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Character Rigger Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Lead Character Tools Engineer

OR · On-site +1

$102K - $134K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Character Tools Engineer to join the PlayStation Central Technology team focusing on Character technology from creation, rigging, and animation. Developing and distributing ...

Senior Facial Character TD (CONTRACT)

OR · On-site +1

$98K/yr

Authors rigging systems to augment or support blendshape-based facial rigs * Authors high quality photorealistic facial rigs based on FACS using blendshapes * Collaborates with Character Art ...

Tech Art Lead

OR · On-site +1

$120K - $126K/yr

Do you think a lot about how modular rigging systems enable quick iteration, how streamlined DCC pipelines empower artists, or how to achieve feature-quality character animation within real-time ...

We value honesty and integrity of character, and a strong work ethic. We mentor our employees as we ... Utilize proper procedures for all types of rigging operations. * Accountable and responsible for ...

RF Tower Foreman

Portland, OR · On-site

$33 - $48/hr

We value honesty and integrity of character, and a strong work ethic. We mentor our employees as we ... Utilize proper procedures for all types of rigging operations. * Accountable and responsible for ...

We value honesty and integrity of character, and a strong work ethic. We mentor our employees as we ... Utilize proper procedures for all types of rigging operations. * Accountable and responsible for ...

Senior Gameplay Animator (CONTRACT)

OR · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

Communicate effectively with other disciplines, including Designers, Programmers, Writers, Project Managers, Art, Audio, Character and Rigging teams, to resolve issues and achieve project goals.

Character Rigger information

See Oregon salary details

$14

$27

$38

How much do character rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for character rigger in Oregon is $27.51, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.38 and $31.54 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a character rigger do?

A Character Rigger is responsible for creating digital skeletons and control systems that allow 3D characters to move realistically in animations, films, and games. They build rigs that deform correctly and provide animators with intuitive controls for posing and motion. This role requires strong knowledge of anatomy, technical skills in software like Maya or Blender, and scripting abilities for automation. Riggers work closely with animators and modelers to ensure smooth character motion and realistic deformation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a character rigger?

To thrive as a Character Rigger, you need strong knowledge of anatomy, animation principles, and technical proficiency in 3D rigging, often supported by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages like Python or MEL is highly valued. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and effective communication are key soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities enable character riggers to build functional, efficient rigs that meet animators' needs and support seamless production workflows.

What does a typical day look like for a character rigger working on a production team?

A typical day for a Character Rigger involves creating or refining the skeletal structures and controls that allow 3D characters to move realistically in animation. You’ll often collaborate closely with animators, modelers, and technical directors to troubleshoot issues, implement feedback, and ensure rigs fit the artistic and technical requirements of the project. Daily tasks may include building new rigs, adjusting skin weights, writing scripts to automate repetitive processes, and participating in team meetings. This collaborative and iterative process helps ensure characters animate smoothly and efficiently throughout the production pipeline.

What are popular job titles related to Character Rigger jobs in Oregon?

For Character Rigger jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Rigger jobs in Oregon look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Rigger jobs in Oregon are:

Infographic showing various Character Rigger job openings in Oregon as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 48% Full Time, 36% Part Time, and 16% Contract. Highlights an 84% In-person, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $57,214 per year, or $27.5 per hour.

Lead Character Tools Engineer

OR • On-site, Remote

PlayStation Global
Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$102K - $134K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Prototype, create, and collaborate to deploy and maintain technical tools related to character creation, rigging, and animation.

  • Write, maintain, and customize internal tools and workflows to support character technology pipelines.

  • Collaborate with internal teams and stakeholders to optimize development workflows, data management, and integration with game engines.


Job description

Why PlayStation?   

PlayStation isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Today, we're recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.     

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.   

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation.  

We are seeking a Lead Character Tools Engineer to join the PlayStation Central Technology team focusing on Character technology from creation, rigging, and animation.  Developing and distributing tools and optimizing for making the best characters in games more efficiently and integrating emergent technology into the future of game making. 

Candidate expected to prototype, create, and collaborate to deploy and maintain technical tools and practices from experience on traditional game development and run-time workflows with internal teams and seek new opportunities for bringing increased usage of AI and ML to make those processes more efficient. 

This internal team of artists, engineers, and technical artists partner with engineering teams, studio stakeholders, research engineers, and other Central Technology groups to provide cohesion and standardization across PSS activities. 

This position requires a demonstratable understanding of game development pipelines, extensive experience with Autodesk Maya software, and strong programming skills.  Familiarity with leveraging agentic workflows to accelerate code creation and testing. 

Responsibilities:   

  • Collaborate with internal team members and studio stakeholders to prototype and harden create tools considering contemporary development workflows, data management, art creation, animation, and game engine integration 
  • Setting up and maintaining project specific environments and automation opportunities 
  • Learning and supporting varying client working environments, assets, and tools 
  • Writing, maintaining, and customizing internal tools and workflows 
  • Building and maintaining technical documentation  
  • Willingness to attend and participate in PlayStation internal demonstrations and conferences, travel required 
  • Ability to work in a collaborative team environment as well as self-driven experimentation and research 

Core Experience:  

  • Experience as technical artist or engineer to develop and deploy tools to support character creation, rigging, simulation, or animation pipelines in a run-time environment 
  • 10+ years in a game development studio or previous experience creating artist-facing tools on technical art or engineering team in a production environment 
  • BS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Graphic Art, or a related field, or equivalent experience 
  • Extensive experience in working with game editors and excellent working knowledge of technical specifications of workflow from DCC to complex real-time environments 
  • Capable of writing and debugging C++  
  • Excellent knowledge of Maya with general knowledge of Maya rigging 
  • Developing or maintaining project pipeline tools and system environments 
  • Excellent troubleshooting skills and the ability to creatively solve problems 
  • Experience leveraging Agentic AI models 
  • Strong understanding of deformation and mesh processing 
  • Familiarity with industry trends in character rigging, gameplay animation, cinematic animation, deformation and simulation usage in character animation pipelines 
  • Decent sense of humor 

Extended Experience:   

  • Strong Python programming skills and experience with PyQt/Pyside 
  • Motionbuilder, Maya, Houdini, experience 
  • Experience with HLSL, MaterialX 
  • Experience with other programming languages, especially C++. 
  • Experience with Perforce, Git, Confluence 
  • Exposure to photogrammetry, motion capture/performance capture