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Programmer Animator Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Realtimevfx

Graphic Programmer (Shader/VFX)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

[HIRING] Hey everyone We're looking for a Graphic Programmer to join a Ukrainian hyper-casual mobile ... Creating satisfying visual effects and animations * Optimizing unconventional graphics for mobile ...

Childhood Cancer Society

Bring Adventure Ted's animations and projects to life, creating impactful emotional connections ... Minimum of 2 years of experience in sound design, audio engineering, or voice synthesis. Candidates ...

Childhood Cancer Society

Bring Adventure Ted's animations and projects to life, creating impactful emotional connections ... Minimum of 2 years of experience in sound design, audio engineering, or voice synthesis. Candidates ...

Childhood Cancer Society

Bring Adventure Ted's animations and projects to life, creating impactful emotional connections ... Minimum of 2 years of experience in sound design, audio engineering, or voice synthesis. Candidates ...

Childhood Cancer Society

Bring Adventure Ted's animations and projects to life, creating impactful emotional connections ... Minimum of 2 years of experience in sound design, audio engineering, or voice synthesis. Candidates ...

Childhood Cancer Society

Bring Adventure Ted's animations and projects to life, creating impactful emotional connections ... Minimum of 2 years of experience in sound design, audio engineering, or voice synthesis. Candidates ...

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Programmer Animator information

What is a programmer animator?

Programmer animators are professionals who combine programming skills with animation expertise to create, implement, and optimize animation systems in video games, films, or interactive applications. They write code that brings characters, objects, and environments to life, ensuring movements are realistic and responsive. In addition to collaborating with artists and designers, programmer animators work on technical tasks such as rigging, motion capture integration, and developing custom animation tools. Their role bridges the gap between artistic vision and technical execution, making them vital in the production pipeline.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a programmer animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Programmer Animator, you need a solid background in computer science, animation principles, and proficiency in programming languages such as C++ or Python, often supported by a relevant degree. Experience with animation software (e.g., Maya, Blender) and game engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) is typically required, along with knowledge of scripting and animation systems. Strong problem-solving, creativity, and effective communication skills help bridge the gap between technical and artistic teams. These skills are crucial for creating smooth, interactive animations that enhance user experience in games or simulations.

How do programmer animators typically collaborate with artists and game designers during a project?

Programmer Animators work closely with both artists and game designers to ensure that character and environment animations are both visually appealing and technically feasible. They often act as a bridge, translating artistic vision into code that runs efficiently within the game engine. Regular meetings, feedback sessions, and prototype reviews are common, allowing Programmer Animators to adjust animations based on gameplay needs or performance constraints. This collaborative environment helps create seamless animations that enhance player experience while meeting project deadlines.

What is the difference between Programmer Animator vs Graphic Designer?

AspectProgrammer AnimatorGraphic Designer
Required CredentialsAnimation or computer science degree, coding skillsDesign or fine arts degree, strong visual skills
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, multimedia companiesAdvertising agencies, print and digital media firms
Industry UsageVideo games, films, interactive mediaMarketing, branding, print and digital media

Programmer Animators focus on creating animated content through coding and technical skills, often working in multimedia and gaming industries. Graphic Designers primarily develop visual concepts for branding and marketing, emphasizing artistic skills. While both roles involve visual creativity, Programmer Animators combine programming with animation, whereas Graphic Designers focus on static visual design.

Graphic Programmer (Shader/VFX)

Chicago, IL • On-site

Realtimevfx
See more jobs at Realtimevfxexternal

$100 - $125/hr

Other

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

[HIRING] Hey everyone We’re looking for a Graphic Programmer to join a Ukrainian hyper-casual mobile game studio, 300M+ downloads. Product — hyper-casual mobile games where every visual detail matters — satisfying effects, smooth animations, and shaders that make players think “wait, how did they do that?”

What you’ll be doing:
  • Writing shaders and developing new graphics technologies
  • Creating satisfying visual effects and animations
  • Optimizing unconventional graphics for mobile devices
  • Working on hyper-casual titles with potential expansion to PC
What we’re looking for:
  • Experience with shaders, rendering, and animations
  • Strong math: trigonometry, vector math, matrices
  • Understanding of tweens/easings
  • Creative and artistic eye — style, color, composition
  • Unity/HLSL (Unreal/GLSL also fine), understanding of mobile GPU

Fully remote, flexible schedule Small team, no bureaucracy, no rigid deadlines Open to Ukrainian and Belarusian candidates

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