Senior Motion Designer

Thesis•Portland, OR

1d•$75,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Thesis is an independent agency working at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and technology. It partners with ambitious brands to solve complex business and marketing challenges and create ideas, experiences, and systems built to scale. The agency is evolving its ways of working to bring thinking and making closer together, build more accountable teams, and use technology and AI to expand creative possibilities. The Senior Motion Designer is a visual storyteller, craftsperson, and creative problem solver responsible for shaping and delivering high-impact animation and motion graphics across brand, digital, campaign, and content experiences. The role translates complex ideas and static brand systems into dynamic motion that elevates narrative, strengthens brand identity, and drives audience engagement. The designer owns work end to end, from conceptualization, styleframe design, and storyboarding through final animation, sound integration, and technical delivery. Embedded in multidisciplinary teams, the role helps push creative boundaries, collaborates closely with design, editorial, and creative leads, and mentors emerging motion designers to help raise the agency's creative and technical standards. Thesis operates on a hybrid work model, with in-office collaboration Tuesday through Thursday and remote work Mondays and Fridays. The agency prioritizes candidates based in the Portland Metro area to support this arrangement. No travel is anticipated. The role requires using standard office equipment and computers, and extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and using a mouse. Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds may also be required. Reasonable accommodations are available for the stated requirements.

Requirements

5–7 years of professional experience crafting animation and motion graphics in an agency, content studio, or in-house creative setting.
Deep mastery of core animation principles, including timing, easing, spatial rhythm, typography, composition, and visual flow.
Expertise in Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and video editing workflows using Premiere.
Ability to build belief in ideas through styleframes and motion tests and to articulate the rationale behind the work.
Strong organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple deliverables and shifting priorities through ambiguity and fast agency cycles.
Collaborative, accountable, low-ego approach and passion for elevating both the craft and colleagues.
Bachelor's degree in Motion Design, Animation, Graphic Design, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of 3D software such as Cinema 4D or Blender and sound synchronization.
Curiosity and willingness to experiment with AI, emerging technology, and new ways of making and animating.
Candidates based in the Portland Metro area are prioritized to support the hybrid work arrangement.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and animation of motion content across social, product, brand, campaign, and experiential assets.
Translate static design systems, typography, and storyboards into compelling motion with intentional pacing, visual rhythm, and brand alignment.
Develop styleframes, storyboards, and motion prototypes for internal exploration and client-facing reviews.
Oversee technical execution and delivery, including project file organization, render optimization, audio synchronization, and multi-format output.
Partner with Creative Directors, Art Directors, Designers, Copywriters, and Editors to shape cohesive visual narratives and unified brand systems.
Participate in creative brainstorms and concept development, contributing ideas for how motion can elevate storytelling.
Collaborate across Strategy, Technology, and Production to reduce handoffs, protect creative ambition, and ensure seamless delivery.
Use AI and emerging design and animation tools to accelerate exploration, prototype motion concepts, and increase the team's creative leverage.
Work with Creative and Technology leads to explore animation workflows, rendering techniques, and tools that keep Thesis's motion language fresh and forward-looking.
Scale creative output with modern technology while preserving human craft, originality, and artistic judgment.
Mentor and guide junior motion designers and interns through feedback, timing critique, and technical troubleshooting.
Set high creative and technical standards across the motion discipline while fostering ownership, craft rigor, and autonomy.
Balance creative ambition with scope, timing, technical constraints, and project realities.
Participate in client-facing presentations as a motion design specialist and collaborate with external production partners and vendors.