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Game Mechanic Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

... balance gameplay mechanics and systems * Communicate with animation, programming, and art ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Hasbro

Sr Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · Hybrid

Are you an experienced tabletop RPG designer with the demonstrated ability to lead major RPG ... A track record of developing innovative and balanced game mechanics * Strong long-form writing ...

Hasbro

Game Designer

Renton, WA · On-site +1

$174K/yr

This includes card design, mechanic design, product exploration, and many other design tasks. This Game Designer role draws on your Magic knowledge, your curiosity and enthusiastic thirst for ...

New

Frameshiftstudios

Game Designer

Miami, FL · On-site

$148K/yr

Iterate on mechanics based on playtesting feedback and live game data * Maintain a central design reference document for the current game in development You Have * Experience designing systems for ...

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

This includes mechanical and narrative design, play innovations, playtests, product exploration, and other design-related tasks. This Associate Game Designer role draws on your D&D knowledge, your ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA · On-site

$176K/yr

Who We're Looking For We're seeking a Game Designer to contribute meaningfully to the design of ... You'll work within the game design group on systems, mechanics, and set development alongside the ...

Arrow International Inc

Senior Game Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $150K/hr

Position Summary We are looking for an enthusiastic Game Designer based at our Chicago studio. You ... Understanding of player psychology, slot game mechanics, gambling principles Requirements:

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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 14, 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.

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

Naughty Dog
PC Games • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Naughty Dogexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required. 

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

What you will do: 

  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes 
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors 
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable 
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems  
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning 
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes  
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines  
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments  
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences 
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team 

What skills you will use:  

  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games 
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred 
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required  
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)  
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality 
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching 
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends  
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat 
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful  
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills 

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