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Entry Level Video Game Design Jobs in Schenectady, NY

Rushdown Studios

Senior DevOps Engineer

Saratoga Springs, NY · On-site

$120K - $140K/yr

Design, implement, and maintain cloud infrastructure for game development and live-service games ... Annual Video Game Budget * 401(k) Retirement Plan * Paid Parental Leave EEO Statement At Rushdown ...

New

CDM Smith

Geotechnical Engineer 1

Latham, NY

Company Overview Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! Join Us! CDM ... CDM Smith is hiring an entry level geotechnical engineer to join our Infrastructure Services Team ...

CDM Smith

Geotechnical Engineer 1

Latham, NY · On-site

Company Overview Check out this video and find out why our team loves to work here! Join Us! CDM ... CDM Smith is hiring an entry level geotechnical engineer to join our Infrastructure Services Team ...

All JobsVideo Game Design JobsEntry Level Video Game Design JobsEntry Level Video Game Design Jobs in Schenectady, NY

Entry Level Video Game Design information

See Schenectady, NY salary details

$12

$17

$22

How much do entry level video game design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level video game design in Schenectady, NY is $17.95, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.30 and $19.52 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level video game designer?

Entry level video game designers are professionals who are just starting their careers in the game design industry. They typically work as part of a team to help create the concepts, mechanics, and environments for video games. Their duties may include brainstorming ideas, building levels, writing game documentation, and assisting senior designers with various tasks. Entry level designers often have a background in game design, computer science, or a related field, and usually possess strong creative and technical skills. This role provides valuable experience and a foundation for advancing to more senior design positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level video game designer?

To thrive as an Entry Level Video Game Designer, you need a basic understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, typically backed by a degree or coursework in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and basic scripting languages like C# or Python is often required. Creativity, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and iterating on ideas. These competencies ensure you can contribute meaningfully to game projects and adapt to evolving design challenges.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry level video game designers in their first year on the job?

Entry-level video game designers often encounter challenges such as learning to balance creativity with technical constraints, adapting to rapid feedback cycles, and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams. New designers may also find it challenging to align their ideas with the overall vision of the game and to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment. Gaining familiarity with industry-standard tools and workflows is another common hurdle, but most studios provide mentorship and resources to help new hires develop these skills.

What is the difference between Entry Level Video Game Design vs Entry Level Game Art?

AspectEntry Level Video Game DesignEntry Level Game Art
Required SkillsGame mechanics, storytelling, level design2D/3D art, illustration, animation
Work EnvironmentDesign teams, collaborative softwareArt departments, creative studios
Common CertificationsGame design courses, software proficiencyArt certifications, portfolio development

Entry Level Video Game Design focuses on creating gameplay, storylines, and level layouts, while Entry Level Game Art emphasizes visual assets, character design, and animation. Both roles often collaborate closely but require different skill sets. Understanding these differences helps aspiring professionals choose the right path in the gaming industry.

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Video Game Design jobs in Schenectady, NY?

For Entry Level Video Game Design jobs in Schenectady, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Video Game Design jobs in Schenectady, NY look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Video Game Design jobs in Schenectady, NY are:

What cities near Schenectady, NY are hiring for Entry Level Video Game Design jobs?

Cities near Schenectady, NY with the most Entry Level Video Game Design job openings:

Entry Level Video Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Video Game Design job openings in Schenectady, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,346 per year, or $18 per hour.

Senior DevOps Engineer

Saratoga Springs, NY • On-site

Rushdown Studios
PC Games • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Rushdown Studiosexternal

$120K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Founded by games industry veterans, Rushdown was created with a simple philosophy in mind: We believe that when talented developers are consistently challenged and given clear ownership of their work, extraordinary things will happen. As a co-dev game studio, we now focus on solving some of the most difficult problems that face multiplayer games - and we bring our experience working on games like PUBG, League of Legends, and Rocket League with us. We truly love the work we do and we want to funnel our passion and expertise into features and games that billions of players will enjoy worldwide.
Our Role
Rushdown Studios is looking for an experienced DevOps Engineer to join us in support of an existing partner studio! In this role, you'll work alongside our existing team to improve infrastructure reliability and automate infrastructure creation and tools for a large-scale game development project.
Our ideal candidate is a self-motivated and demonstrated team player with the ability to juggle and jump between different tasks as necessary. Game development experience is preferred due to the nature of this project, but it's not mandatory; we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all of the requirements listed below!
Work Location: For this role, we are only able to consider candidates willing to work from our office in Saratoga Springs, NY on a hybrid basis (e.g., Tuesday-Thursday). This is not a fully remote position and, in this case, Rushdown is not able to offer relocation assistance to successful candidates located outside of a reasonable commuting distance.
Responsibilities
  • Design, implement, and maintain cloud infrastructure for game development and live-service games using one or more cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
  • Deploy infrastructure-as-code for cloud resources using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, Azure Bicep, or Azure Resource Manager templates.
  • Promote cloud security best practices and compliance requirements for gaming infrastructure.
  • Design and develop CI/CD pipelines for builds and deployments.
  • Respond to live support issues for a live-service game.
  • Empower multiple teams through development environment automation.

Requirements
  • Three (3) years of professional experience with Amazon Web Services.
  • Experience scripting with languages like Python, PowerShell, or Groovy.
  • Experience with containerization and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
  • Understanding of game packaging and deployment requirements for different platforms.
  • Experience compiling code and/or managing pipelines that compile code.
  • Experience monitoring and profiling applications (DataDog, CloudWatch, Prometheus).
  • Ability to debug unexpected issues that arise during development.
  • Willingness to selflessly put player experiences first before even your own code and ego.
  • Proactive approach to communication, particularly when it comes to unblocking yourself and navigating obstacles as part of a team.

Nice-to-Haves
  • Experience with build systems like Jenkins, TeamCity, or Azure DevOps, specifically for game development projects.
  • Experience working with additional cloud providers (e.g., Azure, GCP).
  • Knowledge of game development workflows and asset management.
  • Experience with the Go programming language.
  • Experience running multi-cloud applications.
  • Previous work using version control for game development (e.g., Perforce, Git LFS).

Benefits:
  • Compensation: $120,000-140,000/year. Please note that final base pay will ultimately depend upon a combination of factors, including your prior experience, general qualifications, and broader skill set.
  • 9 Paid Holidays plus Flexible PTO and Annual Winter Break Closure
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Annual Video Game Budget
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Paid Parental Leave

EEO Statement
At Rushdown Studios, we believe that we're made better by each of the different perspectives that our team members bring to the table. We said it above, and we'll say it again: We want to hear from you, even if you don't meet all of the requirements for a specific role.
We're also an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race; color; ancestry or national origin; religion; physical or mental disability; age; sex, including pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender, gender identity, or gender expression; medical condition; genetic information; or marital, military, or veteran status.

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