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Contract Level Designer Jobs in Naperville, IL (NOW HIRING)

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Mid-Level Scenic & Event Designer (2 - 5+ Years of Experience) Pulse Studio LLC is a design ... Position Type - Contract to start (Hourly) / After 3 months Full Time is possible (Salary) Our ...

Senior Event Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $112K/yr

Position Overview The Senior Event Designer is a senior-level, client-facing role focused on ... Secures event business and client commitment with regard to down payment, signed contracts, and ...

Seniority level Seniority level Associate Employment type Employment type Contract Job function Job ... Designer jobs in Chicago, IL . Chicago, IL $65,000.00-$70,000.00 3 weeks ago Northbrook, IL $58,000 ...

Seniority level Seniority level Associate Employment type Employment type Contract Job function Job ... Designer jobs in Chicago, IL . Chicago, IL $65,000.00-$70,000.00 3 weeks ago Northbrook, IL $58,000 ...

The Hub is designed to provide contract-level performance intelligence and member-level insights that enable Plans to execute local actions that improve Stars performance, coding accuracy, and ...

Print Graphic Designer

Elmhurst, IL · On-site

$38 - $43/hr

Maintain a high level of accuracy and exceptional attention to detail across all layouts and ... This is a contract opportunity with potential for conversion, offering full-time hours. About ...

Read and understand the instrument related portions of the EPC contract * Review and understand ... Organizational Level: T2 * Reports to: Engineering Manager * Direct Reports: None * Permanent work ...

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We need to see what level your skills are at.) Pulse Studio is an equal opportunity employer (EOE ... Position Type - Contract to start (Hourly) / After 3 months Full Time is possible (Salary) Our ...

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Contract Level Designer information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$35.4K

$83K

$109.8K

How much do contract level designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract level designer in Naperville, IL is $83,024.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,900.00 and $108,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a contract level designer do?

A Contract Level Designer is a professional who creates and designs playable levels or environments for video games on a contractual or temporary basis. They collaborate with game developers, artists, and programmers to ensure levels are engaging, balanced, and visually appealing. Their responsibilities often include designing layouts, placing game objects, scripting events, and playtesting to refine gameplay. Contract Level Designers may work remotely or onsite, typically for a specific project or timeframe.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract level designer?

To thrive as a Contract Level Designer, you need strong spatial design abilities, proficiency in game engines (such as Unity or Unreal Engine), and a portfolio demonstrating successful level designs. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Maya, Blender, and scripting languages, along with knowledge of game design documentation, is typically required. Creative problem-solving, collaboration, and adaptability help a level designer excel in dynamic project environments. These skills ensure engaging, technically sound levels that align with creative vision and project requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by contract level designers when working remotely with game development teams?

Contract Level Designers often face challenges such as aligning with the core creative vision and maintaining clear communication with the rest of the team, especially when working remotely. It's important to stay proactive in seeking feedback, regularly attending virtual meetings, and using collaborative tools to share progress. Additionally, managing time zones and keeping project files organized can be crucial for smooth collaboration, as contract roles typically require strong self-management skills. Building good relationships with artists, programmers, and other designers helps ensure the final levels meet both gameplay and technical requirements.

What is the difference between Contract Level Designer vs Level Designer?

AspectContract Level DesignerLevel Designer
CredentialsPortfolio, experience in level design, possibly certifications in game designPortfolio, experience, possibly certifications in game or level design
Work EnvironmentContract-based, project-specific, often freelance or temporary rolesFull-time or freelance, within game development teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by game studios, often for specific projectsCommon in game studios, both permanent and freelance roles

Contract Level Designers focus on specific projects with temporary contracts, emphasizing portfolio and experience. Level Designers may work full-time or freelance within ongoing teams, with broader responsibilities. Both roles require similar skills but differ mainly in employment type and project scope.

What cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Contract Level Designer jobs?

Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Contract Level Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Level Designer job openings in Naperville, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 89% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,024 per year, or $39.9 per hour.

Mid-Level Scenic & Event Designer 2026

PULSE STUDIO, LLC

Chicago, IL • On-site

$25 - $35/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago

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Job description

Mid-Level Scenic & Event Designer (2 - 5+ Years of Experience)

Pulse Studio LLC is a design previsualization firm based in Lisle, Illinois. Our designs allow clients to experience what their event or product will look and feel like before it’s ever built. We are looking for a strong 3D Designer to help us create stunning presentation visuals and digital assets for the following areas: Set Design, Exhibit Design, Tradeshow Design, Product/Prototype Renderings, Animations, Interior & Exterior Renderings, Mobile Marketing, Graphics & Web design and AR/VR content creation.

Responsibilities

  • Generate creative designs based on project/client needs
  • Produce high quality renderings for events, scenic stage designs, and product launches
  • Take a design idea from conceptual mood boards to final design
  • Model, texture and light all elements involved with the project
  • Understand the varieties of light setups from clean studio renderings to vibrant stage rendering
  • Coordinate with the rest of the project team and Client teams in the execution of the project/assignments
  • Post-production work for final renderings
  • Should be able to manage projects on their own, communicate feedback and direction to and from internal and external teams with support from leadership

Skills and Abilities

  • Proficient in 3D Studio Max (DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS PROGRAM)
  • Knowledgeable in Unreal (Blueprinting a plus)
  • Can create custom textures and materials for use in models
  • Can dynamically light a scene
  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud, specifically Photoshop & Illustrator
  • Experience in the event design / tradeshow design industry
  • Proficiency in Office 365 (Word, Excel and Outlook)
  • Ability to effectively meet deadlines
  • Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing
  • Ability to work in team environment

Qualifications

  • 2 to 5 years’ work experience in Event Design, Tradeshow Design, Theater or Architecture is a huge plus.
  • Any programming, C++, or HTML5 experience is not required but is a plus.
  • After Effects for motion graphics creation experience is not required but is a plus.
  • Knowledge of fabrication and tradeshow extrusion systems is not required but is a plus.

Please include a link to your portfolio with your application to be considered. (THIS IS MANDATORY. We need to see what level your skills are at.)

Pulse Studio is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We support diversity in the workforce.

Job Location - Lisle, Illinois.  Ideally you work in our studio but will have flexibility with some days being remote.

Position Type - Contract to start (Hourly) / After 3 months Full Time is possible (Salary)

Our industry is fast paced with quick turnarounds. Our work varies from day to day, occasionally we work late to meet our client’s expectations. Benefits include medical insurance, 401k with employer match, paid holidays, and vacation time.

Company Description

Pulse Studio got our start creating successful branded corporate events, trade-shows and exhibits. We are passionate about creating branded experiential designs from the overall physical experience down to the content you see on each screen. With our backgrounds in architecture, engineering, film and animation we were able to take our clients ideas and turn them into beautiful designs visualized in 3d. This is all created with fresh modern designs while always working with our clients to make sure we are embodying the message and story they want to tell.

Pulse serves as an extension of your design department. We work with our clients and their brand guidelines to create beautiful renderings, still images, custom video content, and motion graphics. We believe in a collaborative process between our clients and producers ensuring their satisfaction with the design and messaging we are creating. We have taken our roots of designing 3-dimensional branding experience and have evolved to help our clients create everything from the physical design down to the graphics, video content and interactive elements.

Our combined experience has created a base for us to understand our clients brands and turn those brands and stories into customer experiences. We are taking that all a step further to push digital content further for our clients. Environmental branding is no longer just a passive experience of showing static images. We want to interact with our content through touchscreens, VR/AR/MR, motion sensors, tablets, social media integration and more. That is just the beginning, every day we are looking at new technology to help our clients engage their customers. The more engaging the experience, the more brand awareness that create. That makes our clients happy and keeps them calling on Pulse for new projects.