Senior Motion Designer - The Heist

Lever, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited coffee, drinks & snacks

Dog‑friendly office

Flexible time off

Annual team events

Learning opportunities

Job summary

The Heist, a Thinkingbox studio in the United States, seeks a Senior Motion Designer who leads through craft and mentors teammates. You’ll partner with Art Directors and Creative Directors to transform ideas into exceptional motion, from styleframes to 3D scenes and polished animation.

You’ll guide projects through production with attention to detail and a collaborative spirit. In this hands‑on role, you’ll design across formats, establish creative standards, and stay current with tools and

Qualifications

• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional design taste and versatility across styles.
• Advanced proficiency in After Effects, Cinema 4D, Redshift and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience working within professional production pipelines from concept through final delivery.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across disciplines.
• Proactive, solution‑oriented mindset with the confidence to own work while mentoring others.

Responsibilities

• Design and animate 2D/3D motion graphics across a wide range of styles and platforms.
• Develop storyboards, styleframes, and explorations to support the creative vision.
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Creative Directors, Producers, and designers throughout production.
• Own complex assignments and solve creative and technical challenges independently.
• Maintain high craft, consistency, and polish across every deliverable.
• Provide thoughtful feedback and mentorship to junior designers.
• Stay current with new tools, workflows, and technologies to improve output.
• Accurately estimate effort, communicate progress, and keep projects on schedule.

Skills

Motion design

After Effects

Cinema 4D

Redshift

Adobe Creative Suite

Typography

Collaboration

Mentorship

Tools

Houdini

X-Particles

Marvelous Designer

Substance Painter

Unreal Engine

Job description

Who We Are

Hi! We’re The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, the Brief-to-Built agency.

We bring together directors, designers, animators, editors, and technologists to create work that moves. From brand films to broadcast spots to social campaigns and experiential content, our team blends craft and curiosity to push ideas further. Across our studios, collaboration is real, feedback is open, and culture matters. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Senior Motion Designer who leads through craft. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives inside the work while helping elevate the people around them.

You’ll partner closely with Art Directors and Creative Directors to transform ideas into exceptional motion. Whether you’re developing styleframes, designing key moments, building 3D scenes, or refining animation, you’ll help establish the creative standard for every project you touch.

Beyond execution, you’ll be a trusted teammate who mentors others, tackles creative and technical challenges, and helps guide projects through production with confidence and attention to detail.

What You'll Be Doing

• Design and animate compelling 2D and 3D motion graphics across a wide range of styles and platforms.
• Develop storyboards, styleframes, and motion explorations that support the creative vision.
• Collaborate with Art Directors, Creative Directors, Producers, and fellow designers throughout production.
• Take ownership of complex assignments, solving creative and technical challenges independently.
• Help maintain a high level of craft, consistency, and polish across every deliverable.
• Provide thoughtful feedback and mentorship to junior designers, helping raise the quality of the team.
• Stay current with emerging tools, workflows, and technologies that improve both process and creative output.
• Accurately estimate effort, communicate progress, and help projects stay on schedule.

What You'll Bring

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

Bonus Points!

• Houdini, X-Particles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter.
• Unreal Engine, AI-assisted creative workflows, or other emerging motion technologies.
• Experience with live action, editorial, or VFX pipelines.

Additional Info

• Monday - Thursday in office (Fridays are remote optional)
• Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick days
• Consistent culture and team-building events
• Employee recognition and incentive programs
• Seasonal celebrations and gatherings throughout the year
• Office lunches
• Branded company swag
• Access to industry events, learning opportunities, and non-profit outreaches
• Dog-friendly offices
• Unlimited coffee, drinks, and snacks
• Flex work and travel options
• Comprehensive extended health benefits

$90,000 - $100,000 a year

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as internal equity, candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. If your compensation expectations fall outside of this range, we still welcome your application.

Equal Opportunity

At The Heist, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity is our creative strength – it's the range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that fuels our best ideas and most innovative solutions. We welcome and encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, identities, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds to apply. Your voice matters here.