Senior 3D Generalist (Contract/Project-Based)

Full job description About Mainstay Digital We create high-end 3D experiences for B2B clients, from interactive videos and 3D product animations to AR demos and product stills. Our work helps technical sales teams showcase complex products in immersive, accessible ways. About the Role We're looking for a 3D generalist with the instincts of an animator and a storyteller, someone who can take a storyboard and carry it through the entire production process on their own. You'll own the full arc of a piece: starting from a storyboard, building it into a boardomatic, developing it into a full animatic, then taking it all the way through to final animation, lighting and render setups, editing, and motion graphics. This is a role for someone who thinks in terms of pacing, composition, and narrative, not just technical execution and who can make strong creative calls without needing every beat directed. This is project-based contract work for an experienced generalist who can own the pipeline from brief to delivery with minimal direction. What We Need A 3D generalist / animator who can: • Take a storyboard and develop it into a boardomatic, then a full animatic • Carry a piece through to final animation with strong sense of timing, staging, and storytelling • Handle lighting and render setups end-to-end • Finish the piece through editing and motion graphics • Make strong visual and narrative decisions independently (composition, pacing, storytelling, design) • Communicate proactively, flag issues early, and meet deadlines consistently • Requirements • Several years of professional 3D and animation experience (studio, agency, or freelance) • Expert-level Blender workflow: all 3D work is done in Blender • Senior-level proficiency across the Adobe suite (After Effects, Premiere Pro) for editing and motion graphics • Demonstrated storytelling and animation instincts: pacing, staging, composition • Proven track record delivering finished, narrative-driven pieces end-to-end and independently • A portfolio that includes actual videos: finished, moving work. Stills alone will not be considered for this role. Please note your specific role on each piece. Bonus Skills • Storyboarding or boardomatic/previs experience • Sound and music editing to picture • Real-time engine experience (Unreal) How to Apply Please submit: • A brief intro explaining why you're a great fit, with emphasis on your storytelling and animation strengths • Your portfolio including actual video work, with your role on each piece clearly noted • Any relevant motion graphics, previs, or automation experience Contract Details This is an independent contractor position, not full-time employment. Work is project-based with strong potential for ongoing collaboration. We have a steady pipeline of projects and are looking for long-term relationships with reliable talent. You'll work within our pipeline by remoting into our machines, so no need to provide your own software or hardware.