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Senior Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Big Shot Pictures

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

About The Role We are seeking a Senior Animator to help shape and execute high-quality animation within an Unreal Engine-first, real-time pipeline for episodic content. This is a hands-on, creative ...

New

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · 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 ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$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 ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · 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 ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$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 ...

PUBG Madglory

Mid-Level/Senior Animator

Madison, WI · On-site +1

$106K - $121K/yr

Maintain animation production with performance and optimization in mind. Qualifications: * 3+ years' experience for mid-level/5+ years' experience for senior level in game development or equivalent ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · 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

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$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

loyalkaspar

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 ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

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

loyalkaspar

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY · 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 ...

ZAGG, Inc.

Senior 3D Animator

Midvale, UT · On-site

$100K - $114K/yr

Senior 3D Animator Location: Midvale, UT, 84047 Employment Type: Full-Time | On-site Department: Creative/Marketing About Us At ZAGG Brands, we're at the forefront of innovation, empowering mobile ...

ZAGG Inc

Senior 3D Animator

Midvale, UT

$100K - $114K/yr

Senior 3D Animator Location: Midvale, UT, 84047 Employment Type: Full-Time | On-site Department: Creative/Marketing About Us At ZAGG Brands, we're at the forefront of innovation, empowering mobile ...

Progressive Gaming

Animator IV

Reno, NV · 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 ...

IGT

Animator IV

Reno, NV · 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 ...

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How much do senior animator jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 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 job?

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 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.

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.

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:
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Senior Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Animator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 76% As Needed, 2% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 17% Nights, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 71% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,707 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Senior Animator

Big Shot Pictures

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

Other

Posted yesterday

Job description

About Big Shot Pictures

Big Shot Pictures is a next generation animation company founded by Brian Robbins that produces the franchises of tomorrow. With a distinctive digital-first approach, the company builds global animation franchises across all platforms – from digital to theatrical, gaming to streaming, and consumer products to experiences.


About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Animator to help shape and execute high-quality animation within an Unreal Engine–first, real-time pipeline for episodic content. This is a hands-on, creative leadership role that combines strong animation fundamentals with technical fluency in Unreal Engine. The ideal candidate is comfortable leading by example, collaborating closely with a small, focused team, and contributing directly to animation quality and performance on screen.


This role will support the development of creating stylized, appealing content for kids and family

audiences with quick turnarounds.


This is a contract role which would report in-person at our studio in Los Angeles


Responsibilities

  • Execute character animation for episodic productions from layout through final delivery
  • Animate directly in Unreal Engine, utilizing Sequencer, Control Rig, and MetaHuman Animator workflows
  • Provide feedback and mentorship to other animators as needed
  • Collaborate closely with directors, designers, technical artists, and production partners to maintain a consistent visual and performance style
  • Optimize animation workflows to deliver appealing animations at volume
  • Support asset optimization, iteration, and performance polish within a real-time pipeline
  • Contribute to maintaining efficient workflows and production best practices


Required Qualifications

  • Strong professional experience animating in Unreal Engine (Sequencer, Control Rig, MetaHuman Animator), or strong foundational animation skills with a demonstrated ability and willingness to transition to real-time workflows
  • Proven ability to animate across a wide range of styles, with an emphasis on stylized and appealing performance for kids and family content
  • Comfortable working in small, fast-moving teams
  • Experience animating episodic, serialized, or narrative-driven content


Nice to Have

  • Experience working with Animation Sequences within Unreal
  • Creature and non-human animation experience
  • Storyboarding and/or layout experience
  • Experience with mocap pipelines
  • Interest in leveraging emerging tools, including AI-assisted workflows, as an extension of the creative process to improve efficiency and iteration

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