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Technical Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

teamLFG

OR

As a Staff Technical Animator on teamLFG, you will be involved in the initial concept of character movement, the technical considerations of implementation, and the creation of final animation. Most ...

teamLFG

Staff Technical Animator

$143K - $214K/yr

As a Staff Technical Animator on teamLFG, you will be involved in the initial concept of character movement, the technical considerations of implementation, and the creation of final animation. Most ...

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA

$108K - $161K/yr

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 ...

2K

Senior Technical Animation Designer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

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 ...

31st Union

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

In this role, you'll collaborate closely with technical artists, game designers, producers, engineers, animators, and other cross-functional partners to bring creative ideas and gameplay experiences ...

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Technical Animator information

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How much do technical animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for technical animator in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Are animators in demand right now?

Technical animators are currently in demand due to the growth of the gaming, film, and virtual reality industries, which require skilled professionals proficient in animation software and programming. Strong technical skills, knowledge of tools like Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine, and a portfolio can improve job prospects in this field.

What does a technical animator do?

A technical animator develops and implements the tools, scripts, and processes that enable smooth animation workflows in video games or films. They collaborate with artists and programmers to troubleshoot rigging, optimize performance, and ensure animations function correctly across different platforms, often using software like Maya, Blender, or proprietary engines. Strong programming skills and understanding of character rigging are essential for this role.

What is a Technical Animator job?

A Technical Animator bridges the gap between art and programming in animation and game development. They create animation rigs, develop tools, and ensure characters and objects move smoothly and efficiently. Their work involves collaboration with animators, artists, and engineers to optimize animation processes and integrate assets into game engines. They also troubleshoot technical issues and improve workflows to enhance animation quality and performance.

Is animator a high paying job?

The salary of a technical animator varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but it is generally considered a mid to high-paying role within the animation and gaming industries. Skilled animators with expertise in tools like Maya or Blender and knowledge of programming can earn higher salaries, especially in larger studios or with advanced certifications.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Technical Animator?

As a Technical Animator, your daily tasks often include creating and maintaining character rigs, developing animation tools or scripts, troubleshooting technical issues, and collaborating with artists and programmers to ensure smooth animation pipelines. You might also optimize assets for performance and work closely with designers to implement animations in game engines or other platforms. The role often involves both hands-on creative work and problem-solving technical challenges. Communication and teamwork are important, as you will regularly coordinate with various departments to deliver high-quality animated content efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Technical Animator position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Technical Animator, you need a solid foundation in 3D animation principles, rigging, scripting, and a relevant degree such as computer graphics or animation. Proficiency in software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, MotionBuilder, and scripting languages such as Python or MEL is typically required, along with knowledge of game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration skills, and clear communication help Technical Animators excel in cross-disciplinary teams. These competencies enable you to bridge creative and technical workflows, ensuring high-quality, efficient animation production for games, films, or other media.

Is AI replacing 3D animators?

AI is increasingly used to assist 3D animators by automating repetitive tasks and generating initial models or animations, but it does not fully replace the need for skilled animators. Technical animators still play a crucial role in refining, rigging, and bringing creative vision to life using specialized software and artistic expertise. Human oversight remains essential for quality and creative control in the animation process.
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Technical Animator jobs near you

Staff Technical Animator

teamLFG

OR

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

Are you on a mission to create games that bond players together into deeply invested communities? Would you like to work on something comedic with lighthearted and whimsical characters? Do you think a lot about how well-crafted animations create satisfying feedback for players, or how to achieve quality character animation within real-time constraints? Come join us at teamLFG!

We are looking for someone that is excited about the creative art of animation and the technical challenge of turning that animation into world class action gameplay. As a Staff Technical Animator on teamLFG, you will be involved in the initial concept of character movement, the technical considerations of implementation, and the creation of final animation. Most importantly, you will work with a fun, diverse, cross-discipline team devoted to building a new universe from scratch on a new franchise at PlayStation.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Create high quality production animation content and implement that content in a game engine

Collaborate with Animation, Design and Engineering to implement new animation systems and ensure cross-discipline communication

Provide support for the animation team helping to resolve technical issues

Proactively search for ways to improve animation quality and workflows

Collaborate with Engineering to ensure animation is performant and within memory budgets

Collaborate with Tech Artists developing tools that support the animation pipeline

REQUIRED SKILLS

In-depth experience with animation systems in Unreal Engine

Strong understanding of game animation concepts like layering, blending, state machines, etc

Knowledge of Maya animation pipelines

Strong communication skills, and the ability to work well in a team environment

A strong understanding of animation principles

NICE TO HAVE SKILLS

Python scripting for Maya

Stylized animation experience

Fighting game animation experience

Live Service game animation experience

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