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Character Design Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation ... Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both ...

Epic Games

Design Director, Battle Pass

Cary, NC · On-site

From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic. What You'll Do Epic Games' Fortnite team is looking for a Design ...

Little

Design Principal

Durham, NC

When it comes to great design, beauty and function are important. But, when you join Little, you ... character, and proportion of urban environments. * Thought Leader . A Registered Architect with ...

eth

Design Consultant

Cary, NC

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

eth

Design Consultant

Cary, NC

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

eth

Design Consultant

Cary, NC

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

eth

Design Consultant

Cary, NC

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

eth

Design Consultant

Cary, NC

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

Ethan Allen

Design Consultant

Cary, NC · On-site

The Design Consultant works closely with the customer to create individualized design solutions to sell Ethan Allen products and services. The designs include space planning, fabric coordination ...

ShelfGenie

Design Consultant

Raleigh, NC · On-site

Selling tools and support - 3D design software, CRM system, and demo kit * An amazing team that you can ALWAYS turn to for support * Compensation is 10-24% with monthly bonus opportunities.

ShelfGenie

Design Consultant

Wake Forest, NC · On-site

Selling tools and support - 3D design software, CRM system, and demo kit * An amazing team that you can ALWAYS turn to for support * Compensation is 10-24% with monthly bonus opportunities.

ShelfGenie

Design Consultant

Durham, NC · On-site

Selling tools and support - 3D design software, CRM system, and demo kit * An amazing team that you can ALWAYS turn to for support * Compensation is 10-24% with monthly bonus opportunities.

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Character Design information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$10

$18

$36

How much do character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for character design in Raleigh, NC is $18.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.08 and $23.61 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 Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Character Design jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What are popular job titles related to Character Design jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Character Design jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Character Design jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Character Design jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Character Design jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Character Design job openings:
Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Design job openings in Raleigh, NC as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,572 per year, or $18.5 per hour.
Character Animation Lead

Character Animation Lead

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ART
What We Do
Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character, and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special Projects team to help drive the vision and execution of character animation across experimental and gameplay-driven prototypes. You will combine strong animation fundamentals with technical fluency in Unreal Engine to build responsive, expressive, and scalable animation systems. You will act as a bridge between animation and engineering - helping to define workflows, shape systems, and solve complex problems at the intersection of gameplay and motion. This role requires both hands-on creation and leadership: setting quality bars, guiding others, and helping a small team move quickly without sacrificing clarity or craft.
In this role, you will
  • Lead the creation and implementation of high-quality, gameplay-driven animation in Unreal Engine
  • Prototype and iterate on new approaches to character movement, responsiveness, and player-driven animation
  • Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation systems. Excite those around you with creative and clear thinking
  • Own animation quality and leadership across projects, ensuring a strong and consistent point of view
  • Translate gameplay needs into animation behaviors that feel intuitive and responsive
  • Debug and solve complex animation and integration issues in the engine
  • Contribute to and help evolve animation pipelines, tools, and workflows for rapid iteration
  • Mentor and support other animators, fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and craft excellence
What we're looking for
  • Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both realistic and stylized motion; experience with motion matching, procedural animation, or emerging animation technologies is a plus
  • Deep experience working in Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blending, and runtime systems
  • Strong understanding of gameplay animation-how input, timing, and responsiveness shape player experience
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and technical designers on complex, system-driven features
  • Experience building or contributing to animation systems (not just assets), including debugging and iteration in-engine
  • Animating in-engine using Unreal Engine animation tools; familiarity with Control Rig and runtime rigging workflows in Unreal Engine
  • Comfort working in ambiguous, exploratory environments with rapid iteration cycles
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance creative goals with technical constraints
  • Experienced AAA development or equivalent real-time production environments
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

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