Jobs · Art & Creative · California

Sr. UI Animator / Motion Designer [AQ-11039]

Aquent · Cupertino, CA · 1 mo ago
HybridArt & CreativeContract

About the Role

We are seeking a visionary UI Animator and Motion Designer to push the boundaries of user experience by bringing fluidity and delight to consumer software applications across major platforms. In this role, you will translate complex interactions into seamless, engaging animations that elevate the user experience and directly influence the ‘feel’ of innovative products. This is an opportunity to lead project workflows, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and set new standards for interactive design.

Responsibilities

  • Design and animate UI motion for new features, screens, and complex interactions, ranging from subtle button behaviors to sophisticated real-time particle effects across various applications.
  • Lead specific application projects, guiding a collaborative team of designers and engineers to craft cohesive and compelling motion stories.
  • Partner closely with product designers to transform static concepts into interactive, animated prototypes, ensuring the ‘feel’ of the experience is validated on-device before full engineering investment.
  • Work directly with software engineers, providing precise motion specifications to guarantee animations ship exactly as intended, adhering to timing, easing, physics, and performance requirements.
  • Build and maintain a comprehensive motion design system and library, ensuring consistency and excellence across the entire product ecosystem.
  • Balance creative polish and high-end visual storytelling with technical constraints, including performance, platform guidelines, and device capabilities.
  • Communicate clearly and effectively with cross-functional teams regarding project scope, timelines, and technical trade-offs.

Requirements

  • 4–10 years of dedicated experience in UI/interactive motion design (7–10 years preferred, but exceptionally talented candidates with a minimum of 4 years will be considered).
  • A portfolio showcasing comprehensive, shipped UI/interactive motion work is strictly required for submission. Traditional motion graphics portfolios without clear user-interaction examples (e.g., app transitions, button states, expanding menus, or interactive game HUDs) will not be considered.
  • Expert proficiency in After Effects; fluent in prototyping tools (Principle, Figma, etc.).
  • Comfortable with modern “vibe coding” workflows and utilizing AI/scripting tools to lean into quick prototyping.
  • Proven track record collaborating directly with engineers to ship production motion, not just concept work.
  • Strong grasp of leading mobile platform motion guidelines and core animation principles.
  • Excellent project management instincts, able to set and meet deadlines across multiple concurrent projects while delegating smaller tasks to focus on the bigger picture.

Nice to Have

  • 3D Animation/Design experience.
  • Basic coding or scripting knowledge to assist in building high-fidelity prototypes.
  • Experience designing motion systems for complex interactive environments, such as video games.

Benefits

  • Subsidized health, vision, and dental plans.
  • Paid sick leave.
  • Retirement plans with a match.
  • Free online training through Aquent Gymnasium.

About the Company

Our client is a global leader in consumer technology, renowned for redefining the intersection of hardware, software, and services. Known for their uncompromising commitment to world-class design and user experience, they create products that have become essential to daily life. You will be joining a team that values craftsmanship and simplicity, working on high-impact projects that reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

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