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Senior Animator Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Lead, Creative Services

Rochester, NY · On-site +1

$100K - $186K/yr

Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off L3Harris is seeking a Senior 3D Animator for its in-house Creative Services team. The role creates ...

... and Dreamworks Animations, we connect hundreds of thousands of "pals," hosts, and gyms through ... You'll work directly with a Senior Product Manager and own specific deliverables end-to-end ...

... and Dreamworks Animations, we connect hundreds of thousands of "pals," hosts, and gyms through ... You'll work directly with a Senior Product Manager and own specific deliverables end-to-end ...

... and Dreamworks Animations, we connect hundreds of thousands of "pals," hosts, and gyms through ... You'll work directly with a Senior Product Manager and own specific deliverables end-to-end ...

... and Dreamworks Animations, we connect hundreds of thousands of "pals," hosts, and gyms through ... You'll work directly with a Senior Product Manager and own specific deliverables end-to-end ...

Software Engineer III

Rochester, NY · On-site

$85K - $134K/yr

SUMMARY This senior-level role is responsible for designing, coding, testing, and maintaining new ... animations, and micro-interactions that enhance the overall user experience DevOps Focus o Work ...

Senior Animator information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$76.1K

$111.4K

$120.6K

How much do senior animator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior animator in Rochester, NY is $111,376.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,700.00 and $119,600.00 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animator jobs in Rochester, NY?

The most popular types of Animator jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Animator jobs in Rochester, NY?

For Senior Animator jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Animator jobs in Rochester, NY look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Animator jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Senior Animator jobs?

Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Senior Animator job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Animator job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 83% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 70% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,376 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

Lead, Creative Services

L3HHCM20

Rochester, NY • On-site, Remote

$100K - $186K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Create 3D renders and animations of products, systems, and capabilities for various purposes.

  • Edit and finish video content by combining animation, live footage, motion graphics, audio, and titles.

  • Manage projects independently from creative brief through final delivery, including timelines, files, and revisions.


Job description

Job Title: Lead, Creative Services

Job Code: 43115

Job Location: Melbourne, FL; Rochester, NY; or Remote Opportunity

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

L3Harris is seeking a Senior 3D Animator for its in-house Creative Services team. The role creates 3D renders and animations and edits them into finished video for marketing, customer engagements, events, and internal communications. The animator works independently from creative brief through final delivery, translating engineering and technical subject matter into clear visual content that holds to company brand standards.

Essential Functions:

  • Conceive, model, light, and render professional three-dimensional (3D) animations that visualize products, systems, and capabilities for marketing, customer engagements, trade shows, and internal communications.
  • Edit and finish video, combining animation, live footage, motion graphics, audio, and titling into a polished piece that carries a clear narrative from open to close.
  • Translate technical and engineering subject matter into accurate, accessible visual stories, partnering with engineers and program teams to get the details right.
  • Apply artificial intelligence (AI) tools where they improve quality or speed, incorporating them into the animation and video workflow in line with company policy and security requirements.
  • Carry projects independently from creative brief through delivery, managing your own timelines, files, and revisions while keeping stakeholders informed at the right moments.
  • Apply brand standards consistently across every deliverable, keeping color, type, motion, and tone aligned with the company identity, so the work reads as one voice.
  • Collaborate with creative peers, marketing and communications stakeholders, and program leads, incorporating feedback while protecting the quality and intent of the work.
  • Maintain organized project files, render pipelines, and asset libraries so work is repeatable, reusable, and easy for the team to pick up.
  • Travel up to ten percent (10%) may be required to support events, shoots, and on-site production.
  • Mentor junior creative staff on 3D and video technique where the opportunity arises and contribute to a studio culture that takes pride in its craft.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Experience producing finished 3D renders and animations and editing them into completed video deliverables, demonstrated through a portfolio or reel.
  • This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a clearance.
  • Fluency in industry-standard 3D and animation software such as Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine 5, Blender, Autodesk Maya, or 3ds Max, along with rendering tools such as Redshift, Octane, or Arnold.
  • Extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud for editing and finishing, particularly After Effects and Premiere Pro, with comfort moving assets between motion and edit.
  • Skilled in color grading, sound design, and compositing to finish a piece to broadcast quality.
  • Experience with motion graphics and 2D animation to complement 3D work.
  • Experience with virtual production pipelines.
  • Familiarity working from computer-aided design (CAD) data or engineering models as source material for animation.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C, Denver, or NYC areas is $87,500-$162,500. The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, Cleveland Ohio, Vermont and Virginia is $100,500-$186,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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