Senior 3D Motion Designer

CesiumAstro; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Generous benefits package

Job summary

CesiumAstro seeks a seasoned 3D Motion Designer to produce high‑quality 3D content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations in the space and airborne platform space.

You will lead end-to-end 3D production, from modeling and lighting to rendering and compositing, while mentoring juniors and collaborating with engineers, designers, and marketers to translate complex engineering concepts into visually compelling stories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Motion Design, Fine Arts, or a related field, with 5–8 years of professional experience.
• Expert knowledge of the end-to-end 3D production pipeline, including modeling, animation, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, compositing, and post-production.
• Demonstrated ability to create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
• Ability to establish and scale modular 3D animation assets across multiple videos, campaigns, and presentations.
• Strong portfolio or reel demonstrating 3D animation, realistic rendering, technical visualization, or cinematic product storytelling.
• Proficiency with industry-standard 3D software such as Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max.
• Experience using professional rendering engines, including Redshift, Octane, Arnold, or V-Ray.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro for animation, compositing, and video editing.
• Experience with Substance Painter or similar texturing and material authoring tools.
• Ability to manage multiple creative projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality, attention to detail, and adherence to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Own production of high-quality 3D animated content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations.
• Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases.
• Own the full 3D production process, including animation, composition, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, and compositing.
• Create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
• Establish and maintain modular 3D animation assets and standards for reuse across videos, campaigns, and presentations.
• Translate complex engineering concepts into beautiful and technically accurate visual content, independently resolving ambiguity in technical input.
• Partner directly with engineers and designers to develop storyboards and technical concepts for complex projects.
• Collaborate with designers, marketers, and engineering subject matter experts, serving as the primary point of contact for 3D content.
• Apply strong visual storytelling instincts to balance technical accuracy, clarity, beauty, and brand impact across high-visibility projects.
• Maintain strong attention to detail and own quality for all final renders.
• Establish file organization and asset management standards, and mentor junior designers on 3D production practices.

Job description

To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

The 3D Motion Designer owns production of high-quality 3D content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations. This role leads complex 3D animated sequences and renders, translating technical concepts into beautiful, technically accurate visual stories, and establishes standards for modular, reusable animation assets. This position operates with general supervision, exercising independent judgment on creative and technical execution and mentoring junior designers.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• Own production of high-quality 3D animated content for web, social, press, events, and executive presentations.
• Lead creation of polished, artful 3D animated sequences for marketing, product storytelling, technical explainers, and similar use cases.
• Own the full 3D production process, including animation, composition, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, and compositing.
• Create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
• Establish and maintain modular 3D animation assets and standards for reuse across videos, campaigns, and presentations.
• Translate complex engineering concepts into beautiful and technically accurate visual content, independently resolving ambiguity in technical input.
• Partner directly with engineers and designers to develop storyboards and technical concepts for complex projects.
• Collaborate with designers, marketers, and engineering subject matter experts, serving as the primary point of contact for 3D content.
• Apply strong visual storytelling instincts to balance technical accuracy, clarity, beauty, and brand impact across high-visibility projects.
• Maintain strong attention to detail and own quality for all final renders.
• Establish file organization and asset management standards, and mentor junior designers on 3D production practices.

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Animation, Motion Design, Fine Arts, or a related field, with 5–8 years of professional experience in 3D animation, motion design, or visual effects.
• Expert knowledge of the end-to-end 3D production pipeline, including modeling, animation, lighting, materials, camera animation, rendering, compositing, and post-production.
• Demonstrated ability to create both realistic product/system renders and abstract concept animations, with an emphasis on realistic visual execution.
• Ability to establish and scale modular 3D animation assets across multiple videos, campaigns, and presentations.
• Strong portfolio or reel demonstrating 3D animation, realistic rendering, technical visualization, or cinematic product storytelling.
• Proficiency with industry-standard 3D software such as Cinema 4D, Blender, Maya, or 3ds Max.
• Experience using professional rendering engines, including Redshift, Octane, Arnold, or V-Ray.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro for animation, compositing, and video editing.
• Experience with Substance Painter or similar texturing and material authoring tools.
• Ability to manage multiple creative projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional quality, attention to detail, and adherence to deadlines.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with aerospace, RF, satellite communications, hardware, phased arrays, payloads, antennas, orbital networks, software-defined radios, or systems architecture.
• Engineering background or technical education is a plus, with the ability to understand and accurately communicate complex engineering concepts through visual media.
• Real-time rendering or interactive 3D experience.
• 2D motion graphics experience, especially for titles, labels, annotations, diagrams, and technical callouts.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

• Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.