3D designers turn concepts into compelling digital and physical experiences. They create models, environments, animations, and visualizations for industries such as technology, entertainment, architecture, product design, advertising, and manufacturing. Explore vetted 3D Designer opportunities on Ladders, including roles with compensation of $100,000 or more.
Responsibilities vary by industry and employer, but often include building and refining 3D models, developing textures and materials, lighting and rendering scenes, creating animations, and preparing assets for production. Designers may collaborate with art directors, engineers, product teams, animators, and clients to translate briefs and technical requirements into polished visual work.
Employers commonly seek strong visual design fundamentals, spatial reasoning, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly. Depending on the role, useful experience may include 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, rendering, real-time workflows, and visualization. Tools vary across teams and may include Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, or real-time engines such as Unreal Engine.
3D designers can specialize in areas such as product visualization, architectural visualization, character and environment art, motion design, virtual production, or interactive experiences. With experience, professionals may advance to senior designer, lead artist, art director, or other creative leadership roles. Requirements and compensation depend on specialization, experience, location, and employer.
Browse Ladders for vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Explore 3D Designer listings, compare role requirements, and discover opportunities that align with your creative strengths and career goals.
$98K - $108K *
Drive the development and coordination of structural BIM models, ensuring data quality and compliance. Collaborate with engineers to deliver accurate documentation for complex projects, enhancing work...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Innovate your career by developing and coordinating structural BIM models. Collaborate with engineers to ensure data-rich documentation and maintain project standards, contributing to the successful d...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Transform structural design through innovative BIM modeling and documentation. Collaborate with engineers to ensure project standards, maintain model quality, and deliver coordinated drawings for comp...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Lead the charge in developing and coordinating structural BIM models, ensuring data quality and compliance throughout project lifecycles. Collaborate with engineers to deliver accurate documentation f...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Unlock the potential of structural design by creating precise, data-rich BIM models. Collaborate with engineers to ensure project success through effective coordination and documentation, enhancing th...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Engage with structural engineers to develop precise, data-rich BIM models and documentation for complex building projects. Ensure model quality and coordination across disciplines while supporting pro...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Take ownership of structural BIM models and documentation, ensuring accuracy and coordination across projects. Collaborate with engineers to deliver high-quality, data-rich models while maintaining pr...
1 week ago
$98K - $108K *
Optimize structural design processes by creating accurate, data-rich BIM models. Collaborate with engineers to ensure project standards and quality throughout the lifecycle, contributing to the succes...
1 week ago
Senior Design Engineer - Solidworks
$80K - $95K *
Design custom tooling and automation solutions for robotic welding cells. Collaborate with teams to enhance manufacturing efficiency and safety while applying engineering principles and SolidWorks exp...
4 days ago
Architectural Designer - Retail
$71K - $106K *
Drive innovative design solutions by collaborating across teams, managing projects, and enhancing client relationships. Leverage your architectural expertise to contribute to diverse retail projects f...
Reposted 2 days ago
$85K - $90K *
Partner with us to design and lead impactful case experiences that enhance student engagement and teacher confidence. Collaborate with educators to implement innovative instructional strategies and dr...
Reposted yesterday
$80K - $95K *
Shape the future of design by leading innovative projects, collaborating with teams, and enhancing client experiences. Utilize your expertise to drive strategic solutions and mentor others in a dynami...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Transform electrical substation designs by leading CAD teams, ensuring high-quality execution, conducting design reviews, and mentoring staff on diverse projects, all while maintaining project managem...
Reposted 4 days ago
$90K - $110K *
Elevate your engineering career by providing design and technical support for mechanical piping systems across various projects, ensuring compliance with standards and collaborating with project teams...
1 week ago
$130K - $165K *
Drive design innovation and modernization efforts by evaluating and coordinating engineering designs, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with technical specifications in a collaborative envir...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Elevate PCB design capabilities by delivering high-quality layouts for defense electronics. Collaborate with engineers to ensure manufacturability and support continuous improvements in ECAD practices...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Transform the customer journey by designing seamless web and mobile experiences. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance onboarding, usability, and AI-driven interfaces, ensuring customers...
1 week ago
$105K - $194K *
Lead innovative product design by bridging design and production, ensuring manufacturability and compliance with industry standards while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-qual...
Yesterday
$114K - $160K *
Transform the future of space exploration by applying your PCB layout expertise in a dynamic team. Collaborate across disciplines to design high-performance PCBs for aerospace applications, ensuring s...
2 weeks ago
$90K - $110K *
Empower your career by leading electrical design for large-scale TMT projects. Collaborate with teams, ensure code compliance, and drive project success through innovative solutions and meticulous coo...
2 days ago
$120K - $168K *
Join a team that's redefining digital product design by conducting user research, creating prototypes, and ensuring seamless collaboration with engineers. Your hands-on approach will shape the user ex...
1 week ago
$120K - $168K *
Transform user insights into impactful designs by conducting research, creating prototypes, and collaborating with engineers. Drive the design standard across projects while leveraging AI tools to enh...
1 week ago
$72K - $89K *
Transform complex ideas into innovative mechanical designs, collaborating with project teams to deliver custom solutions for the food and pharma industries while ensuring safety and quality standards...
3 weeks ago
$160K - $200K *
Unlock potential by designing intuitive user experiences for AI-driven creative tools. Collaborate with engineers and researchers to transform complex AI capabilities into seamless, engaging products...
2 weeks ago
$95K - $117K *
Join in transforming diverse interior design projects, collaborating across disciplines to present innovative solutions and support the completion of both independent and integrated ventures...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
What does a 3D designer do?
A 3D designer creates digital models, scenes, animations, and visualizations. The work may support products, architecture, games, film, advertising, or other experiences, depending on the employer.
What skills are important for 3D designer jobs?
Commonly valued skills include 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, visual design, spatial reasoning, collaboration, and clear communication. Specific requirements differ by role and industry.
Which software do 3D designers use?
Tools vary by specialty and team. Common examples include Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine.
What industries hire 3D designers?
3D designers work across technology, entertainment, architecture, product design, advertising, manufacturing, and other fields that use three-dimensional visualization or digital content.
Can 3D designers find jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Yes. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including opportunities that may suit experienced 3D designers. Compensation depends on factors such as experience, specialty, location, and employer.