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Senior Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

$100K - $131K/yr

Our partner is looking for a Senior Animator based in Netherlands. This is an opportunity for an experienced animator to contribute to the development of a major upcoming game project. You will ...

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA Ā· On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

The Role You are an experienced animator and motion designer, relentlessly bringing ideas to life ... Generate and develop standout creative ideas in collaboration with senior creative leadership.

Senior Gameplay Animator (CONTRACT)

OR Ā· On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

The Senior Gameplay Animator is responsible for creating gameplay animation at the highest quality level set by Lead Animators and Animation Directors. They collaborate closely with other disciplines ...

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA Ā· On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA Ā· On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

The Senior Gameplay Animator is responsible for creating gameplay animation at the highest quality level set by Lead Animators and Animation Directors. They collaborate closely with other disciplines ...

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA Ā· On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA Ā· On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY Ā· On-site

$116K - $132K/yr

Loyalkaspar is on the lookout for a Senior Designer / Animator to help across teams and projects developing concepts, presentations, style frames, and animation for all west coast projects across a ...

Senior Gameplay Animator

Brooklyn, NY Ā· On-site +1

$80K - $100K/yr

Work With Us on Project Dā–ˆā–ˆā–ˆā–ˆ We are looking for an experienced and talented Senior Gameplay Animator to join the development effort on our exciting new game "Project D." The project is a ...

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY

$116K - $132K/yr

Loyalkaspar is on the lookout for a Senior Designer / Animator to help across teams and projects developing concepts, presentations, style frames, and animation for all west coast projects across a ...

Lead Animator

Novato, CA Ā· On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

Lead Animator

Novato, CA Ā· On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

Lead Animator

Novato, CA Ā· Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

Animator IV

Reno, NV Ā· On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts from concept to final implementation, establishing the visual tone and quality standards for groundbreaking gaming experiences while ...

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA Ā· On-site

$113K - $129K/yr

We're looking for a Senior/Principal Animator who understands that every frame communicates something: timing, weight, threat, opportunity. You'll help define the animation language of a competitive ...

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA Ā· On-site +1

$113K - $129K/yr

We're looking for a Senior/Principal Animator who understands that every frame communicates something: timing, weight, threat, opportunity. You'll help define the animation language of a competitive ...

Senior Technical Animator

Las Vegas, NV Ā· On-site +1

$101K - $115K/yr

SpinPlay Games is looking for a Technical Animator who enjoys solving technical challenges just as much as creating exceptional animation. This role sits at the intersection of art, design, and ...

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Senior Animator information

See salary details

$77K

$112.7K

$122K

How much do senior animator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior animator in the United States is $112,707.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,000.00 and $121,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior animator?

A Senior Animator is a highly skilled professional responsible for creating high-quality animations for films, video games, advertisements, or other media. They lead animation projects, collaborate with designers and directors, and ensure character movements and visual effects align with the creative vision. Senior Animators also mentor junior team members, refine animation workflows, and help maintain consistency in style and quality. Strong artistic ability, technical proficiency in animation software, and experience in storytelling are essential for this role.

What are the common responsibilities of a senior animator on a production team?

As a Senior Animator, you are responsible for creating high-quality animation sequences, collaborating closely with directors and other departments to achieve the project's visual style. You will review and provide feedback on the work of junior animators, help troubleshoot animation challenges, and participate in planning meetings. Daily tasks often include refining complex shots, ensuring animation consistency, and integrating feedback from supervisors. These responsibilities allow you to have a direct impact on the final product and support the overall creative direction of the team.

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

To thrive as a Senior Animator, you need advanced animation and storytelling skills, a strong portfolio, and typically a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Toon Boom Harmony is essential, along with knowledge of the latest animation techniques and pipelines. Leadership, communication, and mentorship abilities help you collaborate effectively and guide junior animators. These skills ensure high-quality animation production, foster team growth, and support the creative vision of complex projects.

How much do senior animators make?

Senior animators typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have advanced skills in animation software like Maya or Adobe After Effects and may lead projects or teams.

What do senior animators do?

Senior animators create and oversee animated sequences for films, TV shows, video games, or advertisements, often leading a team of junior animators. They develop storyboards, design characters, and use software like Maya or Adobe Animate to produce high-quality animations, ensuring projects meet artistic and technical standards. They also collaborate with directors and clients to achieve the desired visual style and may be responsible for mentoring less experienced staff.
More about Senior Animator jobs

What cities are hiring for Senior Animator jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Animator job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Animator jobs?

The most popular types of Animator jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Senior Animator jobs?

The top employers for Senior Animator jobs are:

What states have the most Senior Animator jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Animator jobs include:

Infographic showing various Senior Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 64% Physical, 11% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,707 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Senior Animator

On-site, Remote

$100K - $131K/yr

Full-time

PTO

This job post hasĀ expired 5 days ago.Ā Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Animator based in Netherlands.

This is an opportunity for an experienced animator to contribute to the development of a major upcoming game project.
You will create polished, expressive animation for characters, creatures, and gameplay assets across a globally distributed team.
The role combines creative craft with technical collaboration, working closely with art, design, narrative, engineering, and technical art.
You will help establish a high visual and technical standard while contributing to efficient animation workflows and pipelines.
The position offers the opportunity to work across both keyframe and motion capture techniques in Unreal Engine.
You will also mentor other team members, provide feedback, and help continuously improve the quality of the animation discipline.
The ideal candidate is curious, self-driven, collaborative, and passionate about creating memorable interactive experiences.

Accountabilities
  • Create high-quality animations that meet the project's artistic, gameplay, and technical requirements while setting a strong visual standard for the team.
  • Collaborate with animation leadership and Technical Art to improve tools, technology, implementation support, workflows, and production efficiency.
  • Partner with design and narrative teams to ensure characters, creatures, and animated gameplay assets are responsive, expressive, and aligned with the intended player experience.
  • Manage personal production workload and time effectively to meet milestones while maintaining consistently high-quality output.
  • Contribute to the improvement of animation processes, pipelines, documentation, and production workflows.
  • Apply keyframe and motion capture techniques effectively across different animation requirements.
  • Develop advanced expertise in Unreal Engine's animation tools and contribute to solving technical animation challenges.
  • Review and iterate on animation assets based on feedback, while providing constructive input on team work when appropriate.
  • Mentor junior animators and help establish high standards for animation quality, aesthetics, and production practices.
  • Troubleshoot and diagnose animation issues, working collaboratively with technical and creative teams to resolve problems.
  • Stay current with animation trends, techniques, and industry practices while continuously developing your craft.
  • Take initiative, experiment with new approaches, and contribute ideas that improve responsiveness, expressiveness, and overall player experience.
Requirements
  • 7+ years of professional experience as an animator, including experience shipping at least one Unreal Engine title in an animation role.
  • Strong hands-on proficiency with Unreal Engine and its animation tools.
  • Advanced experience with Blender and other relevant animation software.
  • Extensive knowledge of animation pipelines, production workflows, and asset development processes.
  • Strong understanding of art fundamentals and the ability to demonstrate excellent aesthetic judgment.
  • Experience with both keyframe and motion capture animation techniques.
  • Strong documentation, debugging, troubleshooting, and animation problem-solving skills.
  • Proven ability to mentor junior team members and help establish high standards for quality and execution.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to independently manage workload, priorities, and deadlines.
  • Highly collaborative and comfortable working effectively within a globally distributed, remote team.
  • Self-motivated, curious, adaptable, and willing to experiment, take calculated risks, and learn from failure.
  • Advanced Blender expertise is preferred.
  • Experience creating creature or non-bipedal animation is preferred.
  • First-person animation experience is a plus.
  • A portfolio demonstrating relevant animation work and shipped or production-quality projects is expected.
Benefits
  • Full-time opportunity within a globally distributed, remote team.
  • Opportunity to contribute to a major game project and create engaging player experiences.
  • Annual professional development support to encourage continued learning and career growth.
  • Home office stipend to support an effective remote working environment.
  • Paid time off for volunteer and nonprofit activities.
  • Opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals across animation, art, design, narrative, engineering, and technical disciplines.
  • Supportive environment focused on creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Opportunity to mentor others while further developing senior-level animation and technical skills.
  • Competitive compensation; for California-based employees, the stated expected salary range is $100,000-$131,000, with actual compensation determined by factors such as experience, education, skills, and location.
  • Commitment to equal employment opportunity and inclusion for qualified applicants.
How Jobgether works:
We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.
We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!
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We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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