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Pipeline Developer Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$119K - $135K/yr

... animation pipeline processes and workflows Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

You'll set vision, mentor artists, evolve pipelines, and hold the quality bar high for a ... Partnering with cross-discipline leads (design, engineering, art, production) to align animation ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

San Jose, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Bonfire Studios

Lead Gameplay Animator

Irvine, CA · On-site

You'll set vision, mentor artists, evolve pipelines, and hold the quality bar high for a ... Partnering with cross-discipline leads (design, engineering, art, production) to align animation ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Santa Rosa, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Hayward, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Fremont, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Alameda, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Sonoma, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

San Mateo, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

Evil Eye Pictures

Senior Unreal Animator

Sunnyvale, CA · Remote

$40 - $65/hr

... innovators and engineers from around the globe. The team is focused on creating immersive ... animation pipeline. A level of technical knowledge combined with strong creative and visual ...

World Labs

Pipeline Engineer (Graphics/3D)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

... engineering to product design - creating a tight feedback loop between our cutting-edge research ... Experience with production pipelines at VFX, animation, or gaming studios. * A production support ...

World Labs

Pipeline Engineer (Graphics/3D)

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$164K - $203K/yr

... engineering to product design - creating a tight feedback loop between our cutting-edge research ... Experience with production pipelines at VFX, animation, or gaming studios. * A production support ...

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All JobsPipeline Developer Animation JobsPipeline Developer Animation Jobs in California

Pipeline Developer Animation information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Pipeline Developer in Animation, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Pipeline Developer in Animation, you need strong programming skills (especially in Python), understanding of animation workflows, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Maya, Houdini, Shotgun, and version control systems is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication set standout candidates apart in this role. These skills ensure the smooth integration and automation of processes, enabling artists and technical teams to work efficiently and deliver high-quality animated content.

What are Pipeline Developers in Animation?

Pipeline Developers in animation are technical professionals who design, implement, and maintain the software tools and workflows that connect various stages of the animation production process. They ensure that artists, animators, and technical directors can move assets and data seamlessly between different software applications and departments. Their work helps to automate repetitive tasks, fix bottlenecks, and improve production efficiency. Pipeline Developers often write scripts, develop plugins, and provide technical support to the team throughout the animation pipeline.

What is the difference between Pipeline Developer Animation vs Pipeline TD?

AspectPipeline Developer AnimationPipeline TD
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Animation, or related fieldBachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, VFX companies, game developmentVFX studios, animation houses, game studios
Industry UsageFocuses on animation pipeline tools and workflowsFocuses on technical pipeline automation and software integration

While both roles involve pipeline development, the Pipeline Developer Animation specializes in creating and maintaining workflows specific to animation and visual effects, whereas the Pipeline TD focuses on automating and integrating technical pipelines across various production stages. Both roles require strong scripting skills and industry experience but differ in their primary focus areas within the production pipeline.

What are some common challenges Pipeline Developers face in animation studios, and how can they overcome them?

Pipeline Developers in animation studios often encounter challenges such as integrating new tools with legacy systems, ensuring smooth data flow between departments, and supporting diverse artist workflows. To overcome these, it’s important to maintain clear documentation, collaborate closely with artists and technical directors, and stay adaptable to rapidly evolving production needs. Regular communication with end users and iterative testing can help ensure the pipeline remains efficient and user-friendly.
What are popular job titles related to Pipeline Developer Animation jobs in California? For Pipeline Developer Animation jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Pipeline Developer Animation jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Pipeline Developer Animation jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Pipeline Developer Animation jobs? Cities in California with the most Pipeline Developer Animation job openings:
Pipeline Developer Animation jobs near you
Infographic showing various Pipeline Developer Animation job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 69% In-person, and 31% Remote job distribution.
Senior Software Engineer, Gameplay Systems & Animation - Unpublished R&D Product

Senior Software Engineer, Gameplay Systems & Animation - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Riot Games is a company dedicated to creating player-focused experiences, and they are seeking a Senior Software Engineer for an unpublished R&D product. This role involves designing and implementing scalable gameplay and animation systems, collaborating closely with animators and technical artists to enhance the player experience.
Responsibilities:
• Design, prototype, and implement robust, scalable gameplay and animation systems, evolving underlying systems to improve reuse, polish, maintainability, and performance.
• Contribute to locomotion, movement feel, and animation-driven gameplay systems across multiple gameplay domains.
• Partner closely with animators and technical artists to improve workflows, clarify handoff points, and enable efficient content production.
• Identify technical risks in animation and gameplay systems and collaborate with technical leaders to implement sustainable architectural solutions.
• Contribute to adjacent gameplay domains such as combat systems, camera, VFX integration, or other core gameplay systems as needed.
• Mentor peers across disciplines by sharing insights on animation systems, gameplay feel, and technical problem-solving.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years of professional experience in game development.
• 3+ years of experience developing or supporting animation systems.
• Strong C++ programming skills and solid computer science fundamentals.
• Experience working with Unreal Engine, including its animation systems.
• Experience implementing gameplay systems closely tied to animation.
• Strong debugging, optimization, and performance-tuning skills.
• Experience collaborating effectively in cross-disciplinary teams, with strong product sense and player empathy.
Preferred:
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine internals and extending or modifying engine animation systems.
• Experience improving content pipelines and animation workflows.
• Exposure to related domains such as gameplay VFX, camera systems, etc.
• Experience working on mid-sized engineering teams in a live or in-development game environment.
Company:
Riot Games is a global company that develops online games. Founded in 2006, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
Riot Games logo

About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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