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Game Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Age of Learning, Inc.

Lead UX/Game Designer

Glendale, CA · On-site +1

$140K - $165K/yr

The Lead UX/Game Designer will work across all of ABCmouse's game experiences: improving existing activities, ideating new features and mechanics, and creating live-service content-while keeping the ...

Electronic Arts

$90 - $120/hr

Senior Game Designer - Weapons/Combat (Apex Legends) Work Model: Hybrid Respawn Entertainment Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom ...

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Game Designer information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$154K

How much do game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is it hard to get a game designer job?

Getting a game designer job can be competitive, as it often requires a strong portfolio, relevant skills in game development tools, and sometimes formal education in design or related fields. Building experience through internships, personal projects, or certifications can improve chances of employment in this field.

Is there a high demand for game designers?

The demand for game designers remains strong due to the growth of the gaming industry and increasing investment in new projects. Skills in programming, storytelling, and familiarity with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine are highly valued, and opportunities are available across various platforms including mobile, PC, and consoles.

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.
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:

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Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,165 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Manager, Technical Game Design - Teamfight Tactics

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Technical Game Designers on the Teamfight Tactics team are game designers who also have access to the C++ code base. They apply the team's engineering principles to technical design work, improve and add to existing design tools to unblock design tasks (sometimes unblocking themselves, in their game design role!), and own gameplay and systems design areas. Their game design expertise lets them dream up and create memorable gameplay experiences for TFT players, and their technical expertise lets them deliver those experiences in a robust, sustainable, and elegant way.
As the Technical Design Manager on the Teamfight Tactics team, you'll manage Technical Game Designers across the project. You'll see to their career progress, evaluate their technical and game design contributions, bring out their best work, and ensure they're delivering on their teams' goals. In turn, you'll report to the Design Director, helping to build the Technical Game Design subdiscipline on the team and for League Studios, and maximizing the TD group's impact. But: on the Teamfight Tactics team, design managers often take on individual contributions, so you'll have plenty of chances to exercise your own craft as well.
Responsibilities:
  • Manage the project's technical game designers: help them grow, learn, and perform to their potential.
  • Maintain a high craft bar: Ensure that the work you oversee meets Riot's demanding craft standards
  • Advocate for players: Stay in tune with the player experience and know how to understand and incorporate their feedback into roadmaps and feature decisions
  • Collaborate and build trust: Work closely with other discipline leads and managers to ensure Tech Design is delivering what they need, when they need it; ensure that features can be scoped efficiently so project plans can be built; and foster relationships with teams outside of Teamfight Tactics
  • Build strong teams: Take an active role in recruiting and onboarding to ensure capable technical game designers join our teams and ramp up quickly

Required Qualifications:
  • 6+ years of experience as a technical game designer, gameplay engineer, or some similar position closely associated with both technical and game design work
  • 2+ years of experience as a manager, team lead, or discipline leader (can overlap with the above requirement)
  • Craft: Craft interviews for this role will look at both gameplay engineering and game design skills; we'd like to see Senior level craft expertise in one, but not necessarily both
  • Management: You'll need leadership experience resolving conflict within and across teams and fostering healthy team culture, along with examples of managing other designers with positive results: promotion, performance improvement, and strong delivery to players
  • High familiarity with Teamfight Tactics, or willingness to rapidly build that familiarity

Desired Qualifications:
  • 4+ years of experience as a manager or team lead
  • 8+ years of experience as a technical game designer or gameplay engineer
  • Experience growing both junior and senior designers or engineers - striking the right balance of assistance and autonomy
  • Experience working on a live service game
  • Deep engagement with Teamfight Tactics over multiple sets
  • Experience working in the Unreal Engine

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 focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and 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.
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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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