ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Game System Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Templar Media

Lead Game Designer

Alpharetta, GA · On-site

The Lead Designer should have excellent game design ability in both single and multiplayer and be a ... Ability to clearly articulate complicated systems to other team members and senior management

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

Amazon Game Studios is looking for a Game Designer - we build exciting new casual and innovative ... AI systems and their application to enhance player experiences, or demonstrated willingness to ...

teamLFG

Senior Game Engineer - Graphics

OR · On-site +1

As a Senior Game Engineer - Graphics on teamLFG, you will work closely with artists, designers and ... RESPONSIBILITIES Build and maintain production-quality gameplay systems, workflows, and tools in C ...

TapBlaze, LLC

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$65K - $95K/yr

Audit existing economy systems and propose rebalancing when needed with a clear plan for how ... Who You Are * 2+ years of experience designing casual F2P mobile games. * At least one shipped ...

Amazon

Principal Game Designer, RBKS AI

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

As a Principal Game Designer at RBKS AI (Ring, Blink, Key, Sidewalk), you will own the design ... systems designs, interaction flows, and feature specs - that serve as the source of truth for cross ...

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 ... Regularly audit existing economy systems and propose rebalancing when something is off with a clear ...

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 ... Regularly audit existing economy systems and propose rebalancing when something is off with a clear ...

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 ... Regularly audit existing economy systems and propose rebalancing when something is off with a clear ...

Jobgether

You'll work closely with designers, artists, producers, backend engineers, and QA to create polished multiplayer experiences. Your work will span gameplay systems, UI, performance optimization ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsGame System Designer Jobs

Game System Designer information

See salary details

$47K

$156K

How much do game system designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 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 is a game system designer?

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.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a game system designer?

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.

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 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 do you become a game system designer?

To become a game system designer, typically a candidate needs a background in game design, computer science, or related fields, along with strong skills in programming, mathematics, and understanding of game mechanics. Gaining experience through internships, personal projects, or portfolio work is important, and proficiency with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine can be beneficial.

Is game system designer a good career?

A game system designer develops the rules, mechanics, and systems for video games, often requiring skills in programming, mathematics, and game theory. The field offers opportunities in the gaming industry, but job availability can be competitive and typically requires a strong portfolio and relevant experience.
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 are popular job titles related to Game System Designer jobs?

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

Game System Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game System Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 60% In-person, and 40% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

War Game Designer-Regional Threats, Senior

Charlottesville, VA • On-site

The Bison Group
See more jobs at The Bison Groupexternal

$140K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and refine red-on-green operational and tactical wargames for U.S. Army sponsors.

  • Create game systems that represent land, air, maritime, space, cyber, and information domain interactions.

  • Facilitate workshops, design sessions, tabletop exercises, and operational wargames with military leaders and subject matter experts.

Job 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.

Salary Description
$140,000-$170,000

Apply