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Senior 3D Rendering Artist Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Cloud Chamber

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

... artists towards performant solutions. • Actively improve skill sets and abilities by keeping ... • Strong 3D Math skills. • Strong C/C++ experience. • Experience with modern GPUs and low ...

2K

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions.Actively improve skill sets and ... Strong 3D Math skills.Strong C/C++ experience.Experience with modern GPUs and low level graphics ...

2K

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions.Actively improve skill sets and ... Strong 3D Math skills.Strong C/C++ experience.Experience with modern GPUs and low level graphics ...

2K

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions. * Actively improve skill sets ... Strong 3D Math skills. * Strong C/C++ experience. * Experience with modern GPUs and low level ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions. * Actively improve skill sets ... Strong 3D Math skills. * Strong C/C++ experience. * Experience with modern GPUs and low level ...

2K

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions. * Actively improve skill sets ... Strong 3D Math skills. * Strong C/C++ experience. * Experience with modern GPUs and low level ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Effectively communicate with artists towards performant solutions. * Actively improve skill sets ... Strong 3D Math skills. * Strong C/C++ experience. * Experience with modern GPUs and low level ...

Roblox

Principal Rendering Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Join some of the best Graphics Engineers in the world supporting the largest immersive 3D streaming ... Learn about our community and work with technical artists to understand the present and future ...

Roblox

Senior Rendering Engineer Manager

San Mateo, CA · On-site

... 3D immersive digital experiences- all created by our global community of developers and creators ... Why Join Our Rendering Team? Roblox is seeking an experienced and passionate senior engineering ...

Roblox

Senior Rendering Engineer Manager

San Mateo, CA · On-site

... in 3D immersive digital experiences - all created by our global community of developers and ... Why Join Our Rendering Team? Roblox is seeking an experienced and passionate senior engineering ...

Roblox

Principal Rendering Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$295K - $345K/yr

Join some of the best Graphics Engineers in the world supporting the largest immersive 3D streaming ... Learn about our community and work with technical artists to understand the present and future ...

Vizcom

Senior Product Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... 3D visualization • Optimize performance: push React and WebGL rendering to feel instant under ... Vizcom is an AI-powered creative tool designed for industrial designers and artists. Founded in ...

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Senior 3D Rendering Artist information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$24

$48

$83

How much do senior 3d rendering artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior 3d rendering artist in Berkeley, CA is $48.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.27 and $59.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior 3D rendering artist?

Senior 3D Rendering Artists are experienced professionals who specialize in creating high-quality, photorealistic 3D images and animations using computer software. They typically work in industries such as architecture, gaming, film, and product visualization, collaborating closely with designers and other artists to bring concepts to life. Their role involves modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering complex scenes, as well as mentoring junior artists and ensuring that visual outputs meet artistic and technical standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior 3D rendering artist?

To thrive as a Senior 3D Rendering Artist, you need advanced skills in 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, and rendering, typically supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field and a strong professional portfolio. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk 3ds Max, Maya, Blender, V-Ray, or Unreal Engine is essential, and certifications in these tools can be advantageous. Creative problem-solving, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help set top artists apart in collaborative, deadline-driven environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing visually compelling, technically accurate renderings that meet client and project specifications.

What are some common challenges faced by senior 3D rendering artists when working on large-scale projects?

Senior 3D Rendering Artists often encounter challenges such as managing complex scenes with a high polygon count, ensuring photorealistic quality under tight deadlines, and balancing creative vision with technical constraints. Coordinating with other departments, like modeling, lighting, and post-production, is crucial to maintain consistency across the project. Additionally, staying updated with evolving software and hardware technologies is essential to optimize workflows and achieve the best results.

What are popular job titles related to Senior 3D Rendering Artist jobs in Berkeley, CA?

For Senior 3D Rendering Artist jobs in Berkeley, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Senior 3D Rendering Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior 3D Rendering Artist job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,490 per year, or $48.3 per hour.

Senior 3D Generalist, Product Visualization (Contract)

Skydio, Inc

San Mateo, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

Skydio is the leading US drone company and the world leader in autonomous flight, the key technology for the future of drones and aerial mobility. The Skydio team combines deep expertise in artificial intelligence, best-in-class hardware and software product development, operational excellence, and customer obsession to empower a broader, more diverse audience of drone users, from utility inspectors to first responders, soldiers in battlefield scenarios, and beyond.
About the role:
Skydio is looking for a highly skilled Senior 3D Generalist to join our Brand Creative team for a full-time, three-month contract. This role will support the development of product imagery, illustrations, animations, and interactive 3D assets for our annual user conference keynote and other high-priority brand and product-launch initiatives. You will report to the Senior 3D Art Director and Creative Director and collaborate closely with designers, animators, product marketers, engineers, and other cross-functional partners. This is a hands-on production role for someone who can take projects from prepared product CAD through final, polished visual deliverables. You should be equally comfortable cleaning and preparing complex product geometry, building physically accurate materials, lighting photorealistic scenes, animating product features, compositing final imagery, and optimizing assets for real-time web experiences.
  • Employment Type: Full-time, 3-month contract
  • Work Authorization: We welcome every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in The United States to apply. However, at this time, Skydio does not currently offer employment-based work permits or visa sponsorship for this role.
  • Location: U.S. Remote or hybrid/onsite at our HQ in San Mateo, California.

What You'll Do:
  • Create highly photorealistic product renderings, illustrations, and animations for keynote presentations, product launches, marketing campaigns, web experiences, decks, manuals, and other brand communications.
  • Work from engineering and industrial-design CAD models to create production-ready visualization assets in Blender.
  • Prepare complex CAD-derived geometry through tessellation, topology cleanup, normal correction, mesh organization, material separation, UV creation, and scene optimization.
  • Preserve the accuracy, construction, proportions, materials, and fit and finish of Skydio hardware throughout the visualization process.
  • Build realistic, physically based materials using Blender and Adobe Substance 3D Painter.
  • Create studio-quality lighting that accurately communicates product form, surface finish, scale, and industrial-design details.
  • Produce both clean studio imagery and environmental or conceptual scenes showing Skydio products in use.
  • Create product animations that demonstrate assembly, operation, movement, workflows, features, and product interactions.
  • Composite and finish rendered imagery primarily in Adobe Photoshop, with occasional motion graphics and compositing work in Adobe After Effects.
  • Adapt product assets for multiple output formats, resolutions, aspect ratios, and campaign needs.
  • Prepare optimized real-time 3D assets for interactive product viewers, web experiences, and augmented-reality applications.
  • Export and validate assets in formats such as glTF and GLB for implementation in three.js and related browser-based experiences.
  • Optimize real-time assets through efficient topology, UV layouts, texture atlases, baked maps, level-of-detail strategies, texture compression, and thoughtful polygon and material budgets.
  • Maintain organized scenes, materials, textures, naming conventions, and file structures that can be shared and reused across the broader creative team.
  • Collaborate closely with creative leadership, incorporate feedback quickly, and deliver polished work on compressed production timelines.

Types of Deliverables:
  • Photorealistic product renderings
  • Product-launch and keynote imagery
  • Technical and illustrative product visuals
  • Product feature and assembly animations
  • Conceptual product artwork
  • Environmental and in-situ product visualizations
  • Product UI and hardware interaction visuals
  • Web-optimized glTF and GLB assets
  • Interactive 3D product-viewer assets
  • Augmented-reality-ready product assets
  • Presentation, campaign, manual, and website graphics

What Makes You a Good Fit:
  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional photorealistic visualization of consumer electronics, industrial products, automotive products, robotics, or other hard-surface products.
  • Advanced proficiency in Blender, including modeling, scene organization, shading, lighting, rendering, and animation.
  • Strong experience creating realistic hard-surface materials in Adobe Substance 3D Painter.
  • Excellent command of product lighting, composition, color, materials, and visual storytelling.
  • Experience converting engineering or industrial-design CAD data into clean, efficient, production-ready 3D assets.
  • A strong understanding of common CAD-to-DCC challenges, including dense tessellation, poor topology, shading artifacts, duplicate geometry, inconsistent normals, complex assemblies, and large datasets.
  • Strong compositing and image-finishing skills in Adobe Photoshop.
  • Working knowledge of Adobe After Effects for animation finishing, compositing, and motion-graphics integration.
  • Ability to match real-world product materials and finishes accurately, including plastics, coated metals, machined components, glass, optical surfaces, fabrics, and soft goods.
  • Experience balancing physical accuracy with the visual clarity required for marketing and brand communication.
  • Ability to work efficiently across multiple deliverable types while maintaining a consistently high level of craft.
  • Strong organizational skills and experience working with shared production assets, versioning, naming standards, and structured file systems.
  • Ability to receive direction from creative leadership, communicate progress clearly, and respond constructively to feedback.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities and deadline-driven launch work.

Primary Tools:
  • Blender
  • Adobe Substance 3D Painter
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • glTF and GLB asset workflows
  • Photogrammetry capture and asset creation workflows
  • three.js familiarity or equivalent web-based 3D experience

Portfolio Requirements:
Please include a portfolio or reel demonstrating:
  • Photorealistic hard-surface product rendering
  • Lighting and material-development skills
  • CAD-derived product visualization
  • Product animation or motion work
  • Examples of real-time, interactive, or web-optimized 3D assets, when available
  • A brief description of your individual responsibilities for collaborative projects

Compensation: This is a temporary independent contractor (1099) position with an initial contract duration of three (3) months, with the potential to extend or evolve based on business needs and mutual fit. The hourly rate range for this contract is $80.00-$90.00* per hour and will vary based on factors including skill level, relevant experience, proficiencies, transferable knowledge, and geographic location. This position is not eligible for company-sponsored benefits. As an independent contractor, the individual is solely responsible for maintaining any required liability insurance, other applicable insurance coverage, benefits, and for the payment of all applicable federal, state, and local taxes. We consider qualified applicants consistent with applicable law. Background checks will be conducted in accordance with legal requirements. This contract position is subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws, as well as the terms of the contractor agreement.
*Compensation for certain positions may vary based on location.
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At Skydio we believe that diversity drives innovation. We have created a multidisciplinary environment that embraces the power of diverse perspectives to create elegant solutions for complex problems. We are committed to growing our network of people, programs, and resources to nurture an inclusive culture.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local anti-discrimination laws.
For positions located in the United States of America, Skydio, Inc. uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

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