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Lead 3D Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Animator IV

Reno, NV ยท 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 Designer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$95K - $107K/yr

... 3D modeling, animation, and motion design. This is a hands-on creative role for someone who can ... Ambiguity isn't an excuse to wait, it's an invitation to lead. * Clarity Is a Gift: Messy ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel ... Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms. * Expertly ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel ... Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms. * Expertly ...

Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel ... Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms. * Expertly ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel ... Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms. * Expertly ...

We are proud to lead the development of the next generation of experts. WHAT YOU'LL DO Explico is ... animation, and rendering. We are looking for the type of person that has a strong attention to ...

We are proud to lead the development of the next generation of experts. WHAT YOU'LL DO Explico is ... animation, and rendering. We are looking for the type of person that has a strong attention to ...

Augmented Reality Learning Developer

Waukesha, WI ยท On-site

$52.50 - $67.75/hr

Lead the design, development, and implementation of augmented reality experiences for learning and development purposes. * Utilize 3D animation techniques to create immersive and interactive ...

Lead cross-functional efforts to improve performance and bring new features to Apple products. Set ... Stay current on emerging hardware, software and workflows in 3D, animation, and digital content ...

Augmented Reality Learning Developer

Waukesha, WI ยท On-site

$52.50 - $67.75/hr

Lead the design, development, and implementation of augmented reality experiences for learning and development purposes. * Utilize 3D animation techniques to create immersive and interactive ...

Senior Artist

Detroit, MI ยท On-site

$97K - $110K/yr

We are proud to lead the development of the next generation of experts. WHAT YOU'LL DO Explico is ... 3D workflow from modeling, lighting, texturing, animation, and rendering. We are looking for the ...

Showing results 21-40

Lead 3D Animator information

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$31K

$63.9K

$132.5K

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

As of Sep 10, 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 is a Lead 3D animator?

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 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 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.

Is there a demand for lead 3D animators?

Lead 3D animators are in high demand across industries such as gaming, film, advertising, and virtual reality, as companies seek skilled professionals to create complex animations and oversee production teams. Strong proficiency in animation software like Maya or Blender and leadership skills are often required to meet industry needs. The demand is expected to grow with the increasing use of 3D content in digital media.
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Infographic showing various Lead 3D Animator job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,866 per year, or $30.7 per hour.

Lead, Creative Services (3D Animator)

Rochester, NY โ€ข On-site, Remote

$100K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Create 3D renders and animations of products, systems, and capabilities for various purposes.

  • Edit and finish video content by combining animation, live footage, motion graphics, audio, and titles.

  • Manage projects independently from creative brief through final delivery, including timelines, files, and revisions.


Job description

Job Title: Lead, Creative Services

Job Code: 43115

Job Location: Melbourne, FL;ย Rochester, NY; or Remote Opportunity

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

L3Harris is seeking a Senior 3D Animator for its in-house Creative Services team. The role creates 3D renders and animations and edits them into finished video for marketing, customer engagements, events, and internal communications. The animator works independently from creative brief through final delivery, translating engineering and technical subject matter into clear visual content that holds to company brand standards.

Essential Functions:

  • Conceive, model, light, and render professional three-dimensional (3D) animations that visualize products, systems, and capabilities for marketing, customer engagements, trade shows, and internal communications.
  • Edit and finish video, combining animation, live footage, motion graphics, audio, and titling into a polished piece that carries a clear narrative from open to close.
  • Translate technical and engineering subject matter into accurate, accessible visual stories, partnering with engineers and program teams to get the details right.
  • Apply artificial intelligence (AI) tools where they improve quality or speed, incorporating them into the animation and video workflow in line with company policy and security requirements.
  • Carry projects independently from creative brief through delivery, managing your own timelines, files, and revisions while keeping stakeholders informed at the right moments.
  • Apply brand standards consistently across every deliverable, keeping color, type, motion, and tone aligned with the company identity, so the work reads as one voice.
  • Collaborate with creative peers, marketing and communications stakeholders, and program leads, incorporating feedback while protecting the quality and intent of the work.
  • Maintain organized project files, render pipelines, and asset libraries so work is repeatable, reusable, and easy for the team to pick up.
  • Travel up to ten percent (10%) may be required to support events, shoots, and on-site production.
  • Mentor junior creative staff on 3D and video technique where the opportunity arises and contribute to a studio culture that takes pride in its craft.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Experience producing finished 3D renders and animations and editing them into completed video deliverables, demonstrated through a portfolio or reel.
  • This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a clearance.
  • Fluency in industry-standard 3D and animation software such as Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine 5, Blender, Autodesk Maya, or 3ds Max, along with rendering tools such as Redshift, Octane, or Arnold.
  • Extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud for editing and finishing, particularly After Effects and Premiere Pro, with comfort moving assets between motion and edit.
  • Skilled in color grading, sound design, and compositing to finish a piece to broadcast quality.
  • Experience with motion graphics and 2D animation to complement 3D work.
  • Experience with virtual production pipelines.
  • Familiarity working from computer-aided design (CAD) data or engineering models as source material for animation.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C, Denver, or NYC areas is $87,500-$162,500. The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, Cleveland Ohio, Vermont and Virginia is $100,500-$186,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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