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Combat Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc.

Combat Designer

Austin, TX · On-site

$153.60K/yr

As a Combat Designer, you will play a key role in shaping the game's combat experience. You'll collaborate closely with the Lead Combat Designer and cross-disciplinary leads to define and implement ...

Tencent

Lead Combat Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$105.30K - $198K/yr

Mentor and manage combat designers. Who We Look For * 10+ years of experience in combat design, including senior, principle or lead experience. * Extensive experience in tuning and balancing firearms.

LightSpeed Studios

Lead Combat Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$105.30K - $198K/yr

Mentor and manage combat designers. Who We Look For * 10+ years of experience in combat design, including senior, principle or lead experience. * Extensive experience in tuning and balancing firearms.

2K

Combat Designer(Gameplay)

Novato, CA · On-site

$78.90K - $116.76K/yr

As a Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the combat gameplay and immersive sandbox world of BioShock. In this role, you'll collaborate with a ...

Cloud Chamber

Combat Designer(Gameplay)

Novato, CA · On-site

$78.90K - $116.76K/yr

As a Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the combat gameplay and immersive sandbox world of BioShock. In this role, you'll collaborate with a ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119.80K - $128K/yr

Cloud Chamber is a game development studio known for creating immersive experiences, and they are seeking a Senior Combat Designer to enhance AI characters and combat gameplay. The role involves ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA

$100.20K - $148.32K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping unforgettable encounters throughout the world of BioShock 4. You will set the standard for what ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119.80K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of designers, artists, and engineers to create industry-leading AI characters and combat gameplay. You will ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100.20K - $148.32K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping unforgettable encounters throughout the world of BioShock 4. You will set the standard for what ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145.10K - $181.40K/yr

At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred * Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though ...

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$21.5K

$65.4K

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How much do combat designer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for combat designer in the United States is $65,444.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,500.00 and $85,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Combat Designer do?

A Combat Designer is responsible for creating, balancing, and refining the combat mechanics in a game. They design enemy behaviors, player abilities, weapon systems, and encounter pacing to ensure engaging and fair gameplay. This role involves extensive collaboration with animators, programmers, and other designers to bring combat systems to life. Playtesting and iteration are crucial parts of the job to fine-tune mechanics for an optimal player experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Combat Designer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Combat Designer, a solid background in game design, understanding of gameplay mechanics, and proficiency in balancing combat systems are essential, often supported by a degree in game development or related experience. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal, scripting languages, and prototyping tools is typically required. Strong communication, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills help Combat Designers excel within multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure engaging and balanced combat experiences that enhance overall game quality and player satisfaction.

What are typical daily responsibilities for a Combat Designer in a game development studio?

As a Combat Designer, your daily responsibilities will often include designing and tweaking combat mechanics, creating and maintaining documentation, and prototyping new features or enemy behaviors. You’ll collaborate closely with artists, animators, and programmers to ensure combat elements are well-integrated and functioning as intended. Playtesting and collecting feedback to balance combat encounters is also a key part of the role. Additionally, you may participate in team meetings to discuss design goals and align on the overall vision for the project.
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Combat Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Combat Designer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $65,444 per year, or $31.5 per hour.
Combat Designer

Combat Designer

Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc.

Austin, TX • On-site

$153.60K/yr

Part-time

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

At Blind Squirrel Games, creating exceptional games is just the start. As a proud, independent studio, we collaborate with developers and publishers who value innovation and excellence, serving as a trusted partner in bringing high-quality games to life.
Our people are central to our success, and we foster a dynamic, curious, and collaborative environment where individuals are empowered to take initiative and make a meaningful impact.
With studios in Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; Auckland, New Zealand; and Manizales, Colombia, we bring together global talent to build premium, cutting-edge games. Guided by the Blind Squirrel Way, our teams operate with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and collaboration to continually raise the bar.
This is a full-time position based in Austin, TX, with a fully onsite requirement at our studio campus.
As a Combat Designer, you will play a key role in shaping the game's combat experience. You'll collaborate closely with the Lead Combat Designer and cross-disciplinary leads to define and implement everything from enemy and weapon types down to attack collision volumes, impact frames, damage balancing and application etc. to make combat fun.
You will actively prototype, iterate, and refine core combat systems to meet BSG's exacting standards for quality and feel, embodying the principles of the Blind Squirrel Way throughout the process.
Responsibilities
• Design and implement character behaviors via scripting, behavior trees, animation graphs and blueprints
• Implement, tweak and refine combat data such as damage types & volumes, impact and iframes, damage stats, animation timing, hit impact triggering etc.
• Create and maintain design documentation, including combat system, move sets, enemy behaviors, and more.
• Collaborate with engineering, art, and animation teams to ensure your designs are feasible and executed to the highest quality.
• Prototype new combat mechanics and features in-engine.
• Conduct playtests, gather feedback, and iterate on designs.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and new technologies to push the boundaries of combat design.
Qualifications
• 3+ years of professional experience in game design, with a significant focus on combat design.
• Shipped at least one title with the same or similar job title
• Deep understanding of gameplay mechanics, player feedback loops, and the principles of game feel.
• Demonstrable understanding of melee and projectile based combat
• Proficiency with Unreal Engine, specifically blueprints and prototyping.
• Excellent communication skills.
Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Eligibility for benefits and perks may vary based on position, employment status, and location.
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