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Technical Animator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About The Rol eWe are seeking a Technical Animator to support and scale our Unreal Engine-first, real-time character and animation pipeline. This role operates at the intersection of animation ...

New

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 ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$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 ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$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 ...

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 ...

Lead Animator

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$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

See California salary details

$10

$38

$69

How much do technical animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for technical animator in California is $38.89, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.59 and $63.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do technical animators do?

Technical animators develop and implement animation systems and tools to ensure character and object movements function correctly within a game or film. They collaborate with artists and programmers, often using software like Maya, Blender, or proprietary engines, to optimize animations for performance and realism. Their work involves scripting, rigging, and troubleshooting to support the creative team’s vision.

What is a technical animator?

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.

Are technical animators in demand?

Technical animators are in demand due to the growing need for advanced animation and visual effects in gaming, film, and virtual reality industries. Skills in 3D software, scripting, and understanding of animation pipelines increase employability, with opportunities often available in studios and tech companies worldwide.

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 as a technical animator, 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Technical Animator jobs in California? The most popular types of Technical Animator jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Technical Animator jobs in California? For Technical Animator jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Technical Animator jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Technical Animator jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Technical Animator jobs? Cities in California with the most Technical Animator job openings:
Infographic showing various Technical Animator job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 8% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,900 per year, or $38.9 per hour.

Technical Animator

Big Shot Pictures

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Other

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

About Big Shot Pictures

Big Shot Pictures is a next generation animation company founded by Brian Robbins that produces the franchises of tomorrow. With a distinctive digital-first approach, the company builds global animation franchises across all platforms – from digital to theatrical, gaming to streaming, and consumer products to experiences.



About The Rol

eWe are seeking a Technical Animator to support and scale our Unreal Engine–first, real-time character and animation pipeline. This role operates at the intersection of animation, rigging, tools development, and engine integration, and is critical to ensuring characters and animation assets move efficiently from DCC tools into Unreal Engine. The ideal candidate is highly technical, production-minded, and passionate about building reliable, scalable animation systems


.
This role will support the development of stylized, high-quality content for kids and family audiences, requiring a strong sense of performance, appeal, and character storytellin


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This is a temporary role which would report in-person at our studio in Los Ange


les
Responsibili

  • tiesBuild, skin, and maintain character rigs in Unreal Engine or DCC packages such as Ble
  • nderImplement, maintain, and iterate on rigs using Unreal Engine Control
  • RigSupport and evolve the MetaHuman pipeline, including setup, iteration, and engine integra
  • tionOrganize, manage, and optimize large sets of animation and character data across multiple proj
  • ectsManage assets for efficient sharing, versioning, and real-time performance optimiza
  • tionCollaborate closely with animators, character artists, and technical artists to solve pipeline and production challe
  • ngesEnsure clean, reliable integration of skeletal meshes and animation data in Unreal En


gine
Required Qualifica

  • tionsProven experience skinning and rigging characters in a DCC pa
  • ckageHands-on experience with Unreal Engine Control Rig in produ
  • ctionStrong understanding of asset organization, data management, and pipeline best prac
  • ticesExperience managing and optimizing animation assets for real-time produ
  • ctionFamiliarity with Unreal Engine MetaHuman work
  • flowsExperience building animation or rigging tools in DCC pac
  • kagesAbility to write and maintain tools using P


ython
Nice t

  • o HaveExperience working with motion capture systems and performance captur
  • e dataExperience exporting, troubleshooting, and debugging skeletal and animation data in real-time e
  • nginesFamiliarity with Unreal Engine Blue
  • printsExperience supporting across a wide range of styles, with an emphasis on stylized and appealing performance for kids and family c
  • ontentInterest in emerging tools and workflows that improve efficiency, iteration, and scala


bility