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Game Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MrBeast

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

Game Designer (Experience & Systems) About the Role We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer to help build the most fun and engaging consumer app in the world. This is not a traditional game ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish. In this role you'll be responsible for pitching original concepts, developing pitches from team ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish. In this role you'll be responsible for pitching original concepts, developing pitches from team ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish. In this role you'll be responsible for pitching original concepts, developing pitches from team ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

Amazon Game Studios is looking for a Game Designer - we build exciting new casual and innovative games using Amazon's GameNight phone controller experience as well as traditional controllers. Working ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

We need a game designer who actually plays casual F2P mobile games, not someone who tolerates them, but someone who genuinely loves them. You'll design new mechanics and improve existing ones for ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

We need a game designer who actually plays casual F2P mobile games, not someone who tolerates them, but someone who genuinely loves them. You'll design new mechanics and improve existing ones for ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA

$169K/yr

Amazon Game Studios is looking for a Game Designer - we build exciting new casual and innovative games using Amazon's GameNight phone controller experience as well as traditional controllers. Working ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA

$169K/yr

Amazon Game Studios is looking for a Game Designer - we build exciting new casual and innovative games using Amazon's GameNight phone controller experience as well as traditional controllers. Working ...

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All JobsGame Designer JobsGame Designer Jobs in California

Game Designer information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$154K

How much do game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for game designer in California is $147,165.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $153,000.00 and $153,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do Game Designers typically collaborate with other departments during the development process?

Game Designers work closely with a variety of teams, including artists, programmers, sound designers, and producers, to bring a game concept to life. They are responsible for clearly communicating gameplay mechanics, story elements, and level design through detailed documentation and regular meetings. Collaboration often involves iterative feedback cycles, where designers must adapt their ideas based on technical constraints and creative input from colleagues. This teamwork ensures that the final product is cohesive and engaging, making strong communication and flexibility essential skills for success in this role.

How can I become a game designer?

To become a game designer, you typically need a background in game design, computer science, or a related field, along with strong creative and technical skills. Gaining experience through internships, building a portfolio of game projects, and proficiency with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine can improve your chances. Many designers also pursue relevant certifications or degrees to enhance their qualifications.

What does a Game Designer do?

A Game Designer is responsible for creating the concepts, mechanics, storylines, and rules of video games. They work closely with other team members like artists, programmers, and writers to shape the gameplay experience and ensure it is engaging and balanced. Game Designers often create detailed documentation, prototypes, and playtests to refine their ideas throughout the development process. Their goal is to craft enjoyable, immersive, and interactive experiences that appeal to players.

Is game design a high paying job?

Game designers can earn competitive salaries, especially with experience, strong portfolios, and skills in industry-standard tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Entry-level positions often pay less, but senior roles or those in large studios can offer high compensation, sometimes exceeding six figures annually.

What jobs are in game design?

Jobs in game design include roles such as game designer, level designer, narrative designer, and systems designer. These positions involve creating game concepts, mechanics, storylines, and user experiences, often requiring skills in programming, art, or storytelling. Additional roles include game artist, animator, and quality assurance tester, all contributing to the development process.

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

To thrive as a Game Designer, you need a strong grasp of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as prototyping and scripting languages, is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for iterating ideas and working across multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, playable games that resonate with players and meet project goals.

What do you do as a game designer?

A game designer creates the concepts, rules, and mechanics of a video game or tabletop game. They develop storylines, design levels, and collaborate with artists and programmers to bring the game to life, often using tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Strong creativity, problem-solving skills, and understanding of player experience are essential in this role.

What is the difference between Game Designer vs Level Designer?

AspectGame DesignerLevel Designer
Primary FocusOverall game concept, mechanics, story, and player experienceDesign and layout of specific game levels or environments
Required SkillsCreative thinking, game mechanics, storytelling, scriptingLevel layout, environment design, spatial awareness, scripting
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with artists, programmers, writers across entire game developmentWorks closely with artists and programmers to craft individual levels
Common UsageUsed in game development teams across all genresPrimarily in level-based or environment-rich games

Game Designers focus on the overall game concept, mechanics, and player experience, while Level Designers specialize in creating specific game environments and levels. Both roles require collaboration and creative skills, but their scope and focus differ significantly.

What Is a Game Designer?

A Video Game Designer works closely with a video game design team to create computer and video games for specific gaming consoles. The Game Designer is the creative driving force behind the game and conceives the mechanics and layout. This can include the story, characters, levels, and scenarios of the game. Depending on the size of the project, the Game Designer may work on their own or with a large team. Some Game Designers may have a niche or specialty within the industry such as the type of game they like to make or a certain creative style.

More about Game Designer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Designer jobs in California? The most popular types of Game Designer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Designer jobs in California? For Game Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Game Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Game Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Game Designer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Game Designer jobs in CA? For Game Designer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,165 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Game Designer

MrBeast

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

About Us
Beast Industries is a multifaceted media and entertainment company founded by Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, the most watched person in the world. Renowned for revolutionizing digital content creation, Beast Industries encompasses a diverse portfolio of ventures that extend far beyond its origins on YouTube. With a mission to entertain, inspire, and create significant social impact, Beast Industries operates across various domains including digital media, philanthropy, consumer products, and innovative business initiatives. At Beast Industries, we believe in the transformative power of digital media and its potential to entertain, educate, and effect positive change. Our commitment to innovation, creativity, and philanthropy drives us to explore new frontiers, create unforgettable experiences, and build a legacy that inspires future generations.
Game Designer (Experience & Systems)
About the Role
We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer to help build the most fun and engaging consumer app in the world.
This is not a traditional game design role. You'll design the mechanics, UI, UX, progression, and reward systems that power games and interactive experiences. You'll think deeply about how players discover, learn, play, compete, and come back.
You'll work across original games, tournaments, quests, and social experiences, partnering closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Data Science, and Creative.
We're looking for someone who has shipped games, has outstanding product instincts, and understands what makes games genuinely fun. Someone who loves elegant mechanics, intuitive UX, and memorable moments not manipulative monetization. And because a meaningful part of our audience is young, we design experiences that are safe, fair, and fun for everyone on purpose, from the start.
What You'll Do
  • Design game mechanics and the systems around them: progression, quests, achievements, tournaments, leaderboards, collectibles, and in-game economies that are simple to learn and rewarding to master.
  • Own the end-to-end player experience: onboarding, tutorials, HUDs, menus, rewards, and game flows, building the interaction patterns that keep every game feeling consistent.
  • Design the moments of delight, interaction, animation, feedback, and reward presentation that give our games their feel.
  • Communicate ideas through wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes, then playtest and iterate fast on player feedback and product metrics.
  • Partner daily with Product Designers, Motion Designers, Engineers, Artists, and Data Scientists to bring ideas to life.
  • Review and collaborate with external game studios to raise the quality of gameplay and player experience across the ecosystem.
We're Looking For
  • You've designed and shipped games players genuinely loved, 5+ years of experience, but we weigh what you've shipped over how long you've been shipping.
  • Experience designing both game mechanics and player UX/UI, with excellent visual and interaction design instincts.
  • Strong understanding of player psychology, engagement, progression, retention, and game feel.
  • Polished wireframes, mockups, and prototypes in Figma or similar tools.
  • Strong systems thinking and the ability to balance interconnected gameplay mechanics.
  • Comfortable using data to validate ideas while maintaining strong creative intuition.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration across design, engineering, product, and creative.
Bonus Points
  • Experience designing multiplayer, live-service, or social games.
  • Experience balancing virtual economies and progression systems.
  • Experience designing all-ages or age-appropriate experiences kids and families are part of our world, and we build for them deliberately.
  • Familiarity with Unity, Unreal, Godot, or similar game engines.
  • Experience designing for mobile-first experiences.
  • Passion for YouTube creators, MrBeast, and building products for millions of users.
What Success Looks Like
  • Players immediately understand how to play and want to keep coming back.
  • Every interaction feels intuitive, rewarding, and polished.
  • Game mechanics are engaging without relying on exploitative monetization.
  • You develop a recognizable gameplay style that is fun, social, accessible, and uniquely "Beast."
The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here
You have a deep obsession with the core of what makes games fun.
You analyze the world's best games to grasp their underlying principles rather than just copying them. You value mechanics, UX, motion, and game feel as a single, cohesive experience. You can whiteboard a concept by morning, build a Figma prototype by afternoon, and iterate based on real playtest feedback before the day is done.
You believe engagement should be earned through mastery, surprise, and elegant design never through dark patterns or exploitative monetization strategies.
If you have shipped experiences that players truly love and want to help redefine interactive entertainment alongside a massive global creator brand, we should talk.
Benefits
The Perks, Why Work On the MrBeast Team
We are redefining what entertainment and storytelling look like at global scale. Every piece of content we publish reaches millions and influences culture in real time. This is your opportunity to lead the team that decides how those moments come to life across every screen.
  • Competitive Salary
  • Generous Medical (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Dental, Vision and company-paid Life Insurance
  • Company contributions to employee Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
  • 401k Plan with Safe Harbor company-matching
  • Flexible vacation policy and paid company holidays
  • Company-provided technology package
  • Relocation assistance where applicable, including travel and company-provided housing for the first 90 days

Apply