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Junior Animation Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Gcommerce Solutions

Jr. Front End Developer

Park City, UT · On-site

$108.80K - $126.60K/yr

Jr. Front-End Developer (1-2 Years Experience) Grow your skill-set, accelerate your career and work ... Experience with basic animation techniques in CSS * Knowledge of GitHub or similar Version Control ...

Gcommerce Solutions

Jr. Front End Developer

Park City, UT

$108.80K - $126.60K/yr

Jr. Front-End Developer (1-2 Years Experience) Grow your skill-set, accelerate your career and work ... with basic animation techniques in CSS Knowledge of GitHub or similar Version Control Systems ...

Worldscape

Junior Game Developer

Redmond, WA · On-site

They are looking for a passionate Junior Game Developer to collaborate with senior engineers and ... areas such as physics, animation systems, UI implementation, or gameplay scripting. • ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA

$145.10K - $181.40K/yr

Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145.10K - $181.40K/yr

Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Purple Drive Technologies

iOS Developer

Jersey City, NJ · On-site

$54 - $74.25/hr

Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior developers, including code reviews ... Core Data, Core Animation). * Strong knowledge of RESTful APIs for backend integration.

Oceaneering

Visual Media Group Manager

Hanover, VA · Hybrid

Mentor junior illustrators/animators and contribute to process improvements within the creative ... Demonstrated ability to interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and technical documentation.

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How much do junior animation programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for junior animation programmer in the United States is $26.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $33.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What cities are hiring for Junior Animation Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Junior Animation Programmer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Programmer jobs? The most popular types of Animation Programmer jobs are:
What states have the most Junior Animation Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Junior Animation Programmer jobs include:
Junior Animation Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Animation Programmer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,068 per year, or $27 per hour.

Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$145K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Summary
We are seeking a Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer to own the design and implementation of compelling 3 C's gameplay. This person will work closely with design leadership, animators, engineers, and artists to deliver world-class moment-to-moment gameplay and player feel.
Core Responsibilities
  • Own and drive implementation of all moment-to-moment player-feel gameplay in alignment with direction from a senior leadership team.
  • Develop engaging combat mechanics, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, AI tactics, weapons, and camera systems.
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to prototype, iterate, and polish combat features from concept through ship.
  • Author and maintain design documentation, ensuring clarity and alignment across departments.
  • Analyze playtest data and player feedback to continuously refine and balance combat systems.
  • Own combat encounters and pacing in collaboration with level and narrative design teams.
  • Establish metrics and best practices for environment and encounter design to support optimal gameplay.
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the evolution of team processes and best practices.
  • Maintain high standards for quality, responsiveness, and fun across all combat elements.

Core Qualifications
  • 5+ years of experience in game design with at least 2 shipped titles, including one in a senior or lead role focused on combat.
  • Deep understanding of player mechanics, animation-driven gameplay, enemy design, and AI behavior.
  • High technical proficiency with Unreal Engine 5.0 and its suite of combat, AI, and animation systems tools.
  • Strong prototyping skills with scripting languages or visual scripting systems (e.g., Blueprint, Lua, etc.).
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
  • Passion for creating satisfying, intuitive, and deep combat systems across various player archetypes.

Plus If...
  • Experience designing melee combat systems, ranged combat, or hybrid mechanics.
  • Background working on open-world or sandbox games.
  • Experience planning player skill and progression systems.
  • Knowledge of cinematic combat presentation and camera work.
  • Experience working with motion capture and/or animation pipelines.

Description
  • Full-time job with benefits.
  • Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.
  • Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeway.

The base pay range for this position is $145,000 to $180,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

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