Senior Motion Designer

Reports to: Motion Design Lead or Creative Director, Motion

Department: Creative

Classification: Exempt

WHO WE ARE

We are Thesis. Proudly headquartered in Portland, OR, while serving clients globally for over 20 years. Thesis is a creative agency that drives business success through marketing across technology, strategy and operations.

THE JOB

The Senior Motion Designer is a key creative contributor responsible for crafting high-quality animation and motion graphics across a range of digital, brand, and content experiences. This role combines advanced visual storytelling with deep technical expertise, delivering animated content that enhances narrative, brand identity, and engagement across formats. Senior Motion Designers take ownership of projects from storyboard to final output and are often mentors to junior designers, helping raise the creative and technical bar across the team.

AS A PERSON, YOU ARE:

• An expert in Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and optionally Cinema 4D, Blender, or similar 3D tools.
• A versatile motion graphics generalist capable of handling diverse animation styles.
• Grounded in strong typography and graphic design foundational skills.
• Highly experienced in creating compelling styleframes that establish visual direction.
• Skilled in typography, composition, layout, and rhythm as they relate to animation and motion graphics.
• Equipped with a solid grasp of animation principles (timing, easing, movement flow).
• Able to create styleframes and animate with precision and narrative purpose.
• Familiar with video editing workflows (Premiere, Final Cut) and sound sync.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage timelines and priorities across multiple deliverables.

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

• Lead the design and animation of motion content across social, product, brand, and campaign assets.
• Translate static design and storyboards into compelling motion, ensuring strong pacing, clarity, and brand alignment.
• Collaborate with creative leads, editors, designers, and copywriters to shape cohesive narratives and visual systems.
• Develop styleframes, storyboards, and animation prototypes for internal and client-facing reviews.
• Participate in creative brainstorms, offering ideas and solutions for how motion can elevate storytelling.
• Ensure technical execution, including file management, render optimization, and output delivery.
• Mentor junior motion designers, giving guidance on technique, timing, and feedback integration.
• Stay current on trends and techniques to keep motion language and workflows fresh and efficient.

AS FOR EXPERIENCE, YOU NEED:

• Bachelor’s degree in Motion Design, Animation, Graphic Design, or equivalent experience.
• 5–7 years of professional motion design experience in an agency, in-house, or content studio setting.
• Portfolio that shows high-level animation skills, storytelling ability, and versatility across formats.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The following capabilities are required in order to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden on the agency are available to address the following requirements.

• 
  Using standard office equipment, computers, and related technology.

• Certain activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse.

• Bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds.

• Thesis operates using a flexible hybrid model, work occurs remotely two days/week and in the office three days/week.

• As a proud B-Corp, Thesis prioritizes candidates based in the Portland Metro area to allow for a hybrid working set-up in our beautiful office in NW Portland.

• No travel is anticipated for this role.

VALUES

Be Lean, Take Action: We believe in thinking big, rolling up our sleeves, and getting the job done. And while we love a good plan, we believe in using process as an engine, not a brake.

Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say: We’re all here to learn, grow, and evolve together, which requires connecting, conflicting, and embracing. Honesty and ideas are welcome; ego is not.

Show Up Fully: We invite you to bring your whole self to work — your perspective, cultural background, lived experiences — while creating room for others’ strengths to complement your own. What makes you remarkable is welcome at Thesis.

INCLUSION AND ENCOURAGEMENT

We know that experience can show up in many ways, and we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications. If you're passionate about strategy, eager to grow, and excited to contribute your perspective, we'd love to hear from you.

At Thesis, we believe the best ideas come from bringing together diverse voices, experiences, and ways of thinking. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are not checkboxes—they are essential to how we work, collaborate, and create. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees can thrive and where every individual is treated with respect and dignity.

Thesis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. We provide reasonable accommodations throughout the hiring process for applicants with disabilities. If you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at HR@Thesis.Agency.