Senior Level Animator Jobs
Senior level animator jobs put experienced animators in charge of creative direction, technical pipelines, and the work of junior artists who execute under their guidance. Openings are concentrated across Technology & Software, Gaming & Esports, and Media & Entertainment, with a mix of on-site, remote, and hybrid positions available and employers like IGT, 2K Games, and Epic Games hiring at this level now.
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Description & Requirements
Job Title: Principal Animator (Apex Legends)
Location: Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles, CA or Madison WI
Work Model: Hybrid
Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they’ll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world’s leading live service franchises.
Our Apex team is looking for an experienced Principal Animator who will embrace our philosophy and leverage their expertise to help define the future of animation and player experiences at Respawn. We're picturing someone who will elevate the quality bar across the project, help shape animation direction and pipelines, and create memorable gameplay experiences through exceptional character performance and animation expertise. This is a highly influential individual contributor role that combines world-class animation expertise with cross-discipline leadership. If this sounds like you, we're looking forward to seeing your resume!
What you'll do…
- Reporting to the Animation Director, you will create high-quality animations and help define animation direction across a variety of gameplay and character experiences.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for animation, helping establish best practices, workflows, and animation standards across the project.
- Partner with Animation Leadership to help define the long-term vision for animation quality, pipelines, technologies, gameplay readability, and character performance.
- Implement animations into the project's engine with full ownership of your work, while helping improve implementation workflows, tools, and animation systems.
- Collaborate closely with Design, Tech Animation, Engineering, and other disciplines to solve complex gameplay and production challenges.
- Influence animation direction through mentorship, communication, collaboration, and advocacy for both player experience and animation quality.
- Identify risks and opportunities early, proactively proposing solutions that improve animation quality, production efficiency, and team effectiveness.
- Take animation features and experiences from conceptualization to shipping with minimal direction, driving both creative and technical execution.
Ideally, you will have…
- 10+ years of professional game development experience shipping multiple AAA titles, including experience in a senior, lead, or principal-level animation role.
- Expert-level character animation experience with a strong understanding of body mechanics, performance, timing, and movement across a variety of character types and gameplay experiences.
- Expert knowledge of Maya with extensive experience modifying and enhancing Motion Capture data for gameplay-focused animation.
- Strong experience integrating animations into game engines and working within modern animation state machines, blend systems, and gameplay pipelines.
- Proven experience working closely with Designers, Tech Animators, and Engineers to create compelling gameplay experiences.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor other animators and elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of a team.
- Strong understanding of animation systems, production challenges, and scalable content creation practices with a passion for pushing the boundaries of gameplay animation and creating exceptional player experiences.
Pay Transparency - North America
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
General Information
Description & Requirements
Job Title: Principal Animator (Apex Legends)
Location: Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles, CA or Madison WI
Work Model: Hybrid
Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they’ll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world’s leading live service franchises.
Our Apex team is looking for an experienced Principal Animator who will embrace our philosophy and leverage their expertise to help define the future of animation and player experiences at Respawn. We're picturing someone who will elevate the quality bar across the project, help shape animation direction and pipelines, and create memorable gameplay experiences through exceptional character performance and animation expertise. This is a highly influential individual contributor role that combines world-class animation expertise with cross-discipline leadership. If this sounds like you, we're looking forward to seeing your resume!
What you'll do…
- Reporting to the Animation Director, you will create high-quality animations and help define animation direction across a variety of gameplay and character experiences.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for animation, helping establish best practices, workflows, and animation standards across the project.
- Partner with Animation Leadership to help define the long-term vision for animation quality, pipelines, technologies, gameplay readability, and character performance.
- Implement animations into the project's engine with full ownership of your work, while helping improve implementation workflows, tools, and animation systems.
- Collaborate closely with Design, Tech Animation, Engineering, and other disciplines to solve complex gameplay and production challenges.
- Influence animation direction through mentorship, communication, collaboration, and advocacy for both player experience and animation quality.
- Identify risks and opportunities early, proactively proposing solutions that improve animation quality, production efficiency, and team effectiveness.
- Take animation features and experiences from conceptualization to shipping with minimal direction, driving both creative and technical execution.
Ideally, you will have…
- 10+ years of professional game development experience shipping multiple AAA titles, including experience in a senior, lead, or principal-level animation role.
- Expert-level character animation experience with a strong understanding of body mechanics, performance, timing, and movement across a variety of character types and gameplay experiences.
- Expert knowledge of Maya with extensive experience modifying and enhancing Motion Capture data for gameplay-focused animation.
- Strong experience integrating animations into game engines and working within modern animation state machines, blend systems, and gameplay pipelines.
- Proven experience working closely with Designers, Tech Animators, and Engineers to create compelling gameplay experiences.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor other animators and elevate the overall quality and effectiveness of a team.
- Strong understanding of animation systems, production challenges, and scalable content creation practices with a passion for pushing the boundaries of gameplay animation and creating exceptional player experiences.
Pay Transparency - North America
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
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Find Senior Level Animator JobsSenior Level Animator Job Market
Who's Hiring
- IGT1
- 2K Games1
- Epic Games1
- Electronic Arts1
- Naughty Dog A Limited Liability Company1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software5
- Gaming & Esports2
- Media & Entertainment1
Senior Level Animator Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level animator job?
At the senior level, employers expect a portfolio that demonstrates ownership of complex shots or sequences, not just execution. Highlight reel selections should show creative problem-solving, technical range across software and styles, and any work where you set the direction rather than followed it. Experience mentoring junior animators or leading a production pipeline stage will distinguish you from mid-level candidates with similar technical skills.
Which companies hire senior level animators?
Companies hiring senior level animators right now include IGT, 2K Games, and Epic Games, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Hiring at this level covers large studios and game publishers looking for lead talent, as well as tech companies and agencies that run in-house animation teams on ongoing production cycles.
Are there remote senior level animator jobs?
Yes, remote and hybrid options are common at this experience level. About 25% of senior level animator openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how established studios and tech employers have built distributed animation pipelines. On-site roles still exist, particularly at game studios and feature film facilities that rely on shared review sessions and collaborative editorial workflows.
What makes an animator role senior level?
Senior animator roles are defined by scope and ownership rather than task volume. At this stage, you are expected to lead sequences or characters from brief to final delivery, make independent decisions on timing, performance, and technical approach, and review or mentor the work of others. The role shifts from receiving direction to setting it, with accountability for quality across a project rather than a single assigned shot.
Which industries hire the most senior level animators?
Senior level animator roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Gaming & Esports, and Media & Entertainment, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at this level because they run high-volume, deadline-driven productions that depend on experienced animators who can lead without constant oversight and keep quality consistent across large teams and long release cycles.