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Game Mechanic Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ... You'll design new mechanics and improve existing ones for Good Pizza, Great Pizza (300M+ downloads ...

Progressive Gaming

Game Designer

Las Vegas, NV

$149K/yr

IGT is looking for a Game Designer who can inspire teams to create Class 3, land-based slot games ... mechanics, game flow, game theme, and mathematical aspects of how the game plays * Lead ...

Progressive Gaming

Game Designer

Reno, NV

$154K/yr

IGT is looking for a Game Designer who can inspire teams to create Class 3, land-based slot games ... mechanics, game flow, game theme, and mathematical aspects of how the game plays * Lead ...

Arb Interactive, Inc

From new rewards to fresh game mechanics, every challenge is a chance to innovate and have fun ... ARB Gaming is hiring its first Senior Mobile Games Designer to own the design of individual games ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

... mechanics - Experience creating end-to-end game experiences from the concept stage to shipping ... PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience designing player-facing AI features such as adaptive ...

Limit Break

$162K/yr

As a Game Designer focused on Mechanics and Live Balance, you will be responsible for designing and tuning core gameplay systems that drive player flow, engagement, and long-term retention. You will ...

Bitus Labs

Game Math Designer (Mandarin Required)

Irvine, CA · On-site

$166K/yr

You will collaborate with game designers, product managers, and engineers in a fast-paced, on-site ... Probability & Bonus Mechanism Development * Design and implement random mechanics, bonus rounds ...

IGT

Game Designer

Reno, NV

$154K/yr

IGT is looking for a Game Designer who can inspire teams to create Class 3, land-based slot games ... mechanics, game flow, game theme, and mathematical aspects of how the game plays * Lead ...

IGT

Game Designer

Las Vegas, NV

$149K/yr

IGT is looking for a Game Designer who can inspire teams to create Class 3, land-based slot games ... mechanics, game flow, game theme, and mathematical aspects of how the game plays * Lead ...

Akima, LLC

Part Time Unity Game Designer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$152K/yr

Pinnacle Solutions is looking for a passionate and motivated Game Designer to join our virtual ... Knowledge of 3D game mechanics. * Familiarity and understanding of how to use the Unity Game Engine.

Akima, LLC

Part Time Unreal Game Designer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$152K/yr

Pinnacle Solutions is looking for a passionate and motivated Game Designer to join our virtual ... Knowledge of 3D game mechanics. * Familiarity and understanding of how to use the Unreal Game ...

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Game Mechanic Designer information

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How much do game mechanic designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for game mechanic designer in the United States is $23.71, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.71 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a game mechanic designer?

Game Mechanic Designers are professionals who create and balance the underlying systems and rules that define how a video game functions. They focus on developing engaging and fair gameplay mechanics, such as combat systems, progression, scoring, and player interactions. Their role involves collaborating with other team members, prototyping new features, and iterating on mechanics based on playtesting feedback to ensure a fun and cohesive player experience.

How does a game mechanic designer typically collaborate with other team members during the development process?

Game Mechanic Designers work closely with various departments, such as art, programming, and narrative teams, to ensure game mechanics are both engaging and feasible to implement. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, prototype creation, and playtesting to refine mechanics in response to feedback. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as designers must balance their creative vision with technical constraints and player experience goals. Collaboration tools and regular meetings help keep everyone aligned throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game mechanic designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Mechanic Designer, you need expertise in game design principles, strong analytical skills, and often a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as proficiency in scripting languages and version control systems, is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication help designers craft engaging gameplay and work efficiently with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure that game mechanics are both innovative and functional, resulting in compelling player experiences.

What is the difference between Game Mechanic Designer vs Level Designer?

AspectGame Mechanic DesignerLevel Designer
Primary FocusDesigning core gameplay mechanics and systemsCreating and designing game levels and environments
Skills & QualificationsKnowledge of game systems, scripting, creativityLevel design tools, spatial awareness, creativity
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, programmers, artistsWorks closely with artists, programmers, and game designers
Industry UsageCommon in game development teams across genresOften found in AAA and indie game studios

While both roles involve creative design, the Game Mechanic Designer focuses on developing the fundamental gameplay systems, whereas the Level Designer specializes in crafting the environments players explore. Both roles require collaboration and creativity but serve different aspects of game development.

What are popular job titles related to Game Mechanic Designer jobs?

For Game Mechanic Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Game Mechanic Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 77% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,320 per year, or $23.7 per hour.

War Game Designer-Regional Threats, Senior

Charlottesville, VA • On-site

The Bison Group LLC
See more jobs at The Bison Group LLCexternal

$140K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Description

 We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Wargame Designer to lead the design, development, and execution of advanced red-on-green military wargames supporting U.S. Army training, experimentation, capability development, and operational analysis. The ideal candidate will combine expertise in military doctrine, operational art, adversary tactics, game theory, simulation design, and decision science to create realistic and analytically rigorous wargaming environments.


This role will work closely with Army stakeholders, military subject matter experts, data scientists, modelers, and software development teams to develop wargames that accurately represent friendly and adversary decision-making, force employment, operational constraints, and battlefield dynamics across multi-domain operations.

The successful candidate will be capable of translating military doctrine and operational concepts into engaging and defensible game mechanics that support learning, experimentation, and decision advantage.

Key areas include:

Wargame Design & Development

  • Design, develop, and refine red-on-green operational and tactical wargames for U.S. Army sponsors.
  • Create game systems that faithfully represent land, air, maritime, space, cyber, and information domain interactions.
  • Develop behaviors, decision models, and courses of action based on current threat doctrine, force structure, and capabilities.
  • Incorporate Army doctrine, concepts, planning methodologies, and mission command principles into game mechanics.
  • Design adjudication methods, combat resolution systems, and campaign-level decision frameworks.

Game Theory & Analytical Rigor

  • Apply game theory, decision science, and strategic competition models to represent complex military interactions.
  • Develop opponent decision models using concepts such as:
    • Nash equilibrium
    • Sequential games
    • Signaling and deception
    • Risk-based decision making
    • Utility analysis
    • Multi-agent competition frameworks
  • Evaluate player decisions and game outcomes to generate actionable insights for Army leadership.

Military & Operational Analysis

  • Develop scenarios reflecting near-peer competition, large-scale combat operations, irregular warfare, and multi-domain operations.
  • Translate operational plans, concepts of operation (CONOPS), and military scenarios into playable game structures.
  • Support Army experimentation and concept development through objective analysis and recommendations.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Facilitate workshops, design sessions, tabletop exercises, and operational wargames with military leaders and subject matter experts.
  • Present game concepts, design rationale, and analytical findings to senior government stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with Army centers of excellence, program offices, operational units, and training organizations.

Digital & Simulation Integration

  • Support integration of wargames with modeling and simulation environments.
  • Collaborate with software and AI teams to develop digital implementations of game mechanics.
  • Assist in development of AI-enabled Red Force decision agents and adversary behavior models.

Requirements

  • 8+ years of professional experience in one or more of the following:
  • Professional military wargaming
  • Defense analysis
  • Operations research
  • Military simulation development
  • Strategic planning
  • Commercial strategy gaming
  • Demonstrated experience designing adjudicated, seminar, matrix, tabletop, computer-assisted, or simulation-based wargames.
  • Experience supporting U.S. Army, Joint, DoD, or NATO organizations.
  • Deep understanding of:
  • U.S. Army doctrine
  • Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
  • Mission command
  • Operational art and campaign design
  • Threat doctrine and adversary force employment
  • Strong knowledge of military planning processes, including:
  • MDMP
  • Joint Planning Process (JPP)
  • Course of Action analysis
  • Expertise in applying game theory principles to competitive decision environments.
  • Experience designing complex game mechanics and adjudication systems.
  • Familiarity with military modeling and simulation tools.
  • Knowledge of probability, statistics, and operational analysis techniques.
  • Ability to document game rules, mechanics, scenarios, and analytical outcomes.

Clearance Required:

  • TS/SCI

Minimum Education:

  • High School Education

Minimum Years of Experience:

  • 12 yrs relevant experience, 8 yrs w/ Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Former military officer, warrant officer, or senior non-commissioned officer with operational planning experience.
  • Advanced degree in Operations Research, Strategic Studies, International Relations, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
  • Experience supporting Army Futures Command, TRADOC, Centers of Excellence, ARCIC, Joint Staff, or combatant commands.
  • Experience designing AI-enabled adversary behaviors.
  • Familiarity with:
  • JCATS
  • AFSIM
  • OneSAF
  • JTLS
  • VBS
  • Other defense simulation environments
  • Publications or recognized contributions in military gaming, decision science, or strategic analysis.

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