Senior Motion Designer

The Senior Motion Designer role at Thinkingbox's The Heist studio in Chicago, IL on a hybrid schedule focuses on hands-on craft, mentoring teammates, and partnering with Art Directors to elevate motion design across 2D and 3D pipelines. The position offers a compensation range of USD 85,000–95,000 per year.

Responsibilities

• Create and animate engaging 2D and 3D motion graphics across a diverse set of styles and platforms.
• Develop storyboards, style frames, and exploratory motion work that support the creative vision.
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Creative Directors, Producers, and fellow designers throughout production.
• Own complex tasks and independently resolve both creative and technical challenges.
• Uphold high levels of craft, consistency, and polish across all deliverables.
• Provide mentorship and constructive feedback to junior designers to elevate overall team quality.
• Stay current with new tools, workflows, and technologies that enhance process and output.
• Provide accurate effort estimates, communicate progress, and help keep projects on schedule.

Requirements

• Minimum five years of professional experience in motion design, animation, or a related creative field.
• A portfolio demonstrating strong design taste, solid animation principles, and versatility across styles.
• Advanced proficiency in After Effects, Cinema 4D, Redshift, and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Solid understanding of typography, composition, color, pacing, and visual storytelling.
• Experience working within professional production pipelines from concept through final delivery.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with the confidence to own work while supporting the team.

Technologies

• After Effects
• Cinema 4D
• Redshift
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Houdini
• X-Particles
• Marvelous Designer
• Substance Painter
• Unreal Engine
• AI-assisted creative workflows

Benefits

• In-office schedule Monday through Thursday, with remote Fridays optional
• Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick days
• Consistent culture with regular team-building events
• Employee recognition and incentive programs
• Seasonal celebrations and year-round gatherings
• Office lunches
• Branded company swag
• Access to industry events, learning opportunities, and nonprofit outreach
• Dog-friendly office environment
• Unlimited coffee, beverages, and snacks
• Flexible work and travel options
• Comprehensive extended health benefits
• 401(k) matching