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Maya Character Rigger Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior 3D Animator (Short Term)

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$120K - $137K/yr

You'll focus on creating high-quality, foundational character animations for the Roblox platform ... quality facial rigging/expression work * Expert-level skills in Autodesk Maya for animation ...

New

... of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The ... Thorough knowledge of Maya * An understanding of physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form

... of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The ... Thorough knowledge of Maya * An understanding of physical motion, weight, balance, texture and form

Senior 3D Artist, Technical

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$144K - $173K/yr

Partner with engineers to prototype and guide the development of our movement and rigging systems ... Familiarity with scripting languages and node-based character controllers (i.e. Unreal Blueprints ...

OR

$120K - $126K/yr

Do you think a lot about how modular rigging systems enable quick iteration, how streamlined DCC ... Your ability to craft exceptional character rigs and efficient art workflows with a high degree of ...

At least 5 years of experience in Maya, MotionBuilder. * Understanding of the animation pipeline ... rigging, or prototyping. * Character Performance experience. * Effectively tell the story in a ...

The 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist will focus on tracking environments and character features (such ... Strong proficiency in 3DEqualizer and Maya. * Basic knowledge of Nuke to create slapcomps for ...

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · Hybrid

$122K - $146K/yr

This role is central to maintaining the emotional fidelity and character consistency of our hybrid ... Knowledge of Maya and Arnold rendering. * Experience with ZBrush and other 3D software is ...

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Maya Character Rigger information

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How much do maya character rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for maya character rigger in the United States is $26.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.08 and $29.81 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.

More about Maya Character Rigger jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Maya Character Rigger jobs? The most popular types of Maya Character Rigger jobs are:
What states have the most Maya Character Rigger jobs? States with the most job openings for Maya Character Rigger jobs include:
Visual Effects Animation Artist

Visual Effects Animation Artist

Anatomage, Inc.

Santa Clara, CA

$80K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 hours ago


Job description

Who is Anatomage?

Founded in 2004, Anatomage is a world-leading health care technology company. Anatomage offers 3D software for anatomy and physiology education including a life-sized virtual dissection platform.

About the Role:

As a VFX and Animation Artist at Anatomage, you will be the driving creative force

behind our real-time simulations and visual effects. While this role requires a

well-rounded 3D generalist skillset including modeling, texturing, and lighting, your

primary focus will be crafting stunning visual effects and lifelike animations.

What You'll Do:

You will utilize your 3D generalist skills - spanning modeling, texturing, and lighting - to

create a variety of digital environments. Your main emphasis will be bringing these

environments to life by executing workflows across both real-time simulation and

character animation within Unreal Engine. You will utilize the Niagara system and

Houdini to create scientifically accurate special effects. You will also handle character

rigging and animation for MetaHumans. While you may have a stronger background or

personal specialization in one of these areas, you will be expected to actively deliver

results across both disciplines, ensuring all assets are technically optimized for our

interactive platforms.

Requirements

Skills and Abilities Required:

Candidates should have a strong 3D generalist foundation in industry-standard software such as Maya, Blender, or Substance Painter for modeling, texturing, and lighting environments. Alongside these generalist skills, candidates must possess deep, hands-on experience in either real-time VFX such as Niagara, Blueprints, Houdini simulation pipelines or advanced character rigging and animation fundamentals including experience with MetaHumans or a strong combination of both. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong organizational skills, artistic talent, and exceptional attention to detail.

* Resume and Portfolio required in order to be considered*

Minimum Education and Experience Required:

Formal education in Art, Digital Arts, 3D Modeling, Animation, Medical Illustration, or a related discipline is preferred. Equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant skills will also be considered. Minimum 3 years of professional realtime VFX or Animation experience.

Benefits

What We Offer

  • Health, Dental, and Vision care for you and your family
  • 401K savings plan with employer matching
  • Generous PTO leave and paid holidays
  • Casual work culture
  • Commuter benefits
  • On site gym facility
  • Team bonding activities, catered lunches, and free snacks in the office!

About Anatomage

Anatomage has been financially robust and growing for 20 consecutive years.

Anatomage offers the world's first and only life-sized virtual dissection table. Students can learn anatomy and physiology using highly interactive and accurate real human-based digital data. Institutions can offer high quality education without worrying about chemicals, facility costs, and regulatory issues. Hundreds of schools have adopted the Anatomage Table as the main teaching tool for students.

At Anatomage, there is an opportunity to work alongside the best in the field. With a diverse group of people from various technical, clinical, and artistic backgrounds, Anatomage provides a culture where distinguished individuals can work and collaborate in an organic manner. Our team members all bring unique strengths and talents to their group and embrace each other's diverse perspectives. Anatomage offers a distinct work experience with an exceptional opportunity to develop careers. Our philosophy is to foster a dynamic work environment, and we are proud to let our employees' knowledge and responsibilities grow with the company.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $80,000.00- $120,000.00 Annually. This base pay range is for the U.S. and is not applicable to locations outside of the U.S.. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.

Anatomage is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not offer H1B Sponsorship at this time. Local candidates preferred.