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Full Time Lead Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hardsuit Labs

Level / Game Designer - Senior

Seattle, WA · Remote

$80K - $120K/yr

Lead by example in grey-boxing, pacing, layout beats, scripting, encounters, and gameplay ... Employment status: Full Time * FLSA: Salaried, Exempt * Benefits: Generous PTO, Health, Dental ...

Hardsuit Labs

Level / Game Designer - Senior

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$80K - $120K/yr

Lead by example in grey-boxing, pacing, layout beats, scripting, encounters, and gameplay ... Employment status: Full Time * FLSA: Salaried, Exempt * Benefits: Generous PTO, Health, Dental ...

Hasbro

Sr Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

$112K - $168K/yr

Are you an experienced tabletop RPG designer with the demonstrated ability to lead major RPG products from inception through publication? We are seeking a Senior Game Designer to work with our design ...

Govcio LLC

$150K - $200K/yr

GovCIO is currently hiring for Video Game Designer/Simulation Producer to lead the narrative and experiential design of advanced immersive simulation environments, ensuring all technical, visual, and ...

KONAMI GAMING INC

Senior Art Designer

Las Vegas, NV

Konami Gaming is looking for a Senior Art Designer to join our team! This onsite position is ... Can project future trends, and drive Konami's art to lead the way. Initiates and leads individual ...

Konami Gaming, Inc

Senior Art Designer

Las Vegas, NV · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Konami Gaming is looking for a Senior Art Designer to join our team! This onsite position is ... Can project future trends, and drive Konami's art to lead the way. Initiates and leads individual ...

Govcio LLC

UX/Video Game Developer

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$122K - $140K/yr

Recent (within the last five years) experience in a Lead or Senior Game Designer or UX role on a shipped AAA commercial title. * Experience with live service or Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) models and ...

Govcio LLC

$122K - $140K/yr

Recent (within the last five years) experience in a Lead or Senior Game Designer or UX role on a shipped AAA commercial title. * Experience with live service or Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) models and ...

Bath & Kitchen Gallery, Inc

Lead Designer

Tampa, FL

Bath & Kitchen Gallery is looking to hire a full-time Lead Designer in Tampa, FL ! The typical schedule is Monday-Friday 9am-5pm with 1-2 Saturdays a month . We pay $60-$100K/year and offer excellent ...

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Full Time Lead Game Designer information

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$78.5K

$147.4K

$186K

How much do full time lead game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time lead game designer in the United States is $147,403.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,500.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Full Time Lead Game Designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

A Full Time Lead Game Designer plays a pivotal role in cross-departmental collaboration by acting as a bridge between the design team and other groups such as art, programming, and production. They regularly communicate the game vision and mechanics, ensuring that all departments are aligned and any technical or creative challenges are addressed efficiently. Lead Game Designers often participate in meetings to review progress, provide feedback, and adjust design documents as needed. This collaborative approach ensures the final product meets both creative goals and technical constraints, making strong communication and leadership skills essential.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Full Time Lead Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Full Time Lead Game Designer, you need expertise in game design principles, narrative development, and a strong portfolio of shipped titles, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and project management software, as well as familiarity with version control systems, is typically required. Leadership, creative vision, collaboration, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These combined abilities ensure cohesive team direction, innovative gameplay experiences, and successful project delivery within competitive game development environments.

What is the difference between Full Time Lead Game Designer vs Full Time Game Designer?

AspectFull Time Lead Game DesignerFull Time Game Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees game design team, sets creative direction, manages design workflowDevelops game mechanics, creates levels, implements design elements
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skillsStrong design skills, technical proficiency, creativity
Work EnvironmentCollaborative team leadership, cross-department coordinationHands-on design work, individual contribution
Common UsageUsed in larger studios with multiple designersUsed in studios of all sizes, often as a mid-level role

The main difference between a Full Time Lead Game Designer and a Full Time Game Designer lies in leadership and scope. The lead role involves managing the design team and setting overall creative direction, while the game designer focuses on hands-on development of game elements. Both roles require strong design skills, but the lead position emphasizes management and strategic oversight.

What does a Full Time Lead Game Designer do?

A Full Time Lead Game Designer is responsible for overseeing the creative vision and design direction of a video game project. They manage a team of designers, collaborate with other departments like art and programming, and ensure that gameplay mechanics, storylines, and user experiences align with the project's goals. The lead designer also reviews and approves game features, provides feedback, and helps solve design challenges throughout development. Their work is crucial in delivering a cohesive and engaging gaming experience from concept to release.
More about Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs? Cities with the most Full Time Lead Game Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Lead Game Designer jobs? The most popular types of Lead Game Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs are:
Full Time Lead Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Lead Game Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Locum Tenens, 85% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,403 per year, or $70.9 per hour.
Principal Game Designer, Competitive Systems - VALORANT

Principal Game Designer, Competitive Systems - VALORANT

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$167K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

As a Principal Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity aid in crafting in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to innovate and iterate player-focused designs that'll delight millions around the world.
VALORANT is Riot's take on a character-based tactical shooter. As a Principal Game Designer on the Competitive Systems team, you'll help shape and define how players engage with competition across ranked, matchmaking, and adjacent systems that influence mastery, fairness, and long-term growth. You'll partner with product managers, engineers, analysts, and other designers to develop systems that are strategically sound, motivating to engage with, and worthy of players' investment over time. You have significant competitive multiplayer affinity and experience, understanding the challenges players encounter and the motivations that drive them. You are comfortable operating in ambiguous spaces and can design and iterate on solutions to complex systemic problems. This role reports to the Lead Metasystems Designer.
Responsibilities:
  • Define and evolve competitive systems that reward player skill, growth, and long-term investment in VALORANT.
  • Guide the design of ranked, matchmaking, and adjacent competitive systems to support fairness, competitive integrity, and player engagement.
  • Work closely with product managers, engineers, analysts, and design leadership to ensure systems are cohesive, consistent, and in line with VALORANT's overall vision.
  • Keep the focus on player value by leveraging feedback, research, and game data to iterate on designs and improve the competitive experience.
  • Create multiple design solutions and clearly articulate the trade-offs, risks, and player impact of each.
  • Provide direction, mentorship, and feedback to other designers, fostering collaboration and craft excellence across systems design.
  • Playtest VALORANT regularly and help push improvements for existing systems and new concepts.

Required Qualifications:
  • 7+ years of experience in professional Game Design.
  • Deep experience developing competitive multiplayer systems such as matchmaking, ranked, and skill systems.
  • Shipped or contributed to at least one AAA+ online competitive title.
  • Demonstrated ability to design and iterate on complex systems with a clear understanding of player impact and downstream effects.
  • Strong communication skills with proven ability to articulate design rationale, trade-offs, and decision frameworks to cross-disciplinary partners.
  • Experience working in a live-service development environment.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Deep passion for and understanding of competitive online games and their player communities.
  • Familiarity with online shooters, especially VALORANT or tactical shooters.
  • Experience balancing competitive integrity with engaging and rewarding systems.
  • Experience as a senior craft leader or thought partner on materially impactful design initiatives.
  • Ability to interpret and learn from charged or emotional player feedback to improve the product experience.
  • Experience developing across multiple platforms, including PC, console, or mobile.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!
Our Perks:
Riot has a focus on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy, in addition to other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first . That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
  • (Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $185,200.00 - $258,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
  • (Mercer Island only) Base salary range between $185,200.00 - $258,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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