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Activision Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

... designs Extra Points Experience * Experience coding in Rust * Experience with incident response and ... the game studios. Central Tech is part of Activision. To learn more about us and our research ...

Xboxgaming

Lead UX Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$123K - $161K/yr

LeadUX Designer Reporting To: Senior Director of Product Department: Call of Duty: Mobile Product ... games Our World At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and ...

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Activision Game Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do activision game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for activision game designer in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Activision Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Activision Game Designer, you need strong creative skills in game design, storytelling, and level creation, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, scripting languages (such as C# or Blueprint), and familiarity with version control systems is essential. Excellent collaboration, communication, and problem-solving abilities help designers work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and respond to feedback. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, high-quality games that align with project goals and player expectations.

What is the difference between Activision Game Designer vs Activision Level Designer?

AspectActivision Game DesignerActivision Level Designer
Primary FocusGame mechanics, story, gameplay systemsLevel layout, environment design, player experience within levels
Required SkillsGame design principles, scripting, creativityLevel design tools, spatial awareness, environment art
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with programmers, artists, writersWorks closely with artists, level artists, and gameplay teams
Common CertificationsGame design degrees, portfolioLevel design courses, 3D modeling skills

While both roles are integral to game development at Activision, the Game Designer focuses on overall gameplay mechanics and story, whereas the Level Designer specializes in creating engaging environments and levels. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations within the industry.

What are the most common challenges faced by an Activision Game Designer during the development process?

As an Activision Game Designer, one of the most common challenges is balancing creative vision with technical constraints and tight production timelines. Designers often need to iterate quickly, incorporating feedback from playtesting, producers, and other departments such as engineering and art. Collaborating across multidisciplinary teams is vital, as is adapting to shifting project priorities. Staying current with industry trends and player expectations also requires continuous learning and flexibility.

What does an Activision Game Designer do?

An Activision Game Designer is responsible for creating the core gameplay mechanics, levels, and systems that define the player experience in Activision games. They collaborate with artists, programmers, and producers to design engaging content, balance game features, and ensure a fun, cohesive experience. Their role often involves playtesting, iterating on feedback, and documenting design concepts. Ultimately, game designers help shape the creative vision and bring it to life within Activision’s titles.
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What job categories do people searching Activision Game Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Activision Game Designer jobs are:
Activision Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Activision Game Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 32% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Software Engineer, Engine Systems

Software Engineer, Engine Systems

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site, Remote

$37.26 - $68.93/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design, implement, and maintain core engine features by collaborating closely with designers, artists, and fellow engineers to support both creative and technical goals.

  • Improve engine workflows and pipelines by identifying bottlenecks, simplifying processes, and enabling teams to build content more efficiently.

  • Ensure client and runtime stability across multiple platforms by diagnosing complex issues, fixing bugs, and strengthening system reliability.

Job description

Team Name:

DiabloJob Title:Software Engineer, Engine SystemsRequisition ID:R027570Job Description:
Job Description

We Need You

The minions of hell are growing stronger...

Join us as we continue to shape the Diablo universe! Diablo games are action RPG experiences with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish Dungeons, and legendary loot. Come work with us, and togetherwe'llcreate something amazing. Our team of passionate developers is growing.

We are seeking anEngine Systems Engineertoassistin the creation of new ARPG experiences within one of Blizzard's most iconic worlds, Diablo. In this role, you will help advance the core technology that powers our game by improving foundational engine infrastructure (streaming, asset loading, performance systems, and platform support) as well as core runtime systems such as animation, VFX, physics, and audio.You'llalso ensure smooth, stable gameplay experiences through thoughtful performance optimization, efficient content delivery, and robust multiplatform integration.This is a unique opportunity towork closely with crossdisciplinary partners to support both creative and technical goals, leverage platform SDKs, and solve complex challenges that bring immersive, highfidelity gameplay to life across a wide range of hardware.

This role offers a flexible hybrid work week, with a mix of remote and on-site days.While hybrid is the standard arrangement, you're also welcome to workon-sitefull-time if you prefer. Our primary studio locations are in Albany, NY, and Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities:

  • Design, implement, andmaintaincore engine features by collaborating closely with designers, artists, and fellow engineers to support both creative and technical goals.

  • Improve engine workflows and pipelines byidentifyingbottlenecks, simplifying processes, and enabling teams to build content more efficiently.

  • Ensure client and runtime stability across multiple platforms by diagnosing complex issues, fixing bugs, and strengthening system reliability.

  • Advance the game engine through performance tuning, scalability work, and platformspecific optimization to support longterm growth of the project.

MinimumRequirements:

  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong focus on modern C++ in realtime or game development environments.

  • Deep understanding of memory management, performance considerations, and software architecture.

  • Strong grasp of core data structures and practical insight into when and how to use them effectively.

  • Demonstrated experience optimizing both code and data layouts for performance and memory efficiency.

  • Excellent communication skills and comfort working closely with designers, artists, producers, and other engineers.

  • Handson experience with multithreaded programming and a solid understanding of concurrency challenges.

Bonus Points:

  • Background in developing oroptimizinggames for console platforms (PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch).

  • Experiencewith C# or experience working with C#-based tools or systems.

  • Familiarity withPython,Lua,orsimilar scripting languages.

  • Ability to discuss or share examples of C++ work, such as custom engines, renderers, compilers, embedded systems, or similar projects (professional, academic, or personal).

Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Candy Crush and Bubble Witch. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered!

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $37.26 - $68.93 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.
Blizzard Entertainment logo

About Blizzard Entertainment

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blizzard Entertainment is a globally recognized leader in the Digital Gaming industry, renowned for creating some of the world's most popular video games such as "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo." The company was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Irvine, California, USA. Aside from creating engaging video games, Blizzard Entertainment also develops and supports a wide range of software products within the realm of entertainment. The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, an element that can be recognized in its vast array of legendary games. Notably, its creation, World of Warcraft, remains one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

1991

Social media

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