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Game Designer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Three Point Solutions

Graphic Designer

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$40 - $45/hr

Title: Graphic Designer Client: Medical Device Manufacturing Company Duration: 12 Months (possible extension) Location: Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Shift: 1st Shift Top Requirements * Graphic design ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

... game, using both keyframe and augmented mocap techniques. * Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features. * Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

... game, using both keyframe and augmented mocap techniques. * Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features. * Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA

$124K - $142K/yr

... game, using both keyframe and augmented mocap techniques. * Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features. * Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

... game, using both keyframe and augmented mocap techniques. * Work closely with programmers and designers to support a multitude of features. * Collaborate with Senior Animators on complicated sets of ...

Newell Brands

Sr. Designer- Apparel

Petaluma, CA · On-site

$117K - $125K/yr

Senior Designer, Apparel Location: Petaluma, California Reports to: Manager, Design Job Summary: The Senior Designer, Apparel leads the creative development of seasonal product design, translating ...

Newell Brands

Sr. Designer- Apparel

Petaluma, CA

$117K - $125K/yr

Senior Designer, Apparel Location: Petaluma, California Reports to: Manager, Design Job Summary: The Senior Designer, Apparel leads the creative development of seasonal product design, translating ...

2K

Manager, Commercial Strategy

Novato, CA · On-site

Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of ... designing the monetization framework, building the forecasting models, standing up the KPIs and ...

2K

Manager, Commercial Strategy

Novato, CA · On-site +1

Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of ... designing the monetization framework, building the forecasting models, standing up the KPIs and ...

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsGame Designer JobsGame Designer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

Game Designer information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$51.4K

$170.6K

How much do game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for game designer in Santa Rosa, CA is $163,035.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $169,500.00 and $169,500.00 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.

Is there a high demand for game designers?

The demand for game designers is 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 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 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. Other related roles include game artist, animator, sound designer, and quality assurance tester.

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 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.

Is it hard to get a game designer job?

Getting a game designer job can be competitive, as it often requires a strong portfolio, proficiency in design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine, and relevant experience or education. Building a solid portfolio and networking within the industry can improve chances of employment, but entry-level positions may be accessible with the right skills and persistence.
More about Game Designer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Game Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA? For Game Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Game Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:
What cities near Santa Rosa, CA are hiring for Game Designer jobs? Cities near Santa Rosa, CA with the most Game Designer job openings:
Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Designer job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 47% Full Time, and 53% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $163,035 per year, or $78.4 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Analytics Engineer (Unreal Engine)

2K

Novato, CA • On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

#LI-Onsite
Who We Are:
2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K's portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, HB Studios, and 2K SportsLab. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in today's most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.
Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of 2K's portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA® 2K, renowned BioShock®, Borderlands®, Mafia, Sid Meier's Civilization® and XCOM® brands; popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, TopSpin 2K25, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR® 2K.
At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don't meet every requirement for the role. If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!
About the Role:
We're looking for a Senior Telemetry Design Engineer to design the telemetry specs and frameworks that power our AAA games from early development through live operations. Operating within Central Services, you will bridge the gap between our Business and Technical Data teams. Your main goal: translate high-level business strategies into clear, actionable telemetry designs. By ensuring every data point we collect is tied to a specific business outcome, you'll empower our publishing and creative teams to drive growth and craft exceptional player experiences.
What You Will do:
  • Turn strategic business goals into clear telemetry specs and frameworks designed for seamless implementation by the development team.
  • Define and enforce data standards, naming conventions, and data contracts to keep data consistent across all our games and prevent technical debt.
  • Work closely with studio developers to clearly define data warehouse requirements and ensure smooth implementation.
  • Partner with dev and Data QA teams to validate telemetry, troubleshoot bugs, and ensure data is accurate and ready for downstream teams to use.
  • Contribute directly to the studio codebase by writing telemetry hooks and providing hands-on integration support when needed.
What You Need:
  • 5+ years of experience as a telemetry architect, telemetry designer, or data analyst in gaming, tech, or entertainment.
  • Proven experience designing and implementing scalable telemetry frameworks.
  • Solid understanding of the full Game Development Lifecycle, from initial design through Live Ops.
  • Deep understanding of data concepts like raw streaming data, data modeling, and metadata.
  • Proficient in Advanced SQL and working with platforms like Snowflake and Databricks.
  • Experience handling data contracts, GDPR compliance, and PII.
  • Ability to write clear telemetry specs and translate complex technical concepts for engineering, product, and business teams.
  • An autonomous self-starter who can dive deep into complex technical issues without losing sight of the big picture.
Bonus Points:
  • Experience directly instrumenting telemetry with game studio partners.
  • Hands-on experience with game engines (especially Unreal) and C++.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $108,900 and $161,160 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.
Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.

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