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Contract 3D Rigging Artist Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX ... Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines * Proven experience ...

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX ... Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines * Proven experience ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Highland Park, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Lake Forest, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Wheaton, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Naperville, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Chicago, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Oak Lawn, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Buffalo Grove, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Skokie, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Des Plaines, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Schaumburg, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Dekalb, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Champaign, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Normal, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Evanston, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging ... Varsity Tutors does not contract in: Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New ...

Progressive Gaming

Art Lead

Chicago, IL

$90K - $110K/yr

Chicago, IL Employment type: Full-time position through employment contract. Requirement ... You will create high-quality 2D and 3D artwork, animation, typography, graphic designs, logos ...

IGT

Art Lead

Chicago, IL

$90K - $110K/yr

Chicago, IL Employment type: Full-time position through employment contract. Requirement ... You will create high-quality 2D and 3D artwork, animation, typography, graphic designs, logos ...

Varsity Tutors

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Normal, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

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All JobsContract 3D Rigging Artist JobsContract 3D Rigging Artist Jobs in Illinois

Contract 3D Rigging Artist information

How does a contract 3D rigging artist typically collaborate with animators and modelers during a project?

As a Contract 3D Rigging Artist, you'll work closely with both modelers and animators to ensure that character rigs function smoothly and meet project requirements. You'll often receive models from the modeling team and will need to create rigs that allow animators to bring the characters or objects to life. Regular communication and feedback sessions are common, as you may need to adjust rigs based on animator input or troubleshoot deformation issues. This collaborative process helps ensure the final animations are both visually appealing and technically sound.

What is a contract 3D rigging artist?

Contract 3D Rigging Artists are professionals who specialize in creating the digital skeletons and control systems (rigs) used to animate 3D models in films, video games, and other digital media, typically on a freelance or temporary contract basis. They work with character models to ensure they can be moved and posed realistically by animators. These artists often collaborate closely with modelers, animators, and technical directors to ensure rigs are functional, efficient, and meet the creative needs of the project. Contract rigging artists are hired for specific projects or time periods, giving studios flexibility in staffing for various production cycles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract 3D rigging artist, and why are they important?

A Contract 3D Rigging Artist needs expertise in character rigging, anatomy, and animation principles, typically supported by a degree in animation or related experience. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and knowledge of scripting languages like Python or MEL is essential. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication help artists collaborate smoothly with animators and technical teams. These skills ensure the creation of flexible, efficient rigs that allow for high-quality animation and seamless project delivery.
What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Rigging Artist jobs in Illinois? The most popular types of 3D Rigging Artist jobs in Illinois are:
What are popular job titles related to Contract 3D Rigging Artist jobs in Illinois? For Contract 3D Rigging Artist jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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What cities in Illinois are hiring for Contract 3D Rigging Artist jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Contract 3D Rigging Artist job openings:
Contract 3D Rigging Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract 3D Rigging Artist job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Technical Artist

NxT Level

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$130K - $156K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Remote – US and Canada only

thatgamecompany designs and develops artistically crafted, broadly accessible video games that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We respect our players and want to contribute meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire them.

We seek talent that values integrity and personal growth within an environment of intense collaboration and experimentation.

Our mission - create timeless entertainment that makes positive change to the human psyche worldwide. If you’ve been wanting to have a positive impact on people's lives and the creative challenges associated with doing something different and unique, then come help us shine brighter together.

Major Responsibilities

  • Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch
  • Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to support as the need arises.
  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX, and material tests.
  • Coordinate with art, technical, and studio leads to help build and maintain a high-performance art pipeline from creation to final package delivery.
  • Contribute to the unique product artistic vision holding high standards for aesthetics and technical art implementation.
  • Optimizing art content for performance.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Working in our proprietary engine, help to establish our material and vfx pipelines.
  • Document workflows and best practices for materials and vfx

Must-Haves

  • A good understanding of shaders (HLSL and/or GLSL) and ideally able to handle supporting c++ code for those prototypes or tools if required
  • Solid experience working with shader, materials and vfx in an industry standard or proprietary game engine
  • Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from concept to completion
  • Solid experience profiling and optimizing shaders and vfx on multiple platforms
  • 3-5 or more years experience as a Technical Artist
  • Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines
  • Proven experience building tools for modern art pipeline with a solid understanding of game engine scripting (ex. Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine)
  • Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx
  • Self-motivated and diligent, with established habits for tracking one’s own tasks and seeking out answers when needed

Nice to Haves

  • Writing c++ code would be a plus
  • Knowing Mel, Python, Lua, C++, is a plus
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, including character and environment systems
  • Strong communication skills and a positive and professional attitude
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience in Computer Science, 3D graphics, or related field
  • Experience working with offsite art and programming teams

Perks:

  • Paid Time Off, Holidays and Two Weeks Winter Break
  • Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job—there’s no waiting period before they kick in.
  • Pet Insurance for those who need it too.
  • Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
  • Pre-tax wellness stipend
  • Pre-tax work from home stipend
  • Access our savings plan (401K program) with company match
  • Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (CCA)
  • Discount portal for everyday goods and services
  • Employee inclusive and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together
  • Support for personal professional development

Apply