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Temporary 2D Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Character Artist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

What to expect We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and ... Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D. * Document ...

Expression of Interest - Character Artist

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$130K - $136K/yr

The Character Artist will be responsible for creating highly realistic and expressive character ... This is a temporary position with the possibility of extension based on project needs. * This is an ...

Senior Technical Artist

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Senior Technical Artist acts as aresource within the art team, mentoring other ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

Senior Technical Artist

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Senior Technical Artist acts as a resource within the art team, mentoring ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

2D Animator

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$34.13/hr

Experienced 2D animator with a strong command of character acting and performance. * Proficiency in ... artists and directors. * Experience working within tight deadlines while maintaining a high level ...

Senior Artist

$130K - $155K/yr

... 2D and/or 3D animations. * Exceptional artistic skills including composition, color theory, typography, visual hierarchy, and character design. * Ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize ...

Senior Artist

Cleveland, OH ยท On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

... 2D and/or 3D animations. * Exceptional artistic skills including composition, color theory, typography, visual hierarchy, and character design. * Ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize ...

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

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Temporary 2D Character Artist information

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$104.5K

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$128.5K

How much do temporary 2d character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for temporary 2d character artist in the United States is $120,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a temporary 2D character artist?

A Temporary 2D Character Artist is a visual artist hired on a short-term basis to design and illustrate character art for video games, animation, comics, or other media. Their role typically involves creating character concepts, turnarounds, and final artwork in a 2D format, often adhering to a specific style guide or project vision. They work closely with art directors and other team members to ensure the characters fit the narrative and aesthetic of the project. Temporary positions are usually project-based or to cover for staff shortages, offering flexibility for both the employer and the artist.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a temporary 2D character artist?

To thrive as a Temporary 2D Character Artist, you typically need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy and design principles, and a portfolio demonstrating relevant experience. Proficiency in digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or similar software is essential, and familiarity with asset management systems can be beneficial. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication are valuable soft skills for collaborating with teams and meeting tight deadlines. These skills and qualities ensure the delivery of high-quality character art that matches project specifications in a fast-paced, project-based environment.

What are some common challenges faced by temporary 2D character artists when integrating their work with a larger creative team?

Temporary 2D Character Artists often need to quickly adapt to an established visual style and workflow while collaborating with permanent team members such as art directors, animators, and game designers. A common challenge is efficiently interpreting feedback and making revisions on tight deadlines, all while ensuring consistency with ongoing projects. Clear communication and familiarity with collaborative tools, such as version control systems and asset management platforms, are essential for a smooth integration into the team and successful project delivery.
What cities are hiring for Temporary 2D Character Artist jobs? Cities with the most Temporary 2D Character Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of 2D Character Artist jobs? The most popular types of 2D Character Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Temporary 2D Character Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Temporary 2D Character Artist jobs include:

Character Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and feels - the visual and expressive language that makes a robot read as alive rather than mechanical. You'll work on everything from early concept sketches and mood boards to the motion, gesture, and lighting cues that give the robot its personality, translating character intent into something the hardware and software teams can actually build and ship. This role requires tight, fast-cycling collaboration with electrical, mechanical, and software teams - character decisions here don't stay on paper, they become motor curves, timing, and light behavior. You'll work closely with the CEO and founding team to shape the character identity of LeLamp and the robots that follow.
In this role, you will:
  • Create concept art, mood boards, and character studies that define LeLamp's personality and visual identity.
  • Collaborate with the hardware team on form factor, silhouette, materials, and color to keep the physical design aligned with the character.
  • Design expressive motion - gestures, "emotional" states, and behaviors expressed through movement, light, and sound.
  • Prototype and iterate quickly, moving between sketches, renders, and physical mockups.
  • Partner with robotics and software engineers to translate character intent into concrete behavior parameters (motion curves, timing, lighting cues).
  • Build and maintain style guides and a character bible to keep the robot's expression consistent as the team grows.
  • Review hardware and software prototypes against the character vision and give clear, actionable feedback.
  • Support brand and marketing assets to keep the character consistent across every touchpoint.

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Are pursuing a degree in screen-writing, animation, character design, industrial design, or a related field - or have equivalent hands-on portfolio experience.
  • Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D.
  • Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself.
  • Are comfortable iterating quickly, moving from rough sketch to testable prototype without waiting for a perfect brief.
  • Are genuinely interested in physical products, not just screen-based or purely digital characters.

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Have designed characters or mascots that had to work within real hardware or physical constraints, not just on a screen.
  • Understand core animation principles (timing, weight, squash and stretch, anticipation) and know how to translate them into motors, servos, and lighting.
  • Are comfortable collaborating directly with engineers, turning an abstract sense of "feel" into concrete specs they can build against.
  • Move quickly through iteration cycles and don't wait for perfect information to make progress.
  • Take ownership over your work end to end, from first sketch to a behavior that's live in the robot.
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams where character, electrical, and mechanical are in constant conversation.
  • Care about what the character enables: warmth, expressiveness, and the feeling that the robot is alive.

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.