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Senior Technical Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will ...

We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will ...

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and ...

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and ...

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and ...

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Senior Technical Animator information

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$77K

$112.7K

$122K

How much do senior technical animator jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior technical 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.

Is AI replacing 3D animators?

AI is increasingly used to assist 3D animators by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing workflow efficiency, but it does not replace the need for skilled animators. Senior technical animators continue to play a crucial role in creating complex, high-quality animations that require artistic judgment and technical expertise, often using tools like Maya or Blender. AI tools serve as complementary resources rather than substitutes in the animation process.

How does a Senior Technical Animator typically collaborate with game designers and programmers during a project's development?

A Senior Technical Animator serves as a bridge between the art and programming teams, ensuring that character and creature animations integrate smoothly into the game engine. They work closely with game designers to understand gameplay requirements and with programmers to implement animation systems that are both visually appealing and technically efficient. Regular collaboration includes troubleshooting animation-related bugs, optimizing rigs for performance, and providing feedback on tool development to streamline animation workflows. This cross-functional teamwork is key to delivering high-quality, responsive animations that enhance the player's experience.

How much do senior animators make per hour?

Senior technical animators typically earn between $30 and $60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often work with advanced animation software and may have specialized skills in rigging, scripting, or character development.

What is the highest paid animation job?

Senior technical animators and lead animation roles in the gaming and film industries tend to be among the highest paid animation jobs, often earning six-figure salaries. Executive positions such as Animation Directors or Creative Directors also command high compensation, especially with extensive experience and advanced skills in industry-standard tools like Maya or Blender.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Technical Animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Technical Animator, you need a solid background in animation principles, rigging, and scripting, usually supported by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Mastery of tools like Autodesk Maya, MotionBuilder, Python scripting, and real-time engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, communication skills, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams set exceptional candidates apart. These skills ensure efficient workflows, high-quality animations, and seamless integration of art and technology in interactive media projects.

Are technical animators in demand?

Technical animators are in demand in the entertainment, gaming, and virtual production industries due to the increasing need for complex character rigging, scripting, and integration with software tools like Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine. Strong skills in programming, 3D modeling, and animation pipelines enhance employability in this growing field.

What are Senior Technical Animators?

Senior Technical Animators are experienced professionals in the gaming or film industry who bridge the gap between animation and technical implementation. They create tools, rigs, and workflows that allow animators to efficiently produce high-quality character and object animations. In addition to animating, they collaborate closely with programmers and artists to ensure assets are optimized and function correctly within the game engine or production pipeline. Their expertise helps solve complex animation problems and improves the overall animation process.
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Senior Technical Animator - Character Rigging (Apex Legends)

Senior Technical Animator - Character Rigging (Apex Legends)

Electronic Arts Inc.

Madison, WI • On-site

$143K - $217K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Job description

General Information
Locations: Vancouver - Great Northern Way, British Columbia, Canada
  • Location: Los Angeles - Chatsworth
  • State: California
  • Country: United States of America

  • Location: Madison
  • State: Wisconsin
  • Country: United States of America

Role ID
213475
Worker Type
Regular Employee
Studio/Department
EA Studios - Respawn
Work Model
Hybrid
Description & Requirements
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.
Founded in 2010 by the original creators of the Call of Duty Franchise, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. From our roots as an indie studio to joining the expansive roster of studios at Electronic Arts, this remains our guiding principle. We truly love what we do and want to share our passion with players worldwide.
Our shipped titles include critically acclaimed multi-platform games Apex Legends, Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Star Wars™ Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars™ Jedi: Survivor and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. Join us for the opportunity to create groundbreaking games with some of the best developer talent in the industry.
We're looking for an accomplished Senior Technical Animator - Character Rigging R&D who will embrace our philosophy and share their hard-earned expertise to provide support to our Apex Legends Animation and Character teams. As a Senior Technical Animator, you will play a key role in empowering other developers by working closely with the Tech Anim, Character Art and Animation Departments. If this sounds like you, we're eager to chat!
What you'll do
  • Reporting to the Lead Technical Animator, you will be responsible for developing character rigs, scripting tools and supporting artist workflows.
  • Pioneer and develop solutions for emerging character workflows across the current area of responsibility.
  • Work directly with relevant contributors and department heads to develop our DCC and runtime tools for our animation and character pipelines in Maya and Source Engine.
  • Partner with Tech, Anim and Character Art to implement solutions that are robust, performant and scalable.
  • Provide troubleshooting support to the relevant Art and Animation Teams, primarily for rigs and tools in Maya and integrating assets in engine.

Ideally, you'll have
  • 5+ years' game industry experience working on the technical side of Art/Animation for games.
  • Strong communication skills. We'll be relying on you to understand the needs of your peers while being able to communicate your own.
  • The ability to give and receive feedback in a constructive, timely, and professional manner.
  • Experience rigging and skinning characters, mechanical setups and creatures in Maya.
  • Experience with live service content workflows, character personalization, skins, etc.
  • Experience with real time deformation and physics setups in a game engine.
  • Experience in writing Artist/Animator facing tools for relevant software (Python/PySide).
  • Experience working with both keyframe animation and motion capture data.
  • Experience contributing to a FACS based facial animation pipeline is a plus.
  • Experience on 1 or more shipped titles, ideally in the FPS genre.

If this opportunity sounds like a great fit for you, please submit your resume and we will get back to you once we have reviewed it.
In addition to opportunities for creative impact and professional growth which come with being a member of our team, working at Respawn has many other perks and benefits! Learn more at respawn.com/perks.
Pay Transparency - North America
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
* British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$122,300 - $170,700 CAD
* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$143,800 - $217,200 USD
Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.
In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.
For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.
About Electronic Arts
We're proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.