Thesis is hiring a Senior Motion Designer to shape high-impact animation and motion graphics across brand, digital, campaign, and content experiences. This hybrid role in Portland, OR (in-office Tuesday through Thursday, remote Mondays and Fridays) offers the opportunity to lead end-to-end motion craft, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and modernize workflows with AI and emerging tools while keeping human artistry at the center of every deliverable.

What you’ll do

Lead motion design and animation across social, product, brand, campaign, and experiential assets.
Turn static design systems, typography, and storyboards into motion with intentional pacing, visual rhythm, and brand alignment.
Create styleframes, storyboards, and motion prototypes for internal exploration and client-facing reviews.
Own technical execution and delivery from start to finish, including clean project file organization, render optimization, audio synchronization, and multi-format output.
Partner with Creative Directors, Art Directors, Designers, Copywriters, and Editors to build cohesive visual narratives and unified brand systems.
Contribute proactively in brainstorms and concept development, bringing ideas for how motion can elevate storytelling.
Collaborate across Strategy, Technology, and Production to reduce handoffs, protect creative ambition, and ensure smooth delivery.
Use AI and modern design and animation tools to accelerate exploration and strengthen the team’s creative leverage.
Work with Creative and Technology leads to explore new animation workflows, rendering techniques, and tools that keep Thesis’s motion language fresh.
Scale creative output with modern technology while maintaining human craft, originality, and artistic judgment.
Mentor and support junior motion designers and interns through timing critique, technical troubleshooting, and constructive feedback.
Set a high creative and technical standard across the motion discipline, supporting ownership, craft rigor, and autonomy.
Balance creative ambition with scope, timing, technical constraints, and real project conditions.

What you bring

5–7 years of professional experience creating animation and motion graphics in an agency, content studio, or in-house creative environment.
Strong command of core animation principles including timing, easing, spatial rhythm, typography, composition, and visual flow.
Expertise in Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and video editing workflows in Premiere, plus working knowledge of Cinema 4D and/or Blender and sound synchronization.
Ability to communicate and build belief in ideas through styleframes, motion tests, and clear rationale.
Curiosity and experimentation with AI, emerging technology, and new approaches to making and animating.
High organization and detail orientation, with comfort managing multiple deliverables and shifting priorities during fast agency cycles.
Collaborative, accountable, low-ego mindset, with strong passion for elevating craft and the team.
A bachelor’s degree in Motion Design, Animation, Graphic Design, or equivalent practical experience.

Tools you’ll use

Adobe After Effects
Illustrator
Photoshop
Premiere
Cinema 4D
Blender

Role reporting and collaboration

Reports to: Motion Design Lead or Creative Director, Motion
Direct impact: Mentors and supports Junior Motion Designers and Motion Design Interns across projects
Internal partners: Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers, Creative Directors, Strategy Leads, UX/Product Designers, Editors, Sound Designers, and Production Partners
External partners: Serves as a motion design specialist in client-facing presentations and collaborates with external production partners and vendors

Work model and physical demands

The role uses standard office equipment, computers, and related technology. Some tasks occur in an environmentally controlled office setting and may involve extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and using a computer mouse. Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds may be required.

Thesis operates on a hybrid schedule with in-office collaboration Tuesday through Thursday and remote work Mondays and Fridays. Candidates are prioritized if they are in the Portland Metro area to support a hybrid setup in the NW Portland office. No travel is anticipated.

Compensation

USD 75,000 - 95,000 per year.

Senior Motion Designer