Animation Lead - 2D/3D

CACTUS is a remote-first organization and we embrace an accelerate from anywhere culture. You may be required to travel to our Mumbai office based on business requirements or for company/team events.

About Us

At Digital Media Solutions (DMS), we transform complex scientific and research-driven content into powerful stories through animation and design. We work with leading scientists, universities, publishers, and organizations worldwide to make their work accessible, engaging, and impactful.

Our teams specialize in content, design, and marketing, collaborating across global markets to deliver cutting-edge visual storytelling.

The Role

We are looking for a Design Lead - 2D/3D Animation & Motion who will drive the creation of high-quality animated content while leading a small internal team and a large network of freelancers/contractors.

This role is animation-first - focusing on 2D/3D animations, motion graphics, explainer videos, and scientific visualizations - with a smaller focus on graphic design to support visual branding and layout needs.

You will be a hands-on creator while also setting the creative direction, mentoring talent, and ensuring smooth delivery of projects for global clients.

1. Animation & Visual Storytelling

• • Create and oversee 2D/3D animated videos, motion graphics, product/process explainers, and scientific visualizations.
  • Translate technical and scientific briefs into engaging animated narratives.
  • Ensure deliverables are accurate, creative, and aligned with client goals.
  • Stay updated on animation trends, rendering techniques, and AI-based animation tools to drive innovation.

1. Leadership & Collaboration

• 1. Lead a small in-house design/animation team while managing a large global network of freelancers and contractors.
  2. Provide mentorship, feedback, and training to elevate output quality.
  3. Build scalable processes for onboarding and collaborating with external design partners.

1. Project & Client Management

• • Act as the creative consultant for clients - recommending formats, storytelling approaches, and design solutions.
  • Manage project timelines, resources, and deliverables to ensure seamless execution.
  • Partner with internal content and marketing teams to deliver cohesive outputs.

1. Quality & Standards

• • Define best practices and workflows for animation projects.
  • Troubleshoot recurring quality challenges and implement process improvements.
  • Maintain a balance between scientific rigor and design creativity.

1. 6-10 years of experience in 2D/3D animation and motion design, with at least 2-3 years in a leadership or project lead capacity.
2. Strong portfolio showcasing animated explainers, scientific storytelling, motion graphics, and product/process demos (portfolio link mandatory).
3. Advanced proficiency in Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Blender (or equivalent 3D tools) exposure to AI-based design/animation tools (Runway, MidJourney, etc.) is a plus.
4. Bachelor's/Master's degree in Animation, Design, Multimedia, or related fields (equivalent professional experience also considered).
5. Prior experience in science communication, healthcare, or research-driven animation is highly desirable.
6. Strong communication and client-facing skills ability to simplify complex concepts into compelling visuals

Before applying, please ensure you meet the role requirements listed above and have legal authorization to work in the country where this role is advertised. Our selection process typically involves an initial screening by a recruiter, a technical assessment, and two to three interview rounds.

Equal Opportunity

Our hiring practices reflect our commitment to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed. We celebrate the uniqueness of our team members and prohibit discrimination of any kind, based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

Accelerating from Anywhere

As a remote-first organization, these are essential attributes we look for in all our candidates.

• Taking ownership of your work with minimal supervision, showing strong ability to organize, prioritize and deliver results independently.
• Documenting work that brings everyone on the same page.
• Maturity to choose between synchronous and asynchronous collaboration.
• Effectively collaborating with colleagues across different time zones by setting dedicated hours for collaboration and keeping team members updated through your MS Teams status.

Established in 2002, Cactus Communications () is a leading technology company that specializes in expert services and AI-driven products which improve how research gets funded, published, communicated, and discovered. Its flagship brand Editage offers a comprehensive suite of researcher solutions, including expert services and cutting-edge AI products like Mind the Graph, Paperpal, and R Discovery. With offices in Princeton, London, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo, and Mumbai and a global workforce of over 3,000 experts, CACTUS is a pioneer in workplace best practices and has been consistently recognized as a great place to work.