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Game Level Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Riot Games

Level Design Lead - VALORANT

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Riot Games is seeking a Level Design Lead for VALORANT, a character-driven tactical shooter. The role involves defining the design of VALORANT's maps, leading a team of level designers, and ensuring ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

... other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design ... tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the level content in the game.

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

... other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design ... tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the level content in the game.

Studio Wildcard

Level Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site +1

$123K/yr

Level Designer- Remote Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was ... Design and build large-scale gameplay environments in Unreal Engine 5 * Create compelling survival ...

Studio Wildcard

Level Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Level Designer- Remote Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was ... Design and build large-scale gameplay environments in Unreal Engine 5 * Create compelling survival ...

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Game Level Design information

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How much do game level design jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for game level design in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Game Level Designer, you need strong spatial reasoning, creativity, and a solid understanding of gameplay mechanics, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and level editing software, as well as an understanding of scripting languages, is typically required. Collaboration, communication, and attention to detail are crucial soft skills for translating creative ideas into engaging and functional player experiences. These skills ensure the creation of immersive, balanced, and enjoyable levels that contribute to a game's overall success.

How does a Game Level Designer typically collaborate with other team members during the development process?

Game Level Designers work closely with artists, programmers, and narrative designers to ensure that levels are both visually engaging and functionally sound. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are common, allowing designers to align level layouts with game mechanics and story elements. Effective communication skills are essential, as designers often need to iterate on levels based on playtesting feedback and technical constraints. Collaboration tools like version control systems and project management platforms are commonly used to keep everyone in sync.

What is the difference between Game Level Design vs Game Environment Artist?

AspectGame Level DesignGame Environment Artist
Primary FocusDesigning gameplay spaces, layout, and player flowCreating visual environments, textures, and assets
Skills RequiredLevel scripting, gameplay mechanics, spatial reasoning3D modeling, texturing, artistic skills
Work EnvironmentGame studios, collaborative with designers and programmersArt departments, close collaboration with level designers
Tools UsedLevel editors, scripting tools3D modeling software, texturing tools

Game Level Design and Game Environment Artist roles often collaborate but focus on different aspects of game development. Level designers craft the gameplay experience through level layout and mechanics, while environment artists focus on creating the visual backdrop. Both roles require specialized skills and work closely within the game development process to deliver immersive gaming experiences.

What is game level design?

Game level design is the process of creating the stages, environments, and experiences that players interact with in a video game. It involves planning layouts, challenges, story elements, and visual themes to ensure gameplay is engaging and balanced. Level designers use specialized tools and collaborate with artists, programmers, and writers to bring the game world to life. Their goal is to craft levels that are fun, accessible, and aligned with the overall vision of the game.
More about Game Level Design jobs
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Game Level Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Level Design job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Level Design Lead - VALORANT

Level Design Lead - VALORANT

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Riot Games is seeking a Level Design Lead for VALORANT, a character-driven tactical shooter. The role involves defining the design of VALORANT’s maps, leading a team of level designers, and ensuring the tactical gameplay is enhanced through innovative map design and updates.
Responsibilities:
• Set and evolve the design vision for VALORANT maps, ensuring they uphold the game’s tactical DNA while pushing the genre forward
• Lead both live map updates and major reworks, building on successes like Breeze and shaping how players engage with maps over time
• Drive innovation on new maps, exploring new ideas while protecting competitive integrity
• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of level designers, leveling up their craft through hands-on feedback, coaching, and example
• Partner closely with Map Art, Lighting, and Production, blending gameplay clarity with visual quality and shipping reliably at high polish
• Guide projects from early concept through final release, balancing player value, development cost, and long-term sustainability
• Influence senior leadership on product direction, strategy, and priorities related to maps and gameplay experiences
• Anticipate player needs across platforms, understanding how different audiences engage with competitive shooters
• Champion player empathy, using data, feedback, and intuition to evolve maps in ways that resonate with the community
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years experience in a Level Design role; experience as a game design owner of multiple large projects in parallel with successful delivery
• 1+ years people management experience; experience with mentorship of other designers leading to a promotion or substantial positive improvements in their work
• Experience creating systemic change to a design team’s process or principles to improve output significantly across the team
• Experience leading cross-discipline teams to deliver on design goals
• Experience communicating and expressing complex and nuanced designs in simple ways
• Leadership experience resolving conflict, and when needed offering difficult feedback with respect
Preferred:
• Experience working as a developer on an FPS title.
• Strong understanding of Tactical FPS principles and can apply them effectively
• Robust understanding of the FPS market and player motivations and behaviors
• Can quickly produce a wide breadth of mechanics solutions, and generate and identify an excellent solution
• Experience developing on multiple platforms
Company:
Riot Games is a global company that develops online games. Founded in 2006, the company is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.
Riot Games logo

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

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