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Character Designer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Chainbridge Solutions

Space Designer

Germantown, MD · On-site

Description Chainbridge Solutions Inc. is seeking an energetic and highly motivated individual to join us as a Space Designer working onsite at the Department of Energy (DOE) in their Washington DC ...

Hargrove

Experience Designer - HARGROVE

Lanham, MD · On-site

$85K - $105K/hr

Position Overview An Experience Designer will be responsible for conceiving human-centered design solutions that fulfill strategic business objectives as outlined by existing and potential clients.

Encore

Experience Designer - HARGROVE

Lanham, MD · On-site

Position Overview An Experience Designer will be responsible for conceiving human-centered design solutions that fulfill strategic business objectives as outlined by existing and potential clients.

Hargrove

Experience Designer - HARGROVE

Lanham, MD · On-site

Position Overview An Experience Designer will be responsible for conceiving human-centered design solutions that fulfill strategic business objectives as outlined by existing and potential clients.

IMEG

Technology Designer (Revit)

Washington, DC · On-site +1

Utilize engineering software and tools to create detailed designs, specifications, and calculations according to code requirements and IMEG standards. * Interact with clients to understand their ...

Moore DM Group LLC

Senior Designer

Lanham, MD · On-site +1

$72K - $95K/yr

Description The Senior Designer is responsible for developing and executing high-quality creative solutions across print and digital channels that align with client objectives, campaign strategies ...

New

Moore

Senior Designer

Lanham, MD

$101K - $108K/yr

The Senior Designer creates meaningful connections between brands and audiences through powerful, purpose-driven creative. This role combines strategic thinking, imaginative design, and expert ...

New

Steampunk

Senior Service Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $110K/yr

As a Senior Service Designer, you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence™ framework, incorporating human-centered methods to solve end-to-end ...

Steampunk

Senior Service Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $110K/yr

Overview As a Senior Service Designer, you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence™ framework, incorporating human-centered methods to solve end-to-end ...

Steampunk

Senior Service Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$103K - $110K/yr

Overview As a Senior Service Designer, you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence framework, incorporating human-centered methods to solve end-to-end ...

SOLTESZ

Senior Designer III

Lanham, MD · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Join a Team That Helps Shape Communities Soltesz is seeking an experienced Senior Designer to join our Lanham, Maryland office. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex and rewarding land ...

Steampunk

Senior Disruption Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$85K - $150K/yr

Overview As a Disruption Designer , you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence™ framework; incorporating human-centered and design thinking methods to ...

Steampunk

Senior Disruption Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site +1

$85K - $150K/yr

Overview As a Disruption Designer , you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence framework; incorporating human-centered and design thinking methods to focus ...

Steampunk

Senior Disruption Designer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$85K - $150K/yr

As a Disruption Designer , you will be responsible for guiding government clients through our Design Intelligence™ framework; incorporating human-centered and design thinking methods to focus on ...

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All JobsCharacter Designer JobsCharacter Designer Jobs in Reston, VA

Character Designer information

See Reston, VA salary details

$20

$32

$49

How much do character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in Reston, VA is $32.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.00 and $37.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character designer?

Character designers are artists who create the visual appearance, style, and personality of characters for animation, video games, comics, films, and other media. Their work involves conceptualizing and illustrating characters based on story requirements, often working closely with writers, directors, and animators. Character designers develop everything from facial expressions and costumes to body shapes and color schemes, ensuring each character is visually appealing and communicates the intended traits or emotions.

What does a character designer do?

As a character designer, you create the look and animation of a cartoon character in a film, TV show, or video game. Your responsibilities are to develop physical features, design costumes and clothes, pose characters, and collaborate with team members from concept to production. Your duties include working with mouth charts, expression sheets, shadow and color indications, and marketing artwork. You sketch, draw, illustrate, and animate by hand and through computer software. You also work with different drafts and copies and maintain artwork storage. To be successful in this field, you must be able to balance creativity with the needs and requirements of the project.

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 and illustration skills, a deep understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character development, often supported by a degree in art or design. Proficiency with digital design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, and 3D modeling software like ZBrush is typically required. Creativity, strong communication, and the ability to accept feedback help designers collaborate effectively and bring unique characters to life. These skills are essential to create compelling, visually distinctive characters that resonate with audiences and fit seamlessly within projects.

What are some common challenges character designers face when collaborating with other departments during production?

Character Designers often collaborate closely with animators, modelers, and directors, which can present challenges such as aligning on the visual style, ensuring designs are animation-friendly, and accommodating technical limitations. Balancing creative vision with practical constraints—like simplifying details for animation or adapting designs based on feedback—requires strong communication and flexibility. Successful Character Designers are proactive in seeking input, open to revision, and skilled at translating character concepts into workable assets that serve the story and production pipeline.

What is the difference between Character Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectCharacter DesignerCharacter Artist
Primary FocusCreating original character concepts, designs, and visual stylesRendering and illustrating detailed character artwork based on designs
Skills & ToolsConcept art, illustration, creativity, design software (Photoshop, Illustrator)Digital painting, rendering, shading, software skills (Photoshop, Painter)
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation, film, advertisingGame studios, animation, film, freelance projects

While both roles involve working with characters, a Character Designer focuses on creating original character concepts and visual styles, whereas a Character Artist specializes in bringing those designs to life through detailed illustrations and rendering. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the industry.

How to get a job as a character designer?

To become a character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your drawing and conceptual skills, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, freelance work, or art courses can improve your chances, and understanding the specific style or genre of the industry you want to work in is beneficial.

What qualifications do I need to be a character designer?

To become a character designer, a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills and creativity is essential. A background in art, illustration, or animation, often supported by a degree in fine arts or related fields, is common. Proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and understanding of character anatomy and storytelling are also important.
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Cities near Reston, VA with the most Character Designer job openings:

Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 4% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $68,473 per year, or $32.9 per hour.

Space Designer

Germantown, MD • On-site

Chainbridge Solutions
11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Chainbridge Solutionsexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago

Job description

Description
Chainbridge Solutions Inc. is seeking an energetic and highly motivated individual to join us as a Space Designer working onsite at the Department of Energy (DOE) in their Washington DC office as well as their Germantown, MD office.  There is no option to work remote as this position requires onsite presence 5 days a week, predominantly at the Germantown location.
 
The successful candidate will coordinate all assigned projects related to space planning, design, alterations, and buildouts in DOE’s facilities within the National Capital Region. They will be responsible for supporting the complete lifecycle of building projects, including design, procurement, award, kickoff, execution and monitoring, inspection, and close-out. This individual will also serve as a key point of contact for stakeholders throughout DOE, presenting design alternatives before project approval and keeping them updated during project execution.  

Key Responsibilities
  • Provide design alternatives, recommendations, and cost estimates.  
  • Update Customer and Space Planning Manager on all assigned projects. 
  • Use AutoCAD to develop professional space diagrams for engineering review. 
  • Review materials samples and provide complete design recommendations based on customer design standards or aesthetic direction. 
  • Work closely with government management to provide daily update on project progress, issues, and risks that may impact the overall success of a project.  
  • Develop project estimates based on existing contract costs and prior experience. Review contractor estimates for potential errors.  
  • Enter procurement requests into DOE’s procurement system. Monitor progress on each request in order to update schedule status or escalate problems.  
  • Identify project stakeholders, federal and contractor, and manage communications, reporting, and status updates.  
  • Establish routine meeting schedules where necessary to enable regular updating of project progress.  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
  • H.S. diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering preferred. 
  • 2+ years’ experience in facilities-related design.   
  • Skilled in AutoCAD. 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with experience communicating directly with customers in high-pressure environments.  
  • US Citizenship required, preferably with a prior Federal background investigation
  • Willing to be processed for a Public Trust Clearance
 Physical Requirements:  
  • Frequently remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time looking at a computer screen 
  • Walking through the client building occasionally to survey the building and provide updates. 
  • Continuous verbal and written communication with others to exchange information. 
  • Continuous repetitive movements that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. 
  • Comprehension - Must continuously be able to understand direction and adhere to established procedures. 
  • Organization - Must continuously be able to gather and classify information. 
  • Reasoning and Decision Making - Must continuously use logic to analyze and interpret information and prioritize.