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Motion Design Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

NOVARES

Automation Engineer

Janesville, WI · On-site

Design, develop, program, and support automated manufacturing systems including PLCs, HMIs, robots ... Experience with HMI, SCADA, motion control, and vision inspection systems.Strong understanding of ...

NOVARES

Automation Engineer

Janesville, WI · On-site

$85 - $125/hr

We are seeking an Automation Engineer to design, support, optimize, and improve automated ... This position is responsible for developing and maintaining PLC, robotics, vision, and motion ...

Massman Companies

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Madison, WI · On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

Advanced mechanical design and SOLIDWORKS expertise , including complex assemblies, mechanisms, servo-driven motion, pneumatics, precision components, tooling, manufacturing drawings, BOMs, and ...

ALKAR-RAPIDPAK, INC.

Controls Engineer

Lodi, WI · On-site

$83K - $108K/yr

Design, program, and commission PLC, HMI, process, and motion systems --from initial concept through customer acceptance--Rockwell platforms preferred * Translate customer and internal technical ...

Alkar

Controls Engineer

Lodi, WI · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Design, program, and commission PLC, HMI, process, and motion systems -from initial concept through customer acceptance-Rockwell platforms preferred * Translate customer and internal technical ...

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Motion Design information

See Madison, WI salary details

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$37

$69

How much do motion design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for motion design in Madison, WI is $37.12, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.08 and $42.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a motion design?

A Motion Design job involves creating animated graphics, visual effects, and multimedia content for digital media, film, television, advertising, and social media. Motion designers use software like After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Blender to animate typography, illustrations, and 3D elements. Their work enhances storytelling, branding, and user engagement across various platforms. This role often requires a mix of design skills, animation knowledge, and technical expertise.

What types of projects and daily tasks can I expect as a motion designer?

As a Motion Designer, you will work on a variety of projects, including creating animated graphics for commercials, social media content, web videos, film, and broadcast work. Daily tasks typically involve conceptualizing storyboards, designing visual assets, animating sequences, and collaborating closely with art directors, video editors, and copywriters. You may also participate in client meetings to understand project goals and make revisions based on feedback. The role often requires managing multiple projects simultaneously and balancing creative innovation with client or brand guidelines. This dynamic environment offers frequent opportunities to develop new techniques and grow your portfolio.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the motion design position, and why are they important?

To thrive in Motion Design, you need expertise in animation principles, graphic design, and visual storytelling, often supported by a degree in design or a related field. Proficiency with tools such as Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and motion graphics software is highly valued, and certifications in these programs can be advantageous. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help differentiate top performers in this field. These skills ensure the delivery of visually compelling content, effective collaboration with creative teams, and the ability to meet client or project goals efficiently.

How much money do motion designers make?

Motion designers typically earn a median annual salary of around $55,000 to $75,000, depending on experience, location, and skill level. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals with advanced skills in software like After Effects or Cinema 4D can earn higher salaries or freelance rates. Salaries can also vary based on whether they work full-time, part-time, or as freelancers.

Is it hard to get a job in motion design?

Getting a job in motion design can be competitive, as it requires a strong portfolio, proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D, and relevant skills in animation and visual storytelling. Building a solid network and gaining experience through freelance projects or internships can improve employment prospects.

Is motion design a good career?

Motion design is a viable career that involves creating animated visuals for media, advertising, and entertainment using tools like Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D. It requires creativity, technical skills, and often a portfolio or certification to succeed. The field offers opportunities in various industries, with job stability depending on experience and skill level.

What are popular job titles related to Motion Design jobs in Madison, WI?

For Motion Design jobs in Madison, WI, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Motion Design jobs in Madison, WI look for?

The top searched job categories for Motion Design jobs in Madison, WI are:

Motion Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Motion Design job openings in Madison, WI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $77,219 per year, or $37.1 per hour.

Motion Controls & Robotics Software Engineer

Accuray Incorporated

Madison, WI • On-site

$45.50 - $58.25/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Give hope. Give health. Make your mark in the fight against cancer.
At Accuray, we make a direct and powerful impact on the lives of cancer patients every day - helping them live longer, better lives. But our commitment to innovation offers a truly unique opportunity: the chance to change the fight against cancer - helping to develop, introduce and support new treatment delivery systems and software that will give new hope and new health to cancer patients and cancer survivors around the world.
Accuray develops, manufactures and sells radiotherapy systems for alternative cancer treatments. Our radiation therapy for cancer makes treatment shorter, safer, personalized and more effective, ultimately enabling patients to live longer, better lives.
Job Description
Summary:
The Motion Controls & Robotics Software Engineer is responsible for the research, planning, design, implementation, and verification of software that controls critical electro-mechanical and robotic motion mechanisms contributing to the function and performance of Accuray's radiation therapy products. This is a software-forward motion control role for candidates with demonstrated experience developing software that interfaces with physical hardware. The role also assists with defining high-level architecture and detailed hardware implementation of these motion devices, leveraging a cross-functional skillset across Software, Mechanical, Electrical, and Systems Engineering to solve complex engineering problems.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
Product Development
  • Object-oriented software development and hands-on hardware integration for Accuray's control systems, including robotic manipulators, precision positioning systems, thermal and pneumatic control systems. Detailed analysis reports (design reviews, control system models, DFMEA, etc.), debugging, reliability cycling, system integration, and formal software/hardware testing are key components of the development activities.

  • Researches, analyzes, plans and implements the control system design in accordance with product requirements as established from various sources including marketing, manufacturing, reliability, and customer specification documents. Drives distillation of system level requirements into sub-system and component level requirements.

  • Develops and executes comprehensive test plans, including manual, automated, unit, integration, and system-level tests, to rigorously verify developed software and hardware against defined requirements and specifications.

  • Hands-on, data driven problem solving - commonly working directly with motion hardware to move development efforts forward. Assists with hardware prototype builds and troubleshooting as needed.

  • Documents, implements and tests applicable design requirements for production. This includes supporting transfer of relevant design output documents, recommended assembly and test instructions, and service troubleshooting support.

  • Collaborates closely and frequently with Embedded Software Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, and test teams throughout the software development and product development lifecycle.

  • Provides subject matter expert input and guidance for field service escalations into engineering.

  • Supports the Mechanical Systems Manager in establishing or updating project and departmental deliverables.

  • LEADERSHIP

  • Provides technical leadership, leads by example, and mentors other employees within Project teams and Product Development.

  • May serve as the lead Engineer on projects, and coordinate the work of other engineers, technicians, or contributors.

  • Assures that quality processes are followed on projects and within the Mechanical Systems group.

  • Contributes to the development or improvement of processes.

  • SAFETY AND QUALITY

  • Ensures safety and quality considerations and requirements are proactively addressed and implemented in product design.

  • Address and manage in a timely fashion safety and quality issues raised by customers or staff.

  • Supports Accuray's Quality System and Safety and Health Program by following procedures and mentoring others.

Qualifications:
a. Required
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field, with coursework or experience in software development for physical systems.

  • Professional software experience: Minimum of 4 years of professional software development experience working directly with electro-mechanical, robotic, or motion control systems. Candidates should have taken software from a functional prototype or lab state to reliable customer-ready operation, with attention to memory safety, robustness, maintainability, deployment, updates, monitoring, and field/debug diagnostics. Experience should include hands-on environments where software meets hardware, close collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and embedded engineers, and the ability to critically verify AI-assisted code.

  • Cross-disciplinary engineering knowledge: Working knowledge of Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering design principles, including how software interfaces with sensors, actuators, motor controllers, and other electro-mechanical components.

  • Object-oriented software development: Demonstrated proficiency designing and implementing object-oriented software in C++ and/or Python, including class design, interfaces/abstractions, modular code structure, debugging, and unit/integration testing.

  • Software development practices: Experience using professional software development practices such as version control, code review, issue tracking, build/release workflows, and automated testing.

  • Production launch experience: Track record of on-time, high-quality production launches of released software and associated electro-mechanical components.

  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to effectively present technical concepts to individuals that are not subject matter experts and assist as needed.

b. Preferred or Desired
  • Advanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Robotics, Controls Engineering, Mechatronics, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

  • At least 8 years of design and development experience in a highly regulated, safety-critical industry.

  • Demonstrated ability to test and verify developed hardware and software against requirements.

  • Ability to develop system-level requirements for motion control systems, and effectively integrate both individual components into a system and sub-systems into a larger system.

  • Extensive experience working with automated or robotic systems and their components (motor controllers, drive electronics, sensors, etc.), including low-level firmware, mid-level software interfaces/device drivers, APIs, and robot controls middleware.

  • Experience developing robotics, motion control, or embedded software in regulated, safety-critical, or high-reliability environments.

  • Experience programming digital motion controllers, including configuration and utilization of digital I/O for motion control applications.

  • Self-starter who works independently to solve problems, manage workload, and resolve roadblocks, collaborating with peers and management as appropriate.

  • Experience in strategic infrastructure planning, developing roadmaps to achieve long-term objectives, and successfully implementing those plans.

  • Demonstrated experience developing, building, debugging, or deploying software in Linux-based environments.

  • Exposure to 3D CAD modeling software (SolidWorks preferred) and virtualization tools for robotics applications.

  • Exposure to Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) and parallel computing concepts.

  • Proficiency with linear algebra, rigid transformations, coordinate frames, and/or robotics software for serial-link manipulators.

  • Proficiency in working with databases, including querying, data manipulation, and schema design.

  • Strong foundational knowledge in control theory combined with hands-on experience developing data-driven control strategies.

  • Comfortable using AI-assisted tools to enhance productivity, accelerate problem solving, and strengthen software development workflows while maintaining engineering judgment, verification discipline, and ownership of the final work product.

  • Understands fundamental machine learning and reinforcement learning concepts and their potential utility in advancing robotic capabilities.

  • Formal product reliability qualification and testing background.

#LI-BB1
To qualify for this position, candidates must be able to furnish proof that they are authorized to work in the country they are applying on a permanent basis without sponsorship.
EEO Statement
At Accuray, our commitment to patient-first outcomes drives an inclusive and collaborative work environment where the best ideas rise to the top - and everyone works to push them further. We value diversity in both the professional and personal backgrounds of our employees, as this variety adds rich energy to every team, every project and every work day. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin - including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

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