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Character Simulation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Maintain consistency and fidelity to the assigned scenario, including medical details and character ... Previous experience as a Simulation Actor is a plus, but not required. * Must be able to pass a ...

Maintain consistency and fidelity to the assigned scenario, including medical details and character ... Previous experience as a Simulation Actor is a plus, but not required. * Must be able to pass a ...

Maintain consistency and fidelity to the assigned scenario, including medical details and character ... Previous experience as a Simulation Actor is a plus, but not required. * Must be able to pass a ...

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 ...

Job Title: AFSIM Simulation Analyst Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum ... At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team ...

Job Title: AFSIM Simulation Analyst Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum ... At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team ...

Showing results 21-40

Character Simulation information

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$11K

$67.6K

$121.5K

How much do character simulation jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for character simulation in the United States is $67,601.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,000.00 and $79,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character simulation specialist?

A Character Simulation specialist is a professional in the animation, video game, or visual effects industries who creates realistic or stylized movement and behaviors for digital characters. They use specialized software to simulate aspects such as hair, cloth, muscles, and other dynamic elements, ensuring that characters move naturally within digital environments. Their work bridges the gap between animation and physics, enhancing the believability and appeal of animated characters. This role often requires collaboration with animators, riggers, and technical directors to achieve the desired visual effects.

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

To thrive as a Character Simulation Specialist, you need a strong background in computer graphics, animation, and physics, often supported by a degree in computer science, animation, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Maya, Houdini, and scripting languages like Python or MEL, as well as experience with simulation engines, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with artists and technical teams to achieve realistic character movement and effects. These skills ensure the creation of lifelike, believable characters and seamless integration into animation or game pipelines.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in character simulation, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Character Simulation often encounter challenges such as balancing realism with performance constraints, ensuring seamless integration with animation pipelines, and collaborating effectively with artists and developers. To address these, it's important to maintain clear communication with cross-functional teams, stay updated on the latest simulation tools and techniques, and prioritize efficient problem-solving. Continuous learning and sharing feedback with colleagues can also help in overcoming technical hurdles and producing high-quality, believable character behaviors.

What is the difference between Character Simulation vs Character Artist?

AspectCharacter SimulationCharacter Artist
Required CredentialsKnowledge of physics, programming, and animation softwareArt and design skills, proficiency in digital sculpting and texturing
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation companies, research labsGame studios, animation studios, freelance or studio-based
Industry UsageCreating dynamic, realistic character behaviors and movementsDesigning and creating character models and visual assets

While both roles involve working with characters, Character Simulation focuses on developing realistic behaviors and movements through programming and physics, whereas Character Artist emphasizes creating the visual appearance and models of characters. Both are essential in game development and animation but serve different functions in the production pipeline.

What other helpful pages are available for Character Simulation?

Other pages related to Character Simulation:

Infographic showing various Character Simulation job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,601 per year, or $32.5 per hour.

DreamWorks Feature - Character Effects Artist

Glendale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Designs and crafts character effects such as cloth and fur simulations.

  • Creates cloth and hair simulations, prop animation, and animation cleanup for shot work in production.

  • Troubleshoots and solves problems independently related to character effects and technical animation.


NBCUniversal rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 133 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Company Description

DreamWorks Animation is looking for more adventurous dreamers who shoot for the moon. We tell stories about the journeys our unconventional heroes take to make dreams come true. As a growth-minded studio, we pride ourselves on being one of the world's leading producers of high-quality, award-winning, animated films and series, reaching consumers around the globe. We push to feel more, laugh more, and build immersive new worlds.

DreamWorks creates a diverse array of original content in a variety of formats, delivering compelling stories with unique characters. We place tremendous value on the experiences our talent offers from their own non-traditional paths to success. We believe in frequent communication and that transparency and trust yield the best work. We are a community of artists, technologists, innovators, and creators, who are passionate about animation and also happen to love eating lunch together.

The Character Effects department and CFX Artists at DreamWorks Animation are responsible for both the set up and shot simulation of cloth, fur, hair, foliage, feathers, props, and other simulations as necessary on various projects.

If you are part of the fandom and believe teamwork makes the dream work, join us in #livingthedream and #doingyourdreamwork!

Job Description

"What would you say you do here?"

  • Designs and crafts character effects such as cloth and fur simulations.

  • Develops generalized tools, used in Character FX, to help improve the pipeline.

  • Creates cloth and hair simulations, prop animation and animation cleanup for shot work in production.

  • Creatively solve problems and achieve art direction for a shot.

  • Troubleshoot and solve problems independently.

  • Demonstrate artistic vision and appropriately expand upon the art direction given.

  • Technical Animation for shots in production.

  • Cloth and Fur simulations.

  • Deformations, procedural modeling and animation.

Qualifications

"What do I need to have in order to do this job?"

  • Excellent eye for motion and solid understanding of animation principles.

  • Solid understanding of software such as Maya and Houdini.

  • Scripting proficiency in Mel and Python.

  • Good problem-solving abilities.

  • Strong communication skills.

  • Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems.

  • Ability to prioritize, work independently or within a group, and proceed with objectives without supervision. 

  • Interested candidate must submit a resume/CV through www.nbcunicareers.com to be considered

  • Upon request provide a reel/portfolio of work examples -- if available, include a web address when you submit your resume.

Desired Qualifications: "What can I offer?"

  • Exposure to rigging tools and surface modeling techniques preferred.

  • Dynamic simulation background preferred.

  • Production experience preferred.

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week.

Salary range: $89,752 - $130,000

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].


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