Scattermesh

Herndon, VA • On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Scattermesh is a fast-paced small company looking to disrupt, transform, and innovate on behalf of our clients. We are inventors, technologists, artisans, problem solvers, and collaborators seeking to redefine the content experience by changing how content is managed and delivered to clients. We have an amazing team and we want to add a few talented revolutionaries who want to make a difference solving hard problems. Create your story and start making an indelible impact today. 

Job Summary

Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character Artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a skilled artist with a strong foundation in anatomy, sculpting, and character design. The ideal candidate will have experience creating photorealistic human characters of various demographic backgrounds, xgen hair/groom, and painting detailed realistic texture maps.

 

Responsibilities and Duties

  • Surpassing Uncanny Valley - Create believable and detailed 3D characters applying your strong understanding of anatomy, modeling, sculpting and texturing expertise from scratch or scan data based on concept art.
  • Deliver Results - Conceptualize, present, and execute ideas within a schedule, while actively participating in technical and artistic problem solving.
  • Collaborate - Work alongside your fellow artists and studio managers to meet production goals.
 

Qualifications and Skills

  • 5+ years’ experience as a 3D artist or relevant portfolio
  • Strong artistic fundamentals - scale, composition, perspective, proportion, mass and volume, light and color, and surface properties
  • Strong understanding of human facial anatomy, including eyes, skin and hair
  • Skilled in realistic character creation, including sculpting, texturing, hair grooming, shading and rendering
  • Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is a plus.
  • Mastery of standard art packages such as Maya, Substance / Adobe Painter, Zbrush etc.
  • Experience with Metahuman to Maya tools a plus
  • Experience working within an established studio pipeline and file structure
  • Is self-motivated and self-reliant
  • Must have a learning mind-set
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • US citizenship required
Benefits and Perks
Scattermesh is as obsessed about our employees as our customers. We want to provide great benefits and perks so you can focus on making an impact. We recognize that industry is moving away from better benefits so we have decided to do our part to start reversing the trend. Join us in our quest to disrupt, transform and innovate.
Benefits
  • Competitive Market Leading Pay 
  • 25-30 days - Paid Time Off (PTO) / Holiday
  • 100% Company paid medical/dental/vision/plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401(k) Matching with no cliff vest

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