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Lead Animator

Kalamazoo, MI

About Re:Build Manufacturing and Re:Build Tekna:

Tekna was founded in 1988 in the heart of Southwest Michigan where creative vision and hard work laid the foundation for a business that continues to grow in a rapidly evolving industry. The rigor and attention to detail that comes with designing for the medical industry has awarded us success in supporting both major companies and start-ups from early stage development to commercialization. The same principles apply as we've expanded to serve customers in a wide variety of other industries including consumer and industrial goods, electronics, and appliances. Tekna's project portfolio is incredibly diverse covering medical, life science, consumer and industrial product categories. Tekna is largely client focused offering design consulting, contract manufacturing and original equipment manufacturing services. Tekna's cross functional teams include Design Engineering, Industrial Design, CAD, Procurement, Production and Quality which offers a friendly and supportive team atmosphere.

Re:Build Manufacturing is a family of industrial businesses combining cutting-edge enabling technologies, operational superiority, and strategic M&A to build America's next-generation industrial company. Re:Build leverages deep expertise in operations management and technology to supercharge the performance of its subsidiaries by implementing core technologies across industrial platforms in diversified growth markets. Our goal is to help revitalize the U.S. manufacturing base over the coming decades, creating substantial opportunities for our employees and the communities where we operate.

If you like a fast-paced environment where individuals can stretch and be challenged with a diverse set of projects, we offer a great deal of variety and empower our staff to take on as much responsibility as they can handle, offering a helping hand and experienced-based coaching and the support of a highly competent team. Our goal is to enable our employees to achieve their fullest potential, and through our association with Re:Build, provide avenues for personal and professional growth.

Who we are looking for

We’re a team that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and a drive to push boundaries. Our business is rapidly growing across industries that shape the future— Medical, Aerospace & Defense, Electrification, Energy & Environment, and Robotic & Intelligent Automation. We bring complex ideas to life through design, storytelling, and technical excellence. Now, we’re looking for a Lead Animator to raise the bar on our animation capabilities and help us grow this exciting category. 

As our Lead Animator, you’ll be the go-to person for all things animation—from concept development through final delivery. You’ll guide the creative direction, mentor team members, and collaborate closely with cinematographers, designers, and engineers to create compelling visual stories. Your work will bring clarity and energy to technical content, making it accessible, engaging, and unforgettable. 

Your day-to-day activities will include:

  • Lead Animation Projects: Drive the creative vision and execution of animations for a wide range of industries and audiences. 
  • Pre-Production Creative: Partner with directors and the cinematography team to storyboard, concept, and plan projects that balance technical accuracy with visual impact. 
  • Hands-On Animation: Bring stories to life through 2D/3D animation, motion graphics, and visual effects. 
  • Mentorship & Growth: Elevate the team’s animation skill set, sharing best practices, new techniques, and creative inspiration. 
  • Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work side-by-side with cinematography, design, and engineering teams to ensure animation integrates seamlessly with live-action and other creative outputs. 
  • Innovation & Standards: Explore new tools, technologies, and trends to expand our capabilities and set a high standard for animation excellence. 

What you bring to the team

  • A strong portfolio that shows mastery in animation and motion design. 
  • Proven experience in leading animation projects from concept to delivery. 
  • Solid understanding of pre-production processes: storyboarding, animatics, visual development. 
  • Expertise with industry-standard animation and motion graphics tools (After Effects, Cinema 4D, Maya, Blender, etc.). 
  • A well-rounded knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro & video editing. 
  • A collaborative spirit with the ability to inspire, mentor, and grow a creative team. 
  • Comfort working in technical industries (experience in Medical, Aerospace, Robotics, or similar fields is a plus). 
  • Curiosity, creativity, and a love for experimenting with new techniques. 
  • Someone who manages their team effectively to deliver high-quality work on schedule. 
  • Confidence in working with clients, presenting their work, interpreting feedback, and guiding the next steps in a project is essential. 

Why you will love it here:

  • A supportive, fun team environment where collaboration and creativity are encouraged every day. 
  • Opportunities to shape and grow the animation category within a rapidly expanding business. 
  • Projects that make an impact across industries that are changing the world. 
  • Space to push your craft, explore new tools, and raise the creative bar. 

We want to work with people that reflect the communities in which we operate

Re:Build Manufacturing is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, parental status, cultural background, organizational level, work styles, tenure and life experiences. Or for any other reason.

Re:Build is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at accommodations.ta@ReBuildmanufacturing.com or you may call us at 617.909.6275.

 

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