Senior Motion Designer - The Heist

Thinkingbox•Chicago, IL

1d•$85,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, is looking for a Senior Motion Designer. This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives inside the work while helping elevate the people around them. The Senior Motion Designer will partner closely with Art Directors and Creative Directors to transform ideas into exceptional motion. This includes developing styleframes, designing key moments, building 3D scenes, or refining animation, and establishing the creative standard for every project. Beyond execution, the role involves mentoring others, tackling creative and technical challenges, and guiding projects through production with confidence and attention to detail.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

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.