Lead Motion Designer

Re:Build Manufacturing•Kalamazoo, MI

About The Position

About Re:Build Manufacturing and Re:Build Tekna: Tekna was founded in 1988 in the heart of Southwest Michigan where creative vision and hard work laid the foundation for a business that continues to grow in a rapidly evolving industry. The rigor and attention to detail that comes with designing for the medical industry has awarded us success in supporting both major companies and start-ups from early stage development to commercialization. The same principles apply as we've expanded to serve customers in a wide variety of other industries including consumer and industrial goods, electronics, and appliances. Tekna's project portfolio is incredibly diverse covering medical, life science, consumer and industrial product categories. Tekna is largely client focused offering design consulting, contract manufacturing and original equipment manufacturing services. Tekna's cross functional teams include Design Engineering, Industrial Design, CAD, Procurement, Production and Quality which offers a friendly and supportive team atmosphere. Re:Build Manufacturing is a family of industrial businesses combining cutting-edge enabling technologies, operational superiority, and strategic M&A to build America's next-generation industrial company. Re:Build leverages deep expertise in operations management and technology to supercharge the performance of its subsidiaries by implementing core technologies across industrial platforms in diversified growth markets. Our goal is to help revitalize the U.S. manufacturing base over the coming decades, creating substantial opportunities for our employees and the communities where we operate. If you like a fast-paced environment where individuals can stretch and be challenged with a diverse set of projects, we offer a great deal of variety and empower our staff to take on as much responsibility as they can handle, offering a helping hand and experienced-based coaching and the support of a highly competent team. Our goal is to enable our employees to achieve their fullest potential, and through our association with Re:Build, provide avenues for personal and professional growth. Who we are looking for We’re a team that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and a drive to push boundaries. Our business is rapidly growing across industries that shape the future— Medical, Aerospace & Defense, Electrification, Energy & Environment, and Robotic & Intelligent Automation . We bring complex ideas to life through design, storytelling, and technical excellence. Now, we’re looking for a Lead Animator to raise the bar on our animation capabilities and help us grow this exciting category. We’re looking for motion designers that are seasoned After Effects users , whos e portfolio should show a strong mix of motion and visual artistry including kinetic typography, 2D, 2.5D, and 3D work with a solid grasp of design and typography fundamentals . You should also be competent in C4D, Blender, or Maya , with the ability to light, texture, and render using a physical renderer such as Octane or Redshift . As our Lead Motion Designer , you’ll be the go-to person for all things animation , from concept development through final delivery. You’ll guide the creative direction, mentor team members, and collaborate closely with cinematographers, designers, and engineers to create compelling visual stories. Your work will bring clarity and energy to technical content, making it accessible, engaging, and unforgettable.

Requirements

10+ years in the business with project and people management experience.
A strong portfolio that shows mastery in animation and motion design.
Proven experience in leading animation projects from concept to delivery.
Solid understanding of pre-production processes: storyboarding, animatics, visual development.
Expertise with industry-standard animation and motion graphics tools (After Effects, Cinema 4D, Maya, Blender, etc.).
A well-rounded knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro & video editing.
A collaborative spirit with the ability to inspire, mentor, and grow a creative team.
Confidence in working with clients, presenting their work, interpreting feedback, and guiding the next steps in a project is essential.

Nice To Haves

Industrial Design or Graphic Design education would be a bonus.
Comfort working in technical industries (experience in Medical, Aerospace, Robotics, or similar fields is a plus).
Curiosity, creativity, and a love for experimenting with new techniques.
Someone who manages their team effectively to deliver high-quality work on schedule.

Responsibilities

Lead Animation Projects: Drive the creative vision and execution of animations for a wide range of industries and audiences.
Pre-Production Creative: Partner with directors and the cinematography team to storyboard, concept, and plan projects that balance technical accuracy with visual impact.
Hands-On Animation: Bring stories to life through 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, and visual effects.
Mentorship & Growth: Elevate the team’s animation skill set, sharing best practices, new techniques, and creative inspiration.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work side-by-side with cinematography, design, and engineering teams to ensure animation integrates seamlessly with live-action and other creative outputs.
Innovation & Standards: Work side-by-side with cinematography, design, and engineering teams to ensure animation integrates seamlessly with live-action and other creative outputs.

Benefits

A supportive, fun team environment where collaboration and creativity are encouraged every day.
Opportunities to shape and grow the animation category within a rapidly expanding business.
Projects that make an impact across industries that are changing the world.
Space to push your craft, explore new tools, and raise the creative bar.

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