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Principal Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

coty

Votre objectif principal : * Animation eTrade : Participer à l'élaboration et mise à jour des plans e-Trade, selon les différents plans d'activation marketing. * Animation commerciale : Pilotage ...

Tolan

Principal Gameplay Engineer - Unity

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $300K/yr

The Role We're hiring a Principal Gameplay Engineer to define and own the core interactions of the ... animations, secondary motion, haptics, camera shake, VFX, anticipation/overshoot, responsive UI ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Understanding of animation principals which can be clearly displayed in your demo reel. Thorough knowledge of Maya and other animation software. Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

Understanding of animation principals which can be clearly displayed in your demo reel. Thorough knowledge of Maya and other animation software. Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years ...

Carlost Inc.

Customer Success Manager

New York, NY · On-site

Understanding of animation principals which can be clearly displayed in your demo reel. * Thorough knowledge of Maya and other animation software. * Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. * 3+ ...

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Principal Animator information

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How much do principal animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for principal animator in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Principal Animator vs Lead Animator?

AspectPrincipal AnimatorLead Animator
CredentialsTypically requires a strong portfolio, experience in animation, and sometimes a degree in animation or related fieldSimilar credentials, often with additional leadership or team management experience
Work EnvironmentWorks on high-level animation projects, overseeing quality and styleLeads a team of animators, coordinating daily tasks and project deadlines
Industry UsageCommonly found in film, gaming, and animation studiosUsed in similar settings, often as a step below a department head or supervisor

The Principal Animator focuses on creating and maintaining high-quality animation work and setting artistic standards. The Lead Animator, on the other hand, manages a team of animators, ensuring project deadlines and team coordination. While both roles require strong animation skills, the Principal Animator emphasizes technical expertise and artistic direction, whereas the Lead Animator combines technical skills with leadership responsibilities.

How does a principal animator typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

A Principal Animator works closely with departments such as art, design, programming, and audio to ensure cohesive character movement and animations that align with the project's vision. They often participate in cross-disciplinary meetings to provide animation expertise, review feedback, and help solve technical or creative challenges. Collaboration might involve integrating animations with game engines, ensuring proper rigging, and refining motion to enhance gameplay and narrative. This role often acts as a bridge between creative and technical teams, mentoring junior animators and ensuring animation standards are maintained throughout production.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal animator?

To thrive as a Principal Animator, you need expert proficiency in animation principles, character rigging, and a strong portfolio demonstrating advanced artistic and technical skills, often supported by a degree in animation or related field. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Maya, Blender, and Adobe Creative Suite, along with familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal, is typically required. Outstanding collaboration, leadership, and creative problem-solving abilities set top candidates apart in leading animation teams and projects. These skills ensure the creation of compelling animations, efficient team workflows, and the successful delivery of high-quality visual content.

What is a principal animator?

Principal Animators are senior-level professionals responsible for overseeing and guiding animation teams in the creation of high-quality animated sequences for films, games, or other media. They set the artistic and technical standards, mentor junior animators, and collaborate closely with directors and other departments to ensure the project’s vision is realized. Principal Animators often handle complex or critical animation shots themselves and play a key role in troubleshooting and problem-solving throughout the production process. Their experience and leadership are essential for maintaining consistency and quality in the final product.
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Principal Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Combat Designer (Associate/Mid-Level/Senior / Principal)

Gunfire Games

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Gunfire Games is a company passionate about creating unforgettable worlds and experiences, known for titles like Darksiders 3 and The Remnant Series. They are seeking a Combat Designer (Associate, Mid-Level, Senior, or Principal) to focus on creature design for upcoming titles, involving conceptualizing and implementing compelling creature mechanics using Unreal Engine 5.
Responsibilities:
• Conceptualize and implement compelling creature mechanics using Unreal Engine 5, helping bring dynamic and memorable encounters to life.
• Work in-engine, using tools such as state machines and Blueprints to implement and iterate on creature behaviors.
• Demonstrates potential through portfolio work, with a focus on implementation.
• Ability to own features from concept through iteration and polish.
• Mentor other designers and drive quality across systems.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 0–2+ years of experience (professional, internship, or equivalent personal/indie work)
• Foundational understanding of combat design, AI behaviors, or gameplay systems
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) and Blueprint scripting
• Demonstrates potential through portfolio work, with a focus on implementation
• Eagerness to learn, take feedback, and grow within a collaborative team
• 2–5+ years of experience in combat or gameplay design
• Portfolio demonstrating implemented creature behaviors and combat encounters
• Strong working knowledge of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), including animation systems and state machines
• Proficiency with Blueprint scripting to implement gameplay systems
• Ability to own features from concept through iteration and polish
• Solid understanding of combat feel, AI behaviors, and animation fundamentals
• 5+ years of professional experience in combat or systems design
• Shipped at least one title with meaningful contribution to combat or AI systems
• Deep understanding of creature design, combat mechanics, and player experience
• Advanced experience with Unreal Engine systems, including optimization and technical constraints
• Ability to lead features, mentor other designers, and drive quality across systems
• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration and problem-solving skills
• 8+ years of experience with a focus on combat systems or AI-driven gameplay
• Multiple shipped titles with significant ownership of combat or creature systems
• Proven ability to define and drive combat design vision at a system or project level
• Establishes best practices, pipelines, and long-term direction for combat design
• Mentors across the discipline and influences both creative and technical decision-making
• Balances high-level vision with hands-on execution when needed
• Strong technical understanding of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), especially animation systems and state machines
• Experience working with 3D game engines and understanding of game development pipelines
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Ability to iterate quickly without compromising quality
• Strong problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving development environment
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Must be based in the U.S. and legally authorized to work without sponsorship
Preferred:
• Animation experience, especially related to creature behaviors
• Shipped a AA/AAA title (For Mid, Senior, Principal Levels)
• Experience iterating on work based on playtests and player feedback
Company:
This is generally the blurb where we try to sell ourselves, and convince everyone why we are so awesome. It is a sub-organization of THQ Nordic. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in Austin, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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