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.
$150K - $250K *
Empower innovation by owning end-to-end design for an AI integration platform. Collaborate with leadership to create user experiences and ship production frontend code, shaping the future of enterpris...
Today
$95K - $115K *
Join us to create user-centered designs for complex systems, ensuring high-quality experiences across multiple platforms. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to advocate for users and drive innova...
1 week ago
$250K - $350K *
Drive the design strategy for enterprise products, leading a talented team of designers. Collaborate closely with engineering and product leadership to elevate user experiences, ensuring design excell...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Industrial Design Product Manager
$142K - $188K *
Drive collaborative processes within the Industrial Design team, ensuring effective communication across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Product Management while managing project goals and resources i...
1 week ago
Senior UX Model Designer, Trust and Safety, GeminiApp, DeepMind
$145K - $175K *
Champion innovative user experiences by designing and enhancing conversational AI systems. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality outputs and develop strategies for continuous...
1 week ago
Lead Designer | Higher Education | Architecture
$110K - $130K *
Elevate design excellence by leading large-scale projects, ensuring high-quality outcomes through strategic leadership, effective communication, and a focus on client vision. Drive team performance an...
Reposted yesterday
$80K - $95K *
Shape the future of design execution by leading reviews, managing risks, and ensuring alignment across engineering disciplines. Collaborate on multiple programs to enhance project outcomes and maintai...
3 days ago
Lead Mechanical Design Engineer (MBD)
$80K - $95K *
Shape the future of mechanical design by managing development, conducting analyses, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that meet customer requirements and enhance opera...
Reposted 4 days ago
$95K - $115K *
Join a team that's driving innovation in Systems Engineering by embedding with customer-focused groups to gather insights, define needs, and develop robust requirements. Collaborate across functions t...
1 month ago
Senior Designer I, Civil Engineering
$80K - $95K *
Join our dynamic Civil Engineering team to provide innovative design solutions, lead project execution, and mentor junior staff while ensuring quality and compliance on diverse civil site projects...
Reposted 1 week ago
$160K - $170K *
Empower innovation as a VDI Engineer, supporting design and maintenance of a global virtual desktop environment. Collaborate with teams to troubleshoot performance issues and enhance operational excel...
1 week ago
$145K - $155K *
Transform your career by joining a dynamic team as a VDI Engineer, where you'll design, configure, and maintain a global virtual desktop environment while providing expert troubleshooting and support...
1 week ago
Senior Design Coordinator, Electrical & ICAT
$85K - $95K *
Transform your career by collaborating with diverse teams on complex electrical systems. As a key player, you'll enhance project bids and ensure innovative design solutions meet client needs across va...
2 weeks ago
Electrical Manager (Engineering Specialist)
$104K - $156K *
Optimize electrical design and execution for large-scale industrial projects, ensuring compliance with standards and fostering innovation. Lead cross-functional teams to deliver safe, efficient, and h...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Electrical Manager (Engineering Specialist)
$104K - $156K *
Drive electrical design excellence for large-scale industrial projects. Lead cross-functional teams to ensure compliance, safety, and innovation while managing timelines and stakeholder relationships...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$90K - $160K *
Optimize design processes by leading a talented team to create user-centered UI/UX solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality visuals and interactions while maintaining...
1 week ago
Interior Designer - Residential Practice Area
$84K - $95K *
Deliver innovative interior design solutions by collaborating with teams to create functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Engage in all project phases, ensuring quality and client satisfaction...
Reposted 1 week ago
Software Architect/Principal Engineer
$130K - $155K *
Unlock potential by leading software architecture for advanced vehicle protection systems. Collaborate with government and industry teams to design, integrate, and enhance real-time embedded software...
6 days ago
Principal Systems Engineer {D}
$130K - $155K *
Drive innovative solutions by leading Electro-Optical systems engineering for space environments. Collaborate with technical teams, manage requirements, and ensure successful product lifecycle integra...
Reposted 2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's redefining brand identity through innovative design. Collaborate across departments to create compelling visuals and scalable systems that elevate our presence in the market while m...
3 weeks ago
Team Lead Level Designer [Splinter Cell Remake]
$80K - $130K *
Transform player experiences by leading a team of level designers, ensuring high-quality standards, effective coaching, and timely project delivery while balancing creativity with production needs...
1 week ago
$130K - $155K *
Engage in advanced physical design for ASIC chips, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery and adherence to design goals while addressing challenges in synthesis, PNR, and...
3 days ago
$130K - $155K *
Unlock your potential by executing advanced physical design tasks for ASIC chips. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve design challenges and enhance methodologies, ensuring timely delive...
4 days ago
$78K - $92K *
Unlock innovative security solutions by integrating design and planning to enhance safety and usability across diverse environments. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop effective risk...
1 week ago
$81K - $136K *
Champion innovative design solutions as a Senior CAD Engineer, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and launch cutting-edge neurovascular devices, while ensuring compliance with indust...
6 days 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.