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Lead Character Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Partner closely with the Production Designer, Art Director, Lead Character Designer, and production staff to provide status updates and address any issues that arise Requirements * 8+ years of ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Partner closely with the Production Designer, Art Director, Lead Character Designer, and production staff to provide status updates and address any issues that arise Requirements * 8+ years of ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

As a key member of the art leadership team, the role will collaborate closely with the Director, Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and report directly to the studio's Head of Costume ...

Skydance

Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

As a key member of the art leadership team, the role will collaborate closely with the Director, Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and report directly to the studio's Head of Costume ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$67 - $75/hr

Resolve design issues with Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and rest of Visual Development team * Provide and share expertise on clothing styles, fabrics, fabrication techniques, and ...

Skydance

Associate Costume Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$67 - $75/hr

Resolve design issues with Production Designer, Lead Character Designer, and rest of Visual Development team * Provide and share expertise on clothing styles, fabrics, fabrication techniques, and ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation ... Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both ...

2K

Lead Sound Designer

Frisco, TX · On-site

The Lead Sound Designer acts as the primary sound design point of contact for the project, ensuring ... weapons, character audio, and more with complete autonomy. * Create and maintain sound design ...

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Lead Character Designer information

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$42K

$91.2K

$157K

How much do lead character designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead character designer in the United States is $91,161.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,500.00 and $109,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Are lead character designers in demand?

Lead character designers are in demand in the entertainment, gaming, and animation industries, especially as the demand for high-quality visual content grows. Strong skills in digital illustration, 3D modeling, and industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Suite or Maya enhance job prospects, which often require a portfolio and experience in collaborative environments.

What does a lead character designer do?

A Lead Character Designer is responsible for creating and overseeing the visual development of characters in animation, video games, or other media projects. They collaborate with art directors, writers, and animators to ensure that character designs align with the project's story and style. The lead also mentors junior designers, manages the character design team, and reviews all character concepts to maintain consistency and quality throughout the project.

How does a lead character designer typically collaborate with other departments during a game or animation project?

A Lead Character Designer regularly works with teams such as art direction, animation, modeling, and narrative to ensure that character concepts align with the overall vision of the project. This often means attending cross-department meetings, providing feedback on 3D models or animations, and adjusting designs based on gameplay needs or story developments. Effective communication and flexibility are key, as the Lead must balance creative vision with technical and production constraints. Collaboration also involves mentoring junior artists and ensuring consistency in character style across the project.

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

To thrive as a Lead Character Designer, you need advanced drawing and design skills, a strong understanding of anatomy, color theory, and storytelling, often supported by a degree in art or a related field. Proficiency in digital illustration tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, ZBrush, and industry-standard 3D modeling software is typically required. Leadership, collaboration, and clear communication are essential soft skills for guiding design teams and interpreting creative direction. These qualities ensure that character concepts are both visually compelling and aligned with project goals, driving the overall success of creative projects.

What is the difference between Lead Character Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectLead Character DesignerCharacter Artist
Primary FocusLeading the design and conceptualization of characters, overseeing the creative processCreating detailed 3D or 2D character models based on designs
Required SkillsConcept art, leadership, collaboration, strong understanding of character design principlesModeling, texturing, rigging, technical skills in 3D software
Work EnvironmentCreative teams in game or animation studios, often in a leadership roleArt departments, working closely with designers and animators

While both roles involve character creation, the Lead Character Designer focuses on conceptualizing and guiding the overall character design process, whereas the Character Artist specializes in the technical creation of character models. The Lead Character Designer often leads the creative vision, and the Character Artist executes that vision through detailed modeling and texturing.

What states have the most Lead Character Designer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Lead Character Designer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Lead Character Designer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Character Designer jobs are:

Lead Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Character Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,161 per year, or $43.8 per hour.

Character Designer

Skydance

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Skydance Animation is seeking an experienced Character Designer to join our team on an upcoming feature film. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in bringing stories to life by shaping the look, personality, and visual identity of our characters. From early concept exploration to final design execution, you will craft compelling, expressive designs that resonate with both the narrative and audience.
Working closely with directors, art leads, and fellow creatives, the Character Designer will contribute to the development of unique character styles, produce high-quality design assets, and help maintain a cohesive visual language throughout the film. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in drawing, a keen sense of storytelling through design, and the versatility to explore a wide range of shapes, styles, and emotional expression.
Previous experience on a feature animated film is required.
This position is based in Los Angeles, California, and requires the selected candidate to work in an on-site hybrid capacity.
Responsibilities
  • Develop original artwork for project concepts and characters, including exploratory designs, refined assets, and surface details
  • Produce a wide range of visual development work from quick sketches and rough ideation to fully realized, production-ready character designs
  • Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D and/or CG visual development formats
  • Conduct visual and thematic research to inform design choices, ensuring authenticity, originality, and alignment with the story and world
  • Design and assemble compelling presentation materials that effectively communicate creative ideas to internal teams and leadership
  • Collaborate in brainstorming sessions to generate inventive concepts that enhance storytelling, bringing depth, humor, emotion, and personality to each character
  • Apply a strong understanding of human and/or animal anatomy to create believable, dynamic, and appealing character designs
  • Contribute creative problem-solving solutions, respond thoughtfully to feedback, and iterate efficiently on designs throughout the production process
  • Manage time effectively to meet production schedules and deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality
  • Maintain organized, production-ready files in accordance with the show's naming conventions and versioning systems
  • Communicate proactively with supervisors and production partners regarding progress, questions, and any potential challenges
  • Revise and update designs as needed based on feedback, ensuring all work meets the creative vision before final approval
  • Partner closely with the Production Designer, Art Director, Lead Character Designer, and production staff to provide status updates and address any issues that arise

Requirements
  • 8+ years of character design experience on animated feature films
  • Strong visual storytelling skills, with the ability to design characters that support narrative and performance
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present work and respond effectively to feedback
  • Solid understanding of human and/or animal anatomy
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as collaboratively within a team
  • Adaptable and responsive to evolving creative direction and production needs
  • Working knowledge of Autodesk Maya, Blender, or ZBrush is a plus
  • Must be, or be willing to become, a member of The Animation Guild Local 839

The compensation range for this non-exempt position in Los Angeles, CA is $2,900-4,000/week. The rate offered may vary based on the candidate's location, qualifications, experience and relevant expertise, among other factors. The range indicated is for base salary only and does not reflect the total compensation package, including bonus, benefits, etc.
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