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Senior Technical Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

MobilityWare

Senior Technical Artist

Irvine, CA · On-site

$134K - $161K/yr

... seeking a Senior Technical Artist to enhance their game development team. The role involves ... and building amazing animations. • Work with timeliness, quality, and adaptability • ...

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 ...

Enludio

Senior Technical Artist (Contractor)

Orlando, FL · On-site

$118K - $141K/yr

Your Role As a Senior Technical Artist specializing in real-time engines, you will act as a bridge ... Work with 3D models, textures, shaders, and animations to ensure efficiency and high performance in ...

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 ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Washington, DC

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI Inc.

Sr. Technical Writer

Washington, DC · On-site

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Fairfax, VA

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Mclean, VA

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Washington, DC

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Kensington, MD

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Washington, DC

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Upper Marlboro, MD

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Silver Spring, MD

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Annandale, VA

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Laurel, MD

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Bowie, MD

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

CGI INC.

Sr. Technical Writer

Washington, DC

Sr. Technical Writer Category: Administration Main location: United States, District of Columbia ... Generate, manipulate, and integrate graphic images, animations, sound, text, and video generated ...

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Senior Technical Animator information

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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 jobs near you
Senior Technical Artist - VALORANT, Premium Content

Senior Technical Artist - VALORANT, Premium Content

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Riot Games is a company focused on creating player-first experiences, and they are seeking a Senior Technical Artist for their VALORANT Premium Content team. In this role, you will prototype and architect next-generation systems for cosmetic features, act as a technical leader, and mentor others while driving innovation in premium content.
Responsibilities:
• Drive efforts for new cosmetic systems, exploring unproven ideas and translating them into production-ready frameworks
• Architect scalable Blueprint and hybrid (Blueprint + C++) systems for advanced, reactive cosmetic features
• Prototype rapidly to validate creative and technical feasibility, then evolve prototypes into deployable modules.
• Define and evangelize best practices for system design, performance, and cross-discipline integration
• Partner with Art, Animation, VFX, Design, and Engineering to push the boundaries of premium content
• Lead development of foundational systems across:
• Advanced weapon logic and modular state architectures
• Procedural and systemic animation integrations
• Complex event-driven ecosystems (multi-layered reactivity, progression, personalization)
• Cross-system features (UI, gameplay hooks, progression systems)
• Identify long-term technical opportunities and risks, influencing roadmap and team strategy
• Mentor other Technical Artists, providing guidance on architecture, debugging, and system design
• Develop tools, frameworks, and pipelines that unlock team-wide efficiency and scalability
• Profile and optimize experimental systems, ensuring viability within performance constraints
Qualifications:
Required:
• 7+ years of experience as a Technical Artist in games or real-time engines
• Deep expertise in Unreal Engine, including: Advanced Blueprint architecture and debugging
• Strong familiarity with C++ for extending engine/system capabilities
• Animation systems, Anim Graphs, and procedural techniques
• Proven experience owning complex, ambiguous technical problems from concept through production
• Experience building scalable systems/frameworks used by multiple developers or teams
• Strong understanding of real-time performance, memory, and optimization strategies
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and mentorship
• Experience collaborating deeply across multiple disciplines
Preferred:
• Experience driving incubation work on shipped or prototype features
• Strong background in systems design or gameplay-adjacent architecture
• Experience with procedural animation, simulation systems, or physics-driven features
• Familiarity with rendering pipelines, shaders (HLSL), or advanced material workflows
• Experience building extensible tools and pipelines at scale
Company:
Riot Games is a global company that develops online games. Founded in 2006, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
Riot Games logo

About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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