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Maya Character Rigger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Work closely with rigging, animation, and technical art teams to ensure characters are ready for ... Strong proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter. * Significant experience in Unreal ...

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Work closely with rigging, animation, and technical art teams to ensure characters are ready for ... Strong proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter. * Significant experience in Unreal ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA

Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years' experience working as a technical animator on shipped titles Solid understanding of object oriented code design in languages such as python and ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA

Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years' experience working as a technical animator on shipped titles Solid understanding of object oriented code design in languages such as python and ...

Absurd Ventures

Character Technical Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

Support and maintain character pipelines spanning modeling, rigging, skinning, deformation, and ... Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya and familiarity with Motion Builder, ZBrush ...

Absurd Ventures

Character Technical Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$130K - $165K/yr

Support and maintain character pipelines spanning modeling, rigging, skinning, deformation, and ... Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya and familiarity with Motion Builder, ZBrush ...

2K

Principal Character Technical Artist

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

You will use your mastery of DCC applications, Unreal Engine 5, rigging, and complex character and ... Expert proficiency in standard DCCs (Maya, Blender, Houdini) and strong scripting skills (Python, C ...

2K

Principal Character Technical Artist

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$133K - $198K/yr

You will use your mastery of DCC applications, Unreal Engine 5, rigging, and complex character and ... Expert proficiency in standard DCCs (Maya, Blender, Houdini) and strong scripting skills (Python, C ...

31st Union

Principal Character Technical Artist

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

You will use your mastery of DCC applications, Unreal Engine 5, rigging, and complex character and ... Expert proficiency in standard DCCs (Maya, Blender, Houdini) and strong scripting skills (Python, C ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Expert-level Maya skills rigging, skinning, deformers, and Python/MEL scripting * HLSL shader authoring experience focused on skin, hair, and other character materials * Deep understanding of PBR ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Expert-level Maya skills - rigging, skinning, deformers, and Python/MEL scripting * HLSL shader authoring experience focused on skin, hair, and other character materials * Deep understanding of PBR ...

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Expert-level Maya skills - rigging, skinning, deformers, and Python/MEL scripting * HLSL shader authoring experience focused on skin, hair, and other character materials * Deep understanding of PBR ...

COGSWELL COLLEGE LLC

Adjunct Faculty DAA

San Jose, CA · On-site

$3.0K - $4.5K/mo

Character Rigging - emphasis on character rigging techniques: joints, surface binding, articulation ... Experience working with Maya software for animation, modeling, rigging, or lighting of content in ...

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All JobsMaya Character Rigger JobsMaya Character Rigger Jobs in California

Maya Character Rigger information

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$13

$25

$36

How much do maya character rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for maya character rigger in California is $25.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.79 and $29.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Maya Character Riggers, and how can I prepare for them?

Maya Character Riggers often encounter challenges such as creating complex rigs that allow for natural movement while maintaining ease of use for animators and meeting tight production deadlines. Working with diverse character models and troubleshooting deformation issues can also require both technical expertise and creative problem-solving. To prepare, it's helpful to build a strong foundation in anatomy and rigging techniques, stay current with the latest Maya tools and scripting, and develop good communication skills for collaborating with animators, modelers, and technical directors. Actively seeking feedback and practicing on personal or open-source projects can also help you adapt to the varied needs of professional production pipelines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Maya Character Rigger position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Maya Character Rigger, you need a strong background in 3D rigging, anatomy, and deformation techniques, typically supported by experience with Autodesk Maya and a related degree or training in animation or computer graphics. Expertise in Maya’s rigging tools, scripting languages like MEL or Python, and familiarity with pipeline integration are highly valued. Problem-solving, creativity, and strong communication skills help you collaborate effectively with animators and modelers. These abilities enable the creation of reliable, flexible rigs that ensure high-quality character animation in fast-paced production environments.

What is a Maya Character Rigger job?

A Maya Character Rigger is responsible for creating the skeletal structures, control rigs, and deformations that allow 3D characters to move naturally in animations, films, and games. They work closely with modelers and animators to ensure characters are both functional and expressive. This involves setting up joints, skinning, and developing custom rigging tools using MEL or Python. A rigger must have a strong understanding of anatomy, mechanics, and technical problem-solving. Their work ensures that characters can perform complex movements while maintaining believable deformations.

What are the most commonly searched types of Maya Character Rigger jobs in California? The most popular types of Maya Character Rigger jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Maya Character Rigger jobs in California? For Maya Character Rigger jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Maya Character Rigger jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Maya Character Rigger jobs in California are:
Maya Character Rigger jobs near you
Infographic showing various Maya Character Rigger job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Lead Character Artist

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Character Artist to join our dynamic team. As Lead Character Artist, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the production of high-quality character assets. You will have a direct impact on the visual identity of our games, bringing characters to life with stunning detail and artistic excellence.
Core Responsibilities
  • Lead the character art team in the creation of high-quality character models.
  • Collaborate with the Art Director to define the visual style of characters.
  • Sculpt, model, and texture characters to meet the artistic and technical requirements of the project.
  • Contribute in planning, organization and prioritization of tasks with Production for internal, OS, and co dev partners.
  • Create and maintain character pipeline documentation for training and onboarding
  • Proactively identify risks in character art production timelines and effectively communicate risks to Production and Directors.
  • Mentor and provide feedback to other character artists.
  • Ensure character assets are optimized for performance and memory usage.
  • Work closely with rigging, animation, and technical art teams to ensure characters are ready for implementation.
  • Stay current with industry trends and techniques in character art.

Core Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Game Art, or related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in character art within the video game industry.
  • Strong proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
  • Significant experience in Unreal Engine
  • Excellent understanding of anatomy, form, and silhouette.
  • Experience with PBR and hand-painted texturing workflows.
  • Proven track record of creating high-quality character models for AAA titles.
  • Ability to lead a team and work collaboratively across departments.

Plus if...
  • Experience with character rigging and skinning.
  • Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar tools for clothing simulation.
  • Experience with rigid body dynamics and cloth simulation in Unreal Engine
  • Previous work in a leadership role on a major game title.

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 $170,000 to $200,000 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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