Senior Motion Designer - The Heist Job at Thinkingbox in Chicago

Who We Are

Hi! We’re The Heist, the production, post‑production and animation arm of Thinkingbox, a global creative collective shaping the future of brands through craft and curiosity. Our team brings together unique perspectives in production, design, technology, and creativity that push the boundaries for our clients to create work that is uniquely ours. We are a curious bunch that loves to think big, continuously learn, and create. We love our culture and the natural collaboration that happens in and around our five offices, from dog parties, to happy hour Fridays, to random team trips to Whistler. We maintain a vibrant work environment and encourage our people to explore the world for a month a year, working from another office or even the beaches of Bali to expand their worldview.

The Opportunity

As a member of a small yet agile animation team, you'll have creative ownership over all things motion. Our diverse projects push your creative boundaries, from design to animation. You’ll move from sketch to animation on micro‑content campaigns, create 2D and 3D assets for AR projects, and motion‑design for projects ranging from social media campaigns to short animated films.

What You'll Be Doing

• Breaking down scripts into clear and succinct storyboards that convey motion, and refined styleframes that show creative direction
• Working alongside the motion‑design team and leading projects to create considered and nuanced animation
• Picking up new processes and workflows to design and create animation across a myriad of styles
• Taking an active leadership role on your projects and communicating clearly and concisely with your teammates
• Creating assets and animation (2D or 3D) within guidelines or set art direction
• Offering creative input during pre‑production and production
• Staying organized
• Advising and accurately costing tasks and projects when required

What You'll Bring

• A portfolio that showcases amazing motion design across a variety of styles
• 4‑7+ years of experience in motion design
• 1+ year in a leadership or senior capacity
• High comfort working with Cinema 4D and Redshift
• Mastery of the Adobe Suite (AE, Premiere, PS, Illustrator)
• Strong grasp of the animation pipeline
• Design taste that complements your motion design skills
• Experience with XParticles, Marvelous Designer, and/or Houdini is a big bonus
• Working knowledge of Substance Painter is a bonus
• A passion to further your skill sets driven by curiosity
• Ability to time‑manage and approach creative or technical roadblocks with a solution‑driven approach

Additional Info

• Hybrid model
• Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick days
• Regular culture and team‑building events
• Employee recognition and incentive programs
• Seasonal celebrations and gatherings
• Branded company swag
• Access to industry events and learning opportunities
• Dog‑friendly offices
• Unlimited coffee, drinks, and snacks
• Flexible work and travel options
• Comprehensive extended health benefits

Equal Opportunity

Here at Thinkingbox, we are committed to building an environment where our employees continuously feel included, valued and heard. Diversity is our creative strength and it’s a combination of our unique experiences and perspectives that make for some of the best problem‑solving. We strongly encourage all applicants, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or gender identity to apply.

To Apply

Thank you for taking the time to apply! Please include your resume and links to your online portfolio with your application (if applicable). Due to the volume of applications, we are not able to contact everyone who applies. All applications are stored in our talent database and you will be considered for future opportunities with us!

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.