ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Lead 3D Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

3D Animator

Greenville, NC

Art Lead Status: Exempt Online portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work ... The 3D Animator will work across all aspects of a game's life cycle, owning the responsibility of ...

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site +1

The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as the main contact between production and supervisors, and ensuring smooth communication and workflow.

Tencent

Principal Technical Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$138K - $261K/yr

... 3D modeling, animation, VFX design, technical art, cinematics, comics, and more. With a profound ... Lead the architecture design of animation state machines, animation trees, and animation pipelines.

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site

The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as the main contact between production and supervisors, and ensuring smooth communication and workflow.

Daybreak Games

Principal Animator

San Diego, CA · On-site +1

$160K - $180K/yr

... growth Lead animation reviews and critique sessions, ensuring consistency and quality across all ... 3D animation software) with 5+ years of professional use Strong experience with at least one major ...

IGT

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

Overview Step into a lead role within IGT's Vibe Game Studio in Reno, Nevada, as an Animator IV , ... Expert-level proficiency in 2D and 3D animation tools such as After Effects, Spine, Maya, and ...

3D - Forensic, Inc.

Senior Forensic Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

3D Forensic is a full-capability, all encompassing forensic technology firm. We specialize in using ... lead forensic analyses with our staff. The ideal candidate for this role has had a depth of ...

New

Progressive Gaming

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

Overview Step into a lead role within IGT's Vibe Game Studio in Reno, Nevada, as an Animator IV , ... Expert-level proficiency in 2D and 3D animation tools such as After Effects, Spine, Maya, and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsLead 3D Animator Jobs

Lead 3D Animator information

See salary details

$31K

$63.9K

$132.5K

How much do lead 3d animator jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead 3d animator in the United States is $63,866.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,500.00 and $62,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead 3D Animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead 3D Animator, you need advanced skills in animation principles, character rigging, and experience with industry-standard 3D software, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Mastery of tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and Adobe Creative Suite, along with a strong portfolio, is typically required. Leadership, effective communication, and the ability to mentor team members are crucial soft skills for guiding creative projects. These skills ensure the production of high-quality animations, foster collaboration, and help deliver projects efficiently within creative teams.

What are Lead 3D Animators?

Lead 3D Animators are professionals who oversee the animation team in creating high-quality 3D animations for film, television, video games, or other media. They are responsible for guiding the creative vision, ensuring animation quality, and coordinating workflows between animators and other departments. In addition to animating complex scenes themselves, they mentor junior animators, review work for consistency, and help troubleshoot technical or artistic challenges. Their leadership is essential for delivering compelling and visually cohesive animated projects on time.

What are some common challenges Lead 3D Animators face when coordinating a team on large projects?

Lead 3D Animators often encounter challenges in balancing creative vision with technical constraints, ensuring consistency across team members' work, and meeting tight production deadlines. Effective communication and clear feedback are crucial for aligning the team's efforts and maintaining high-quality animation standards. Additionally, staying updated with evolving animation software and workflows is essential to keep the team efficient and competitive.
More about Lead 3D Animator jobs
What job categories do people searching Lead 3D Animator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lead 3D Animator jobs are:
Lead 3D Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead 3D Animator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,866 per year, or $30.7 per hour.

3D Animator

Valicy

Greenville, NC

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Job Title: 3D Animator
Department: NC Art
Location: Greenville, NC
Reports To: Art Lead
Status: Exempt
Online portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work-related or personal projects outside of work-related activities
WHO WE ARE:

We are Valicy.

We make games. We also make the machines they run on.
What we're building matters. How we treat people matters more.
OUR MISSION
We exist to create excellent gaming experiences, treat our customers the way we want to be treated, and positively impact people's lives through a culture of care.
Seven values guide how we work. We call it our FIGHTER mindset:
Fun: Enjoy the journey together
Innovative: Consistently pushing new boundaries through creativity
Growth: Committed to growing personally and professionally
Humble amp; Passionate: It’s important to be both
Teamwork: Built on trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results
Excellence: Pursuing high standards in everything we do
Relational: Building trust and relationships with customers and teammates


If this is the kind of place you've been looking for, let's talk.


SUMMARY: The ideal candidate has experience with animating characters and assets in a fun, stylized approach. A solid grasp of animation principles demonstrated through character, VFX, and motion graphics animation is essential. The 3D Animator will work across all aspects of a game’s life cycle, owning the responsibility of animation through pre-production to the final milestone. Blending artistic expertise and technical ability, the 3D Animator will bring visually stimulating content to life that will enhance game play-ability and showcase original experiences to a wide player audience.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Understand company Mission, Vision, and Values and be an ambassador of MVV.
- Collaborate effectively with artists and programmers to create high quality, stylized 3d character animations for games produced by the team
- Rigging and weight painting the prepared 3d characters for animation
- Animate real time popups/motion graphics in 3d space to be used in Unity3D
- Assist in creating entertaining Unity3D transitions to and from game features
- Create high quality animations of characters or key art assets specifically for marketing promotions and sizzle reel videos
- Work with the art team to create dynamic and engaging particle systems in Unity’s Shuriken Particle Editor
REQUIREMENTS:
- A strong portfolio demonstrating understanding of animation principles as they apply to a variety of stylized 3D characters
- Art degree preferred or equivalent work experience
- 1-2 years prior experience in a related position
- Experience developing motion graphics elements for any type of media
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience in using the Unity3D engine (importing assets, animation editor, shuriken particle system)
- Competency in both Photoshop and After Effects
- Work experience in mobile or casino gaming industries
- Familiarity with VFX pipelines in games
- Knowledge of Unity 3D particle systems
Online portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work-related or personal projects outside of work-related activities
This Job Description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing Company objectives. The description incorporates the most typical duties performed and covers only the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed. The inclusion of those duties would not alter the overall evaluation of this position.
​

Apply