and more. We're growing fast and looking for great people to join us. ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY We're looking for a freelance Motion Designer to help bring our clients' biggest ideas to life in motion. This is a project-base…
Design & Creative · San Francisco, CA
Motion Designer jobs in San Francisco, CA
Brings static visuals to life with animation, creating title sequences, explainer videos, UI motion, and social content using tools such as After Effects and Cinema 4D.
1,068
Open roles today
$34–$88/hr
Typical pay range
$115k
Median, full-time
4
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01
Open motion designer roles
11 shown of 1,068 · sorted by freshness
Cognizant is seeking a Senior ServiceNow UX/UI Designer to create user-centered digital experiences for web and mobile. You will lead research, define UX strategy, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver i…
Full Time /
$100k - $150k
Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA. Senior Motion Designer & Editor…
$110k - $155k
captivating visual effects - Trend and technologies: Stay current on design trends and technologies to continuously innovate our visual... ...- Bachelor’s degree or higher in design, visual communication, motion design,…
$148k - $167k
Discord Creative Studio Team is seeking a versatile Product Creative designer and illustrator with strong conceptual skills and a knack for... ...requirements. Bonus Points: Experience with animation or motion design, an…
, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Thrive Capital, Google Ventures, and Adverb. ABOUT THE ROLE We're hiring a Brand & Motion Designer to own how Macroscope shows up in the world. Every week there are new launches t…
$105k - $183k
team of passionate creatives and builders on a mission to make design accessible to all. Figma's platform helps teams bring ideas to life... ...can do that is through education. We're looking for a Motion Designer to joi…
Volunteer: Motion Graphics Designer, Video Team - This is a remote role (within the US) * Fraud and phishing warning * If you are reading this away from the WeVote site, please apply directly via our volunteering portal/…
expression and technical implementation, ensuring that every frame of motion serves the player’s experience and the game’s narrative soul.... ...shipping polish. You will work at the intersection of art, design, and engi…
for AI. Not “chat history.” Not “notes.” Actual persistent memory that AI agents can use, share, and reason over. You’ll design the interfaces that make this usable. That Includes How context shows up before a prompt is…
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What motion designers earn in San Francisco
Hourly first — that's how the offer arrives
| Experience | Hourly | Annual, full-time |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $34–$46 | $70k–$95k |
| Mid level | $47–$64 | $98k–$133k |
| Senior | $64–$88 | $133k–$182k |
Adjusted for the San Francisco market from national ranges.
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What employers ask for
The skills these listings keep naming
Adobe After EffectsAnimation principlesCinema 4D or BlenderStoryboardingTypography in motionVideo editing basicsLottie and UI motionTime management
04
Interview questions worth rehearsing
With the thing the interviewer is actually listening for
Walk me through your reel. Which shots are you proudest of?
Know your reel cold, including what you personally animated versus team work. Point to specific timing or easing choices you made.
How do you approach a project when the brief is just a script and a deadline?
Describe moving from script to style frames to storyboard to animatic, and getting sign-off at each stage to avoid rework.
How do you use the classic principles of animation in your work?
Give concrete examples, such as anticipation and follow-through in a logo sting, rather than reciting the list.
Tell me about optimizing motion for different platforms.
Mention aspect ratios, duration limits, silent autoplay, and file size, and how you adapt one concept across formats.
How do you handle a round of feedback that asks for major timing changes late in a project?
Show calm process: precomps and organized project files that make changes cheap, plus honest conversation about schedule impact.
Have you worked with developers on UI motion or Lottie exports?
If yes, describe the handoff details, like easing curves and performance limits. If not, show you understand why constraints exist.
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Resume tips that move the needle
For motion designers specifically — generic advice costs you here
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Put your reel link at the top and keep the reel under 60 seconds with your strongest work first.
02
Specify your role on each credited project, since motion work is often collaborative.
03
List renderer and 3D experience precisely, as studios search for specific tools like Cinema 4D or Blender.
04
Include platform experience, such as broadcast, social, or product UI motion, to match the studio's niche.
05
Note measurable results where they exist, like view-through or engagement improvements on animated ads.
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Where this role goes
Typical progression
01
Junior Motion Designer
02
Motion Designer
03
Senior Motion Designer
04
Motion Design Lead
05
Creative Director
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