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Character Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ... Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project ...

Hidden Acorn

3D Character Artist in Unreal

Redwood City, CA · On-site +1

$148K - $155K/yr

About the Role Hidden Acorn is looking for a talented Character Artist to help us build the roster ... Experience designing within a faction or faction system (distinct visual languages per team/race ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

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 ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$143K - $179K/yr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to join our team in creating the next generation of award-winning story telling! We are looking for an ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

Quickly iterate detailed line art character designs. * Create paintovers for 3D visualization to help push the limits of the designs. * Storyboard as needed to clarify concepts and pitches. * Assist ...

2K

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA

$100K - $148K/yr

Quickly iterate detailed line art character designs. * Create paintovers for 3D visualization to help push the limits of the designs. * Storyboard as needed to clarify concepts and pitches. * Assist ...

teamLFG

3D Character Art Lead

$153K - $230K/yr

As the 3D Character Art Lead at teamLFG, you will guide and help create art with the team from pre-production to production and beyond on our innovative new IP! Your leadership will shape memorable ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

Quickly iterate detailed line art character designs. * Create paintovers for 3D visualization to help push the limits of the designs. * Storyboard as needed to clarify concepts and pitches. * Assist ...

2K

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

Quickly iterate detailed line art character designs. * Create paintovers for 3D visualization to help push the limits of the designs. * Storyboard as needed to clarify concepts and pitches. * Assist ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

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 ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

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 ...

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 ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

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 ...

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Character Designer information

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How much do character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in the United States is $31.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.85 and $36.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 are character designers?

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 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.

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.
More about Character Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Character Designer jobs? Cities with the most Character Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Character Designer jobs? The most popular types of Character Designer jobs are:
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What states have the most Character Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Character Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Character Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Character Designer jobs are:
Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,817 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

Side

Remote

$123K - $130K/yr

Contractor

Posted 21 days ago

Job description

About Side
Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 15+ studios in over a dozen countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.
Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.
About This Opportunity
Please note, this listing is not for an immediate open position but for our Talent Pool for Co-Development Roles. By applying, you express interest in being considered for future project-based opportunities that align with your skills and experience.
These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. As projects are initiated or client proposals are developed, we will review candidates from this pool and contact those who most closely align with the specific requirements of the co-development opportunity.
As a 3D Character Artist, you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring life and personality to our projects. This mid-level generalist role focuses on modeling, texturing, and optimizing character assets across a variety of styles for AAA-quality games on PC, console, mobile, and VR/AR platforms.
How We Keep You Engaged
We maintain strong relationships with our talent pool by providing regular updates, industry insights, and information on upcoming opportunities. We will check in to confirm your availability and interest.
Our hiring teams carefully vet and select top candidates who best meet project needs, ensuring that you are matched with the right opportunity when it becomes available.
Next Steps
If you are passionate about contributing to cutting-edge projects and want to be considered for future co-development opportunities, we encourage you to apply to this listing. While there may not be an immediate opening, your application ensures that you will be part of our ongoing talent review for upcoming roles.
Key Responsibilities
  • Create high-quality 3D character assets, including organic and hard surface elements, from concept to final game-ready models.
  • Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project's artistic vision and technical requirements.
  • Develop textures and materials using industry-standard tools, ensuring assets are optimized for performance across platforms.
  • Work within established pipelines and workflows to maintain consistency and efficiency in asset creation.
  • Ensure proper topology, rigging, and skinning for characters to meet animation and gameplay requirements.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to character development.
  • Actively participate in team critiques, offering and receiving feedback to refine assets.

Requirements
Experience:
    • 3+ years of experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry.
    • Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.

Technical Skills:
    • Proficiency with ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and other industry-standard tools.
    • Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, weight, and volume as they relate to character design and animation.
    • Experience with high- and low-poly modeling, texturing, and shading techniques.
    • Knowledge of proper topology, rigging, and skinning practices.

Artistic Skills:
    • Strong eye for detail, form, and style consistency.
    • Ability to adapt to and create a range of visual styles, from realistic to stylized.

Collaboration Skills:
    • Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
    • Ability to incorporate feedback and iterate effectively.

Passion for Gaming: Genuine enthusiasm for creating compelling characters and contributing to immersive game worlds.
Preferred Skills
  • Familiarity with Marvelous Designer for clothing design and simulation.
  • Experience with photogrammetry and procedural workflows.
  • Knowledge of Unreal Engine or Unity for integrating character assets into the game.

Note: Specific requirements may vary depending on project needs.

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