Freelance 2D Animation Rigging Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology. Come be a part of what's next.

We are looking for a versatile and highly skilled Sr. Technical Artist, specializing in Characters and Character Animation Pipeline, to join a build-focused team creating a high-impact, character-driven experience for a global IP audience.

In this role, you will be the centralized tech art bridge between the Animation, Art, and Tech teams, turning visual targets into practical and repeatable processes and tools. From prototype to live operations, you will work closely with internal and external departments to own the end-to-end Character and Animation Pipeline in Unreal Engine 5.

Your work will define, service, and maintain our pipeline, including rigging, tooling, runtime setups, body and facial mocap, and animation handoff. You will advocate for clear communication, lightweight workflows, game performance, and solutions that balance proven approaches while remaining outcome driven.

You will help shape how the team operates, developing trust-based relationships within our remote, cross-discipline group and with external collaborators. You value clear communication, rapid learning, and action-led planning, and you're motivated by the opportunity to help build and scale something great from the ground up.

THE TEAM

We're a small, scrappy team with big ambitions and an obsession to deliver memorable, innovative gameplay combined with beloved IPs, served seamlessly within the Netflix streaming ecosystem. We're looking for new teammates who care deeply about the experiences they create and the people they make them with, who are biased towards action, and are energized by the learning that comes with bold experimentation at an agile pace. As part of Netflix, we strive to hire the best and value integrity, excellence, respect, inclusion, and collaboration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Character & Animation Pipeline

• Own and improve the character and animation pipeline from DCC (Maya) into Unreal Engine 5, ensuring rigs and assets are ready for animation and runtime use.

• Create and maintain body and facial rigs for characters, costumes, and hair in Maya, with clean deformation and predictable behavior in UE5.

• Understand, maintain, and evolve the animation pipeline as project needs, tools, and content types change.

• Define and uphold naming, structure, and performance standards (bones, polycounts, LODs, materials) for character content.

Tools, Workflow & Optimization

• Build and support tools and scripts (e.g., Python, MEL, Unreal tooling) that speed up rigging, export, validation, and integration.

• Author or source animation-focused tools and plug-ins as needed, and stay up-to-date on new Maya and UE5 animation and rigging features and trends.

• Diagnose and address pipeline and performance issues related to characters and animation, balancing visual quality, stability, and efficiency.

Collaboration & Support

• Partner with the Lead Character Artist, Animation Lead, Art Director, and engineers to define concrete constraints (rig features, deformation limits, performance budgets) that push stylization while keeping rigs stable, performant, and compatible with the pipeline.

• Assist with animation tests and in-engine validation, iterating on rigs, tools, and workflows based on real production use.

• Provide clear guidance and feedback to internal teams and external vendors on how to prepare and deliver pipeline-ready character and animation assets.

• Research, implement and/or improve the state of art, graphics techniques and tools for use in current and upcoming projects

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• 7+ years of experience as a Technical Artist, with a strong focus on character and animation pipelines.

• Expert-level experience with at least one major DCC (Maya, Blender); Maya strongly preferred for rigging.

• Deep knowledge of character rigging, facial rigs, animation workflows, and motion capture.

• Strong Unreal Engine 5 experience, including runtime character systems, editor tools, and character setup.

• Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages (MEL, etc.) for pipeline and tool development.

• Experience converting high-fidelity assets into optimized, real-time game assets.

• Strong understanding of performance constraints, LODs, materials, and textures for games.

• Ability to work cross-functionally with Art, Animation, Engineering, Design and external partners.

• Excellent documentation and communication skills, including remote collaboration.

• Has played a variety of both AAA and indie games, and cares deeply about player experience and craft.

• Is an insatiable learner, curious inside and outside their specialization.

• 2D and/or 3D animation experience, especially in stylized or non-human proportion work.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

• Resume

• Link to Portfolio / Reel

LOCATION

• Los Angeles preferred; Remote OK.

Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $170,000.00 - $260,000.00. This compensation range will vary based on location.

Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here.

Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

Job is open for no less than 7 days and will be removed when the position is filled.