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Board Game Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Tic Toc Games

Orchestrator - Mobile F2P

Burbank, CA · On-site

$120 - $180/hr

... board completion. * Develop anti-churn systems that reward \"lucky\" events following \"bad ... Solid understanding of game design principles and methodologies as well as different game ...

New

Nvidia

Senior Board Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than ... Design responsibility for the design of evaluation boards for NVIDIA products, including GPUs, CPUs ...

Nvidia

Senior Board Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than ... Design responsibility for the design of evaluation boards for NVIDIA products, including GPUs, CPUs ...

NVIDIA Gruppe

Senior Board Design Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$196 - $310.50/hr

NVIDIA has been transforming computer graphics, PC gaming, and accelerated computing for more than ... Design responsibility for the design of evaluation boards for NVIDIA products, including GPUs, CPUs ...

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All JobsBoard Game Design JobsBoard Game Design Jobs in California

Board Game Design information

See California salary details

$78.5K

$129K

$193.4K

How much do board game design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for board game design in California is $129,049.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,600.00 and $148,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is board game design?

A Board Game Design job involves creating the mechanics, rules, theme, and components of board games. Designers brainstorm ideas, prototype gameplay, playtest extensively, and refine their designs based on feedback. They often work with publishers or self-publish their games. The role requires creativity, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of player engagement and balance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in board game design?

To thrive in Board Game Design, you should have strong skills in game mechanics, creativity, playtesting, and project management, often supported by a background in graphic design, mathematics, or related fields. Familiarity with industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite or Tabletop Simulator, as well as knowledge of prototyping methods, is highly beneficial. Outstanding collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills will help you work effectively with artists, writers, and playtesters. These abilities are crucial to creating engaging, cohesive games that appeal to both publishers and players in a competitive market.

What are some typical challenges faced in board game design, and how do designers overcome them?

A common challenge in board game design is balancing game mechanics so that play is fair, engaging, and enjoyable for a variety of player types. Designers often iterate through multiple prototypes and rounds of playtesting to identify and address issues with rules, pacing, or player engagement. Collaboration with others—such as artists, writers, and external playtesters—helps bring fresh perspectives and refine the final product. Overcoming these challenges requires creativity, patience, and a willingness to adapt based on feedback, all of which contribute to the development of a polished, successful game.

How do you become a board game designer?

To become a board game designer, develop strong skills in game mechanics, storytelling, and graphic design, often through self-education, online courses, or formal education in game design or related fields. Building a portfolio of prototypes and understanding playtesting processes are essential, and networking within the industry can help in gaining opportunities and feedback.

How much does a board game designer make?

The average salary for a board game designer ranges from $30,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on experience, project scope, and whether they work independently or for a company. Many designers supplement income through royalties, freelance work, or crowdfunding platforms. Entry-level designers may earn less, while experienced professionals with a strong portfolio can earn higher salaries or royalties.

What are the most commonly searched types of Board Game Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Board Game Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Board Game Design jobs in California?

For Board Game Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Board Game Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Board Game Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Board Game Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Board Game Design job openings:

Board Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Board Game Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,049 per year, or $62 per hour.

Orchestrator - Mobile F2P

Tic Toc Games

Burbank, CA • On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Role Summary

We are looking for a candidate in the realm of Machine Learning / AI to help define and control models on an individual basis to modify and tune our game's live economy and progression models. This role resides in the Engineering realm but requires knowledge in Design and Product Management to apply the AI models effectively. You will work closely with Design and Product teams to implement target progress paths for player cohorts and define models to segment players and track their progress session-by-session.


Key Responsibilities

  • Modify in-game weight tables to adjust event progression speed based on previous outcomes and predicted resource consumption.

  • Ensure users in specific cohorts hit target progression during each session with optimized monetization opportunities.

  • Emulate sophisticated systems (e.g., Coin Master, Dice Dreams, Monopoly Go, etc.) where users hit defined goal points in economic progress and board completion.

  • Develop anti-churn systems that reward \"lucky\" events following \"bad\" events to maintain player engagement.

  • Ensure that modifications to gameplay outcomes feel natural and are not obviously controlled by the system.


Desired Skills/Experience

  • Experience with game economies, live operations, and event tuning.

  • Ability to bridge the gap between Engineering, Design, and Product Management.

  • Understanding of player segmentation and cohort tracking.


Requirements



  • Strong background in Machine Learning and AI model development.

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or other similar fields.

  • Minimum 5+ years of professional experience in game development using Unity.

  • Strong proficiency in the C# programming language and Unity’s API.

  • Solid understanding of game design principles and methodologies as well as different game programming patterns.

  • Experience in working with a console experience or any liveops release.

  • Ability to work with large existing codebase and learn new systems or concepts and implement them quickly and efficiently.

  • Great understanding of debugging and finding solutions to complex problems.

  • Comfortable working with objects in 3D space and solid understanding of individual game systems such as physics, particle effects, user interfaces, etc.

  • Knows foundational knowledge of version control systems (such as git and SVN) as well as continuous integration systems (such as Jenkins and Unity Cloud).

  • Proven ability to act as a technical bridge between AI/ML engineering, game design, and economy teams, ensuring that technical models cohesively align with creative vision and player goals.

  • Exceptional data intuition with a proven ability to identify distribution shifts and data leakage, alongside expert-level skill in selecting and validating appropriate metrics for complex problems.

  • Strong grasp of engineering fundamentals—including version control, testing, and reproducibility—and the pragmatic judgment to effectively transition prototypes into robust, production-ready systems.

  • Deep expertise in designing, balancing, and optimizing gameplay systems, core loops, and real-time constraints.


Required Application Materials: application materials:



  • Resume

  • Cover Letter which should answer:

  • Why are you interested in working at Tic Toc Games?

  • What makes you a good fit?

  • What are you looking to get out of working with us?

  • What games are you currently playing?


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. The right role for you may be right around the corner!

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