Little Plains is hiring: Motion Designer in New York

Contract to start, with opportunity for full-time New York or Remote (EST preferred) We are hiring a motion designer to bring digital interfaces to life through animation and interaction design. At Little Plains, motion is part of how experiences communicate: how they guide, reassure, and express character. A well-timed transition or a considered micro-interaction is the difference between a product that feels polished and one that does not. You own the motion layer of digital experiences, from concept and prototype through production-ready assets. Why This Role Exists Digital interfaces have gotten more complex. Users interact with more surfaces, flows, and states than ever before, and the quality of those interactions is increasingly what separates strong products from forgettable ones. Generative animation and runtime tools are changing how fast teams can explore. But the judgment about what to animate, how to time it, and when motion serves the experience versus distracts from it — that is not something a tool resolves. This role exists to make those calls. About Little Plains Little Plains is a modern brand and product studio. We work primarily with early-stage companies, often from pre-launch through Series A, at moments where clarity, speed, and conviction matter most. Our partners are founders and small senior teams building new products, categories, and narratives under real constraints. We operate as an embedded creative partner rather than a traditional digital agency, building brand, product, and go-to-market work into cohesive systems that can scale as companies grow. Our work spans healthcare, biotech, SaaS, and consumer products. What You Will Do Day to day, you will: Own the motion layer of digital products and brand experiences, from onboarding flows to micro-interactions to expressive graphic treatments Collaborate with design and development teams to make sure motion holds up in production Think carefully about timing, easing, and when to use motion with purpose versus restraint Move quickly from concept to production-ready assets, iterating based on feedback Use AI-driven animation tools and runtime players as part of your workflow How We Work Motion is developed alongside brand, product, and interaction decisions, not applied after the fact. Assets are production-grade from the start, not aspirational prototypes that fall apart in handoff. We use AI tools to explore options faster and push what is possible. The judgment about what to animate, and when, stays yours. The Bar for Craft This role requires deep command of timing and easing, a strong point of view on when motion helps, and the technical ability to deliver assets that hold up in real builds. What We're Looking For 3–5 years of motion design or interactive animation experience, at an agency, in-house, or freelance A portfolio that shows command of timing, easing, and visual storytelling through motion Proficiency in After Effects, Figma, Lottie, and Rive (Spline is a plus) Comfort with AI-driven animation tools and genuine curiosity about what they make possible Ability to iterate quickly and take feedback in stride Core tools: After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite, Lottie, Rive, Figma, Spline Benefits (Full-Time) Medical, dental, and vision insurance (50% employer-covered) 15 days PTO (Year 1, increases by 2 days/year) Parental leave: 12 weeks (birth parent), 6 weeks (non-birth parent) at full pay Prenatal leave: 20 hours paid per year Quarterly profit share tied to studio performance Equity participation for long-term team members $1,000/year craft and tools stipend $200/month coworking stipend What to Submit Resume or LinkedIn profile A short note on your technical approach and how you think about storytelling through motion If you want to work on motion design that actually earns its place, purposeful, polished, and production-ready, let's talk. Equal Opportunity & Fair Chance Little Plains is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, including the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws. In accordance with the NYC Fair Chance Act, we consider applicants with criminal histories. Any background check will occur only after a conditional offer of employment has been made. We appreciate your consideration. We will do our best to view every submission carefully, and in a timely manner. Please allow a few business days for us to get back to your submission, and we look forward to hopefully talking more. #J-18808-Ljbffr