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Combat Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games (Portuguese)

Lead Combat Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Lead Combat Designer to oversee the development of combat systems and mechanics in collaboration with internal stakeholders. In this role, you will work with ...

Warner Bros. Discovery

Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL · On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

The Job The Combat Designer will be responsible for significant contributions to game design, with a focus on combat, moment-to-moment gameplay, and character implementation. Alongside Lead and ...

Warnerbros

Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL

$47K - $88K/yr

The Job The Combat Designer will be responsible for significant contributions to game design, with a focus on combat, moment-to-moment gameplay, and character implementation. Alongside Lead and ...

Warner Bros. Discovery

Senior Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL · On-site

$89K - $166K/yr

The Job The Senior Combat Designer will be responsible for significant contributions to game design with a focus on combat, moment-to-moment gameplay, and character implementation. Alongside Lead and ...

Warnerbros

Senior Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL

$89K - $166K/yr

The Job The Senior Combat Designer will be responsible for significant contributions to game design with a focus on combat, moment-to-moment gameplay, and character implementation. Alongside Lead and ...

Mundo Gamer Network

$81K - $106K/yr

As a Principal Combat Designer you will be responsible for creating and improving the combat mechanics for our diverse characters to make our game more fun, challenging and engaging. Requirements ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/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 ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/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

$119K - $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 (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $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 (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $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 ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $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 ...

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Combat Designer information

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$21.5K

$65.4K

$112K

How much do combat designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 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 as a combat designer?

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?

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 September 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,444 per year, or $31.5 per hour.

Lead Combat Designer

Cary, NC • On-site

Epic Games (Portuguese)
PC Games • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Epic Games (Portuguese)external

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

What You'll Do

Epic is looking for a Lead Combat Designer to oversee the development of combat systems and mechanics in collaboration with internal stakeholders. In this role, you will work with multidisciplinary teams to design, develop, and implement combat mechanics while leading a small design team, delivering a strong foundation for moment-to-moment gameplay and contributing across various aspects of game design for our collaboration with Disney.

In this role, you will
  • Lead the vision, design, and implementation of core combat systems, including player abilities, weapons, enemies, encounters, and combat pacing
  • Manage and mentor a small team of combat and systems designers, providing clear direction, feedback, and support
  • Collaborate closely with Engineering, Art, Animation, Audio, UX, Narrative, and Production to ensure combat systems are cohesive, expressive, and polished
  • Create and maintain clear, concise design documentation that communicates combat rules, systems, and tuning to cross‑disciplinary teams
  • Prototype, iterate, and refine combat mechanics through playtesting, data analysis, and player feedback
  • Identify and solve complex combat design problems, balancing creativity, technical constraints, and production realities
  • Communicate combat goals, progress, and trade‑offs effectively to project leadership and stakeholders
What We're Looking For
  • 7+ years of professional game design experience, with a strong focus on combat systems and gameplay mechanics (including melee and ranged combat)
  • 3+ years of experience in a senior or lead design role, with demonstrated team leadership and mentorship
  • Experience shipping at least one game where combat design was a core gameplay pillar
  • Deep understanding of combat design fundamentals such as responsiveness, readability, balance, enemy design, cooperative play, and player feedback
  • Strong collaboration and communication skills, with experience working across multiple disciplines
  • Ability to think strategically at a high level while remaining hands‑on with systems design and tuning
  • Experience working with Unreal Engine or similar modern game engines
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, and a 401(k) with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well‑being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees and dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company‑wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer.

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