Senior 3D Artist & Character Animator at Bitmoji – Toronto, ON (CA$116K‑CA$128K)

Breaking: Bitmoji posts Toronto Senior 3D Artist Role With CA$116K–CA$128K Salary

Bitmoji, the popular avatar platform, is seeking a Senior 3D Artist specializing in character animation for it’s Toronto team. The job posting lists a salary range of CA$116,000 to CA$128,000 per year, underscoring the demand for seasoned talent in digital character work.

The role centers on leading 3D animation efforts for Bitmoji’s avatar ecosystem, according to the listing.Applicants should bring senior-level experience in character animation, with a focus on delivering polished, real-time assets for mobile experiences.

Role	Senior 3D Artist – Character Animator
Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Salary	CA$116,000 – CA$128,000 per year
company	Bitmoji (a product of snap inc.)
Focus	3D animation and character design for mobile avatars

Breaking industry context

The listing signals ongoing demand for senior 3D artists who can craft lifelike avatars for consumer apps. In major tech hubs like toronto, salaries for top-tier talent have risen into six figures as employers compete for expertise in avatar systems, real-time rendering, and social applications.

Evergreen take

Beyond this single listing, demand for high-quality 3D character animation is likely to grow with mobile apps, social platforms, and immersive experiences. For aspiring candidates, building a portfolio that demonstrates real-time rendering, rigging, and pipeline collaboration can improve prospects in competitive markets like Toronto.

To stay competitive, professionals should monitor industry tools and standards, engage with professional communities, and seek opportunities to showcase their work across platforms and projects.

Engagement

Question 1: Which skills do you consider essential for a Senior 3D Artist focused on character animation?

Question 2: do you believe Toronto will remain a hub for high-level digital art roles in the coming years? Why or why not?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Creation (PBR workflow) Real‑time rendering optimization, GPU‑based simulation Industry Experience 5+ years professional 3 Wunder 3D modeling/animation, preferably in mobile or social media apps Prior work on avatar‑centric products (e.g., Apple Memoji, Facebook Avatars) soft Skills Excellent dialog, proactive problem‑solving, ability to thrive in fast‑paced Agile sprints Public speaking, conference presentations, mentorship program leadership

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Job Overview – Senior 3D Artist & character animator, Bitmoji (Toronto, ON)

• Position title: Senior 3D Artist & Character Animator
• Location: Toronto, ontario, Canada (on‑site with optional hybrid schedule)
• Salary range: CA $116,000 – CA $128,000 base, plus performance bonuses and stock options-day‑to‑day compensation
• Team: Creative Production, Motion Design, and Product design within Snap inc.’s Bitmoji division

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Core Responsibilities

1. 3D Asset Creation

• Model,texture,and sculpt high‑resolution characters and accessories for Bitmoji’s avatar ecosystem.
• develop low‑poly variants optimized for mobile performance without sacrificing visual fidelity.

2. character Animation & Rigging

• Build robust skeletal rigs, blend shapes, and corrective morphs to support Wonder‑wide facial expressions and body gestures.
• Animate a libary of emotive actions (e.g., “cheering,” “laughing,” “typing”) that sync seamlessly across iOS, Android, and web platforms.

3. Pipeline Integration

• Maintain and extend the internal 3D pipeline (maya → Substance Painter → Unity/Unreal) ensuring version‑control compliance (Perforce/Git LFS).
• Script automation tools (Python, MEL) to accelerate asset turn‑around and reduce manual repetitive tasks.

4. Collaboration & Mentorship

• Partner with UI/UX designers, product managers, and software engineers to translate storyboard concepts into production‑ready 3.capture.
• Lead junior artists through design reviews, providing feedback on topology, shading, and animation timing.

5. Quality Assurance

• Conduct regular performance profiling on target devices; tweak LODs and shader complexity to stay under 30 ms frame time.
• Ensure all assets meet Bitmoji brand guidelines and accessibility standards (color contrast,motion sensitivity).

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Required Skills & Experience

Category	must‑Have	Nice‑to‑Have
Software Proficiency	Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Adobe After Effects	Houdini, 3ds Max, Maya Live Link
Programming / Scripting	Python, MEL, basic C# (Unity)	C++, Unreal Engine Blueprint
Animation Principles	Strong grasp of timing, anticipation, squash‑and‑stretch, and secondary motion	Motion capture clean‑up, procedural animation
Technical Art	Rigging, skin Ornamentation, shader creation (PBR workflow)	Real‑time rendering optimization, GPU‑based simulation
Industry experience	5+ years professional 3 Wunder 3D modeling/animation, preferably in mobile or social media apps	Prior work on avatar‑centric products (e.g., Apple Memoji, Facebook Avatars)
Soft Skills	Excellent communication, proactive problem‑solving, ability to thrive in fast‑paced Agile sprints	Public speaking, conference presentations, mentorship program leadership

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Benefits & Perks (Toronto Office)

• Complete health plan – medical, dental, vision, and mental‑wellness coverage.
• Hybrid work model – up to three remote days per week,with dedicated workstation at the downtown campus.
• Professional development stipend – $거0 USD annually for conferences, online courses, or certifications (e.g., Gnomex, SIGGRAPH).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) – discounted Snap Inc. shares, aligning personal and company growth.
• Generous PTO – 25 vacation days plus statutory holidays; additional “wellness days” for mental res‑et.
• Creative labs & maker space – on‑site 3D printers, motion‑capture rigs, and VR workstations for experimentation.

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Toronto Tech Scene & Relocation Insights

• Industry hub: Toronto ranks among North America’s top five tech ecosystems, hosting studios such as ubisoft, EA, and smaller boutique VFX houses.
• Talent network: Regular meet‑ups like Toronto 3D Artists and Animation Toronto foster knowledge sharing and recruitment pipelines.
• velja Housing: Average rent for a one‑bedroom condo in downtown Toronto is ~CA $2,400/month; many employees opt for neighbourhoods like The Annex or Leslieville for a balance of cost and commute.
• Transit: TTC subway and streetcar lines provide 20‑minute access to the Bitmoji office on King Street West.

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Submission Checklist

1. Portfolio – Curated showcase of 10‑15 3D characters,each with at least three PACKAGE animations (idle,expressive,and interaction). Include a short “making‑of” video (≤2 min) highlighting rigging workflow.
2. Resume – Highlight relevant experience, software proficiency, and any published work (e.g., credited on a commercial app or game).
3. Cover Letter – Explain why Bitmoji’s avatar culture resonates with you, and outline a brief 30‑day impact plan.
4. References – Two professional contacts familiar with your 3D pipeline contributions.

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Interview Process (Typical Timeline)

Stage	Focus	Duration
Phone Screen (HR)	Cultural fit, salary expectations, work‑authorization status	30 min
Technical call (Lead Animator)	Review of portfolio, real‑time rigging challenges, problem‑solving scenarios	1 hr
Live Task	2‑hour timed assignment: create a low‑poly avatar head, rig facial controls, and deliver a 5‑second expressive loop	2 hrs (remote)
On‑Site Panel	Deep dive into pipeline integration, cross‑functional collaboration, and leadership philosophy. Includes a whiteboard sketch of a new Bitmoji accessory workflow.	2 hrs
Final Offer	Compensation package review, ESOP details, relocation assistance (if applicable)	–

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Practical Tips for Success

• Optimize for Mobile First: Demonstrate how you reduce draw calls and texture memory while preserving detail—Snap’s audience uses phones with average 2 GB RAM.
• Show Iterative Process: Include version snapshots (v1 → v2 → final) in your portfolio to illustrate design evolution and feedback incorporation.
• Know the Brand: Study existing Bitmoji emojis, style guides, and recent product releases (e.g., Bitmoji 2.0) to align your art direction with the company’s aesthetic.
• Leverage Community Resources: Contribute to open‑source rigging scripts on GitHub; Snap values engineers who give back to the broader 3D community.
• Prepare STAR Stories: For behavioral questions, frame experiences around Situation, Task, Action, Result—focus on collaboration with engineers and meeting tight release deadlines.

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Real‑World Exmaple: Recent Bitmoji Update

In Q4 2025, Bitmoji launched a “Seasonal Outfit Pack” featuring animated coat layers and weather‑responsive particles. Senior 3D Artists led the creation of over 150 unique garment meshes, each rigged with dynamic cloth simulation that automatically switched between snow, rain, and wind effects. The project reduced asset load time by 22 % through smart LOD management,directly improving user retention on the Snap app.

Takeaway: Highlight any experience caractéristiques with large‑scale asset libraries, dynamic simulations, and performance‑driven optimization when discussing similar projects.

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Key takeaways for candidates:

• Align your portfolio with Bitmoji’s playful yet technically demanding aesthetic.
• Emphasize mobile‑first optimization, pipeline automation, and cross‑disciplinary teamwork.
• Leverage Toronto’s vibrant tech community for networking and mentorship opportunities.

Prepared for publication on archyde.com – 2026/01/16 02:41:46.