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Senior Technical Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$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 ...

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 ... technical constraints. * Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and ...

IGT

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... technical expertise, and artistic vision will help shape both our next generation of games and the culture of innovation within the studio. In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts ...

Progressive Gaming

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... technical expertise, and artistic vision will help shape both our next generation of games and the culture of innovation within the studio. In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts ...

Riot Games

Senior Animator - Unpublished R&D Product

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Senior Gameplay Animator on our unpublished MMO project, you'll create the animation that ... Working closely with designers, technical artists, engineers, and character artists, you'll own ...

Riot Games

Senior Animator - Unpublished R&D Product

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a Senior Gameplay Animator on our unpublished MMO project, you'll create the animation that ... Working closely with designers, technical artists, engineers, and character artists, you'll own ...

Koto

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Role You are an experienced animator and motion designer, relentlessly bringing ideas to life ... Translate strategy into thoughtful motion-balancing big creative ideas with technical precision and ...

M&S Consulting

3D Animator

Pasadena, CA · Remote

The 3D Animator will create high-fidelity, cinematic animations that communicate complex scientific and technical concepts through compelling visual storytelling. This role is ideal for a senior ...

M&S Consulting

3D Animator

Pasadena, CA · On-site +1

The 3D Animator will create high-fidelity, cinematic animations that communicate complex scientific and technical concepts through compelling visual storytelling. This role is ideal for a senior ...

AGBO

Senior Technical Designer, Events

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$99K - $106K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Technical Designer to support the execution of large-scale Live Events ... animators, VFX, and sound. • Support collaborative, iterative prototyping from early concepts ...

Aquent

Sr. UI Animator / Motion Designer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$81 - $91/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

We are seeking a senior talent to bring a new level of fluidity and delight to consumer software ... Balance creative polish and high-end visual storytelling with technical constraints, including ...

Amazon

Sr. Technical Program Manager, AI Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Join us as a Sr. Technical Program Manager on the AI Studios team within Prime Video and Amazon MGM ... animation, live action, and VFX content at unprecedented speed and scale. We are a fast-growing ...

SOM

Senior Technical Architect

San Francisco, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... animations. * Effectively communicates internally with project teams and externally with ... Is able to enrich design concepts through technical strategies and effectively uses appropriate ...

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Senior Technical Animator information

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$112.7K

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How much do senior technical animator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 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.

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.

Are senior technical animators in demand?

Senior technical animators are in high demand within the entertainment, gaming, and virtual production industries due to their expertise in rigging, scripting, and using tools like Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine. Their skills are essential for creating complex animations and optimizing workflows, leading to strong job growth prospects in these fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior technical animator?

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.

What is a senior technical animator?

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 jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Technical Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,707 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Animator

Ember Lab

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

At Ember Lab, our goal is to create powerful, transformative experiences that impact people for a lifetime. Having released our debut game, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, in 2021 this journey is just beginning. We're looking for collaborative team members who share our passion for storytelling and are eager to help us shape the future of Ember Lab.


We believe a strong, collaborative environment is critical to creating memorable experiences. 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

  • Create, test, and iterate on gameplay animations related to combat and interactive events
  • Integrate animations into game project and relevant animation systems
  • Collaborate with the design and engineering teams to ensure animations align with gameplay mechanics and technical constraints.
  • Iterate and refine animations based on feedback from team members and playtesting.
  • Attend to bugs related to tasks and maintain relevant animation features
  • Contribute to the development of animation workflows and tools to streamline the animation process.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends and techniques to continually improve the quality of animations.


Requirements

  • 5+ years of gameplay animation experience
  • Strong skills in animating body mechanics and action
  • Excellent Maya animation skills
  • Proficient with animation systems in UE5
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong time management skills and ability to meet deadlines
  • Shipped 1+ title
  • Unreal Engine 4 or 5 experience


Location

  • In Office


To Apply

  • Please include a portfolio


Compensation Range

The standard annual base salary range for this role in the U.S. is $88,000 - $120,000 USD. Actual pay will vary depending on experience, qualifications, performance and location. The base salary range for locations outside of the U.S. will be adjusted according to location.


At Ember Lab, we like to keep things professional and straightforward when it comes to hiring. All of our recruitment happens through official channels like an Ember Lab email, our recruitment platform BambooHR, or LinkedIn.


If you ever get a message from someone claiming to be us through an unexpected or suspicious platform, it's probably not legit-feel free to ignore it or give us a heads-up at contact@emberlab.com.


We've got your back when it comes to keeping the process safe and secure!


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