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Lead Animator Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

CesiumAstro

Senior 3D Motion Designer

Austin, TX

$105K - $119K/yr

Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases. * Own the full 3D production process, including animation ...

CesiumAstro

Senior 3D Motion Designer

Austin, TX · On-site

$105K - $119K/yr

Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases. * Own the full 3D production process, including animation ...

CesiumAstro

Senior 3D Motion Designer

Austin, TX

$105K - $119K/yr

Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases. * Own the full 3D production process, including animation ...

Digital

Lead Designer

Dallas, TX

We're looking for a senior-level Lead Designer to own creative output across a digital agency ... Motion, animation, or video capability, and comfort with email design and build.

Digital

Lead Designer

Austin, TX

We're looking for a senior-level Lead Designer to own creative output across a digital agency ... Motion, animation, or video capability, and comfort with email design and build.

Siri InfoSolutions Inc

Lead / Senior UX Researcher

Irving, TX · On-site

$160K/yr

Hi, Role: Sr. UX Researcher/ Lead (12350 ) Location: Irving, TX 75063 (Onsite) Contract Length: 6+ ... Experience as a visual designer, illustrator, storyboarder, or animator * Consulting background or ...

TransPerfect

Marketing Lead

Austin, TX · On-site

As a leading provider of world-class art, animation, VFX, and engineering services for the video ... Lead the creation of high-impact content including case studies, blogs, videos, presentations, and ...

Aalo Atomics

Lead Designer

Austin, TX · On-site

The Lead Designer will play a key role propelling this effort by bringing cohesion and simplicity ... Motion graphics and animation beyond simple UI transitions - explainer videos, brand animations ...

Canoo

Creative / Art Director

Justin, TX · On-site

$142K - $150K/yr

Lead and build a team of animators, photographers, videographers, motion graphic and visualization artists * Lead creative pitches from concept to final execution and present to key internal ...

Southland Industries

VDC Project Lead

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Lead VDC Projects,resolving issues and ensuring alignment with client requirements and company ... Participate in the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D ...

Southland Industries, Inc.

VDC Project Lead

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

$95 - $135/hr

The VDC Project Lead drives the successful execution of projects, serving as a key liaison between ... Participate in the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D ...

Southland Industries

VDC Project Lead

Pflugerville, TX · On-site

The Project Lead focuses on project-level leadership and technical coordination, balancing hands-on ... Participate in the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D ...

Southland Industries

VDC Project Lead

Fort Worth, TX · On-site

The Project Lead focuses on project-level leadership and technical coordination, balancing hands-on ... Participate in the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D ...

Southland Industries

VDC Project Lead

Pflugerville, TX · On-site

$85 - $115/hr

The Project Lead focuses on project-level leadership and technical coordination, balancing ... Participate in the design and production of visual materials, including videos, animations, and 2D ...

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All JobsLead Animator JobsLead Animator Jobs in Texas

Lead Animator information

See Texas salary details

$13

$34

$64

How much do lead animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead animator in Texas is $34.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25.96 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead animator do?

A Lead Animator oversees the animation team and is responsible for ensuring that the visual style and movement of characters or objects in a project meet the director's vision. They guide and mentor junior animators, review their work, and collaborate closely with other departments like modeling, rigging, and art direction. Lead Animators also help establish animation workflows, set quality standards, and troubleshoot technical issues. They play a crucial role in maintaining consistency and quality throughout the animation process from concept to final output.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a lead animator?

To thrive as a Lead Animator, you need advanced animation skills, a strong portfolio, and experience with character rigging and motion, typically supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and experience with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine is essential. Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you effectively guide teams and collaborate across departments. These abilities are crucial for delivering high-quality animation projects on time while fostering team creativity and cohesion.

How does a lead animator typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

A Lead Animator works closely with various departments such as storyboarding, modeling, rigging, and compositing to ensure the animation aligns with the overall vision of the project. They often attend interdepartmental meetings, provide feedback on assets, and coordinate with directors to address creative or technical challenges. Effective communication and strong leadership are essential, as Lead Animators guide their team while ensuring their work integrates smoothly with the broader production pipeline.

What are popular job titles related to Lead Animator jobs in Texas?

For Lead Animator jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Lead Animator jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Animator jobs in Texas are:

Lead Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Animator job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $71,397 per year, or $34.3 per hour.

Senior 3D Motion Designer

Austin, TX

CesiumAstro
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about CesiumAstroexternal

$105K - $119K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

The 3D Motion Designer owns production of high-quality 3D content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations. This role leads complex 3D animated sequences and renders, translating technical concepts into beautiful, technically accurate visual stories, and establishes standards for modular, reusable animation assets. This position operates with general supervision, exercising independent judgment on creative and technical execution and mentoring junior designers.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Own production of high-quality 3D animated content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations.
  • Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases.
  • Own the full 3D production process, including animation, composition, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, and compositing.
  • Create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
  • Establish and maintain modular 3D animation assets and standards for reuse across videos, campaigns, and presentations.
  • Translate complex engineering concepts into beautiful and technically accurate visual content, independently resolving ambiguity in technical input.
  • Partner directly with engineers and designers to develop storyboards and technical concepts for complex projects.
  • Collaborate with designers, marketers, and engineering subject matter experts, serving as the primary point of contact for 3D content.
  • Apply strong visual storytelling instincts to balance technical accuracy, clarity, beauty, and brand impact across high-visibility projects.
  • Maintain strong attention to detail and own quality for all final renders.
  • Establish file organization and asset management standards, and mentor junior designers on 3D production practices.
JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in Animation, Motion Design, Fine Arts, or a related field, with 5-8 years of professional experience in 3D animation, motion design, or visual effects.
  • Expert knowledge of the end-to-end 3D production pipeline, including modeling, animation, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, compositing, and post-production.
  • Demonstrated ability to create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
  • Ability to establish and scale modular 3D animation assets across multiple videos, campaigns, and presentations.
  • Strong portfolio or reel demonstrating 3D animation, realistic rendering, technical visualization, or cinematic product storytelling.
  • Proficiency with industry-standard 3D software such as Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max.
  • Experience using professional rendering engines, including Redshift, Octane, Arnold, or V-Ray.
  • Advanced proficiency with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro for animation, compositing, and video editing.
  • Experience with Substance Painter or similar texturing and material authoring tools.
  • Ability to manage multiple creative projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality, attention to detail, and adherence to deadlines.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
  • Experience with aerospace, RF, satellite communications, hardware, phased arrays, payloads, antennas, orbital networks, software-defined radios, or systems architecture.
  • Engineering background or technical education is a plus, with the ability to understand and accurately communicate complex engineering concepts through visual media.
  • Real-time rendering or interactive 3D experience.
  • 2D motion graphics experience, especially for titles, labels, annotations, diagrams, and technical callouts.
CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.  Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.  
 
CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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