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Game System Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Game Designer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$105K - $140K/yr

Senior Game Designer Req ID: 10152543 Senior Game Designer, 20th Century Games Come work with 20th ... Reviewing all gameplay mechanics, systems, assets, milestone builds, and documentation from game ...

Senior Game Designer, 20th Century Games Come work with 20th Century Games as a Senior Game ... Reviewing all gameplay mechanics, systems, assets, milestone builds, and documentation from game ...

Technical Systems Designer (Games) Full-Time Remote Position OBJECTIVES OF THIS ROLE We are in the process of staffing up our development team with outstanding talent to tackle a brand new sci-fi ...

Technical Systems Designer (Games) Full-Time Remote Position OBJECTIVES OF THIS ROLE We are in the process of staffing up our development team with outstanding talent to tackle a brand new sci-fi ...

Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based ... games * At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior ...

OR · On-site

$120K - $145K/yr

Collaborate with animation, art, tech designers and engineering to develop levels, gameplay systems, and pipelines that support world-class design execution. * Create and maintain Unreal Engine ...

... systems. Game Developers at Valicy are builders who think holistically about game feel, technical architecture, tooling, and long‑term maintainability. You will work closely with designers, artists ...

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Game System Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do game system designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for game system designer 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 System Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game System Designer, you need strong analytical thinking, creativity, and a solid understanding of game mechanics, often supported by a background in game design, computer science, or a related field. Familiarity with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), prototyping tools, and scripting languages like C# or Lua is highly beneficial. Excellent communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities help you collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and iterate on complex systems. These skills ensure engaging, balanced, and technically feasible gameplay experiences that drive a game's success.

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

AspectGame System DesignerGame Level Designer
Primary FocusDesigns core game mechanics, systems, and rulesCreates and designs individual game levels and environments
Required SkillsSystems thinking, programming knowledge, gameplay designLevel layout, environment art, storytelling through level design
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with programmers, designers, and artists on overall game systemsWorks closely with artists and narrative teams to craft engaging levels
Industry UsageCommon in game development studios focusing on gameplay mechanicsCommon in studios emphasizing level and environment design

While both roles are essential in game development, the Game System Designer focuses on creating the underlying mechanics that define gameplay, whereas the Game Level Designer concentrates on crafting the individual levels players explore. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and collaboration points within game development teams.

How does a Game System Designer typically collaborate with other departments during the game development process?

Game System Designers work closely with various teams such as artists, programmers, producers, and narrative designers to ensure that gameplay mechanics align with the overall vision of the game. They often participate in cross-functional meetings, provide detailed system documentation, and gather feedback from playtest sessions to refine systems. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as system designers must balance creative ideas with technical constraints and player experience. This role is highly collaborative, requiring frequent coordination to integrate new features, resolve design challenges, and maintain a cohesive game experience.

What are Game System Designers?

Game System Designers are professionals who create, balance, and refine the underlying rules and mechanics that govern how a video game operates. They focus on designing systems such as combat, progression, economy, and rewards to ensure an engaging and balanced player experience. By collaborating with other developers, they translate creative ideas into mathematical models and gameplay loops that keep players challenged and entertained. Their work is crucial to the overall feel and longevity of a game.
More about Game System Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Game System Designer jobs? Cities with the most Game System Designer job openings:
What states have the most Game System Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Game System Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Game System Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Game System Designer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Game System Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 20% As Needed, 60% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago


Job description

All Game Designers at Riot have a base set of skills: you design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity aid in crafting in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. 

As a Senior Technical Game Designer on an unpublished R&D product, you excel in designing exceptional experiences with high novelty and filled with unique challenges to overcome. You partner with other designers, artists, and engineers to create and iterate on a variety of memorable content types for players. You will also help designers and engineers build and expand our engine capabilities creating powerful tools that can empower other designers to create their own unique experiences. You will partner closely with designers and engineers to translate ambitious creative visions into actionable, scalable technical designs. Through a mix of mentorship and content reviews, you also ensure that local designers are building the game with strong technical rigor. Reporting directly to the Lead Technical Designer, your contributions will elevate the capabilities of the entire team on this ambitious project.

Responsibilities:
  • Work collaboratively to design, prototype and deliver compelling player experiences from the beginning to the end of an activity.
  • Be a hands-on owner for a portion of systems and other content that pushes for novel, unique, and challenging player experiences.
  • Collaborate with engineering to define the technical strategy and execution of content systems and reusable content tools
  • Build out solutions to design problems that require a deep level of technical expertise and leaving those problems with the ability to teach others how to work in those spaces in the future.
  • Develop, advocate, and enforce a system of organizational excellence in content creation that allows for the long-term sustainability of software without being cumbersome to rapid prototyping culture.
  • Implement gameplay workflows and tools within Unreal Engine to enable designers and artists to rapidly prototype and iterate.
  • Proactively identify technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate clearly with team leadership and stakeholders.
  • Ensure high-quality implementation of complex gameplay systems, promoting performance, scalability, and maintainability.
Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of experience in professional Technical Game Design or related Tech Design or Engineering roles
  • 2+ years of experience in content design in real-time games
  • Proven experience shipping high-quality titles using Unreal Engine, demonstrating expertise in Blueprints, scripting, and technical workflows
  • Experience with C++ and C#
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with experience working cross-functionally between engineering, test, production, art, and design
Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience working on a live product
  • Experience with technical optimization and performance profiling within Unreal Engine
  • Deep understanding of gameplay system architecture, online networking, and AI behaviors

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. 


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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

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