ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Game Systems Designer Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Spin Master

Game Developer

New York, NY · On-site

$38 - $40/hr

As the Game Developer for Hellbreak TCG, you will analyze card designs and manage our external ... Profound structural understanding of physical trading card game systems and the competitive ...

Code Plus Inc

3D Game Developer - XR/VR

Fort Lee, NJ · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Design and implement intuitive UI/UX systems, including VR/XR interaction patterns and Unity Canvas ... Work closely with instructional designers, developers, and program stakeholders to ensure solutions ...

General Intuition

Product Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

... gaming clips, where millions of gamers capture, share, and discover new games every year. We ... Design systems expertise: hands-on experience building, scaling, and maintaining systems from the ...

General Intuition & Medal

Product Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

... gaming clips, where millions of gamers capture, share, and discover new games every year. We ... Design systems expertise: hands‑on experience building, scaling, and maintaining systems from the ...

Namely

UX Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

... game play. We're looking for a talented UX Designer who thrives in solving complex design ... If you have a strong foundation in UX problem-solving, systems thinking, and creative ...

Packz

Product Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$100 - $125/hr

Experience designing game-like systems, reward loops, or other highly engaging consumer experiences * Experience designing for moments of delight, anticipation, and reveal without sacrificing clarity ...

New

NXTLevel

Senior Systems Engineer

New York, NY

$114K - $156K/yr

Our client is one of the top computer game companies in the Midwest. They've been around for nearly ... Collaborate with other engineers, artists, designers, and producers to deliver the best product ...

NxT Level

Senior Systems Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$115K - $157K/yr

Our client is one of the top computer game companies in the Midwest. They've been around for nearly ... Collaborate with other engineers, artists, designers, and producers to deliver the best product ...

NxT Level

Senior Systems Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$115K - $157K/yr

Our client is one of the top computer game companies in the Midwest. They've been around for nearly ... Collaborate with other engineers, artists, designers, and producers to deliver the best product ...

24 Seven Talent

Motion Graphic Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

More specifically, looking for a senior designer with interactive or game-adjacent experience ... systems that respond to different card-pull outcomes Partner closely with Product, Design, and ...

Two Sigma Investments, LP

Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

Support the development, maintenance, and evolution of comprehensive design systems, including ... Perks: Onsite gyms with laundry service, wellness activities, casual dress, snacks, game rooms

BAE Systems

Eng Sr Prin II - Sys

Totowa, NJ · On-site

$105K - $144K/yr

... system designs and architectures; performing system architecture trade studies; developing and ... Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGame Systems Designer JobsGame Systems Designer Jobs in New York

Game Systems Designer information

See New York salary details

$51.4K

$170.7K

How much do game systems designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for game systems designer in New York is $163,140.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $169,600.00 and $169,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game systems designer?

To thrive as a Game Systems Designer, you need strong analytical thinking, a solid understanding of game mechanics, and a background in game design or computer science. Familiarity with scripting languages, game engines like Unity or Unreal, and prototyping tools is typically required, along with experience using software such as Excel for balancing systems. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication help you work with multidisciplinary teams and iterate on ideas. These skills are crucial to create engaging, balanced, and innovative gameplay experiences that resonate with players.

How does a game systems designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

Game Systems Designers work closely with a variety of teams, including programmers, artists, and narrative designers, to ensure game mechanics are balanced, engaging, and integrated seamlessly into the game's world. They often participate in cross-functional meetings to communicate system requirements, provide documentation, and iterate on feedback from playtests. Strong collaboration skills are essential, as adjustments to systems may impact art assets, technical implementation, or storytelling elements, requiring ongoing coordination throughout development.

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

AspectGame Systems DesignerGame Level Designer
Primary FocusDesigning game mechanics, systems, and rulesCreating and designing individual game levels and environments
Skills & QualificationsKnowledge of game mechanics, scripting, systems designLevel design, 3D modeling, environment art
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with programmers, designers, and producersWorks closely with artists and level artists
Industry UsageCommon in game development teams across genresPrimarily in level design departments, especially in AAA and indie games

The Game Systems Designer focuses on creating the core mechanics and systems that define gameplay, while the Game Level Designer specializes in designing engaging levels and environments. Both roles require collaboration with different teams but serve distinct functions in game development.

How to become a game systems designer?

A game systems designer typically needs a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a related field, along with strong skills in programming, mathematics, and game development tools. Gaining experience through internships, personal projects, or portfolio work is important, and knowledge of game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine is often required. Building a solid understanding of game mechanics, player psychology, and balancing systems is essential for success in this role.

Is there a high demand for game systems designers?

Game systems designers are in growing demand as the gaming industry expands, especially with the rise of mobile, console, and online games. Employers seek candidates with strong technical skills, knowledge of game mechanics, and experience with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine, making it a competitive but promising field.

What does a game systems designer do?

A game systems designer develops and balances the rules, mechanics, and systems that define how a game functions and interacts. They collaborate with other team members to create engaging gameplay experiences and often use tools like design documents and game engines to implement their ideas. Strong understanding of game theory, programming, and player behavior is essential for this role.

What cities in New York are hiring for Game Systems Designer jobs?

Cities in New York with the most Game Systems Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Game Systems Designer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $163,140 per year, or $78.4 per hour.

Game Designer - Cofounder

The General Intelligence Company of New York

New York, NY • On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

About the role
At General Intelligence, we're building highly-capable autonomous agents for startups. Our goal is to enable the one-person, one-billion-dollar company.
Our product, Cofounder, enables entrepreneurs to start and run companies. Using it should feel more like a company-building game where users coordinate agents, unlock roadmap nodes, run missions, build artifacts, grow departments, and make revenue go up.
We're looking for a game designer to make Cofounder more fun, intuitive, and strategically deep.
This is a game designer role for someone with real strategy game taste. You should be familiar with the grand strategy genre as well as gameplay loops involving the genre. You understand why games like Civilization, Stellaris, Factorio, StarCraft, RimWorld, XCOM, or EVE become addictive: macro loops, micro loops, compounding strategy, progression, complexity, constraints, feedback, and reward.
Your job is to translate those instincts into product.
What you'll do
  • Design gameplay loops for Cofounder: missions, goals, departments, progression, maps, unlocks, rewards, and recurring user actions. Translate these gameplay loops into actual direct product surface for our users.
  • Turn "run your company" into clear, intuitive game mechanics users understand.
  • Build compounding strategy into the product: decisions should matter, systems should interact, and progress should create new options.
  • Make agent workflows feel fun, fast, and rewarding instead of abstract or confusing.
  • Work with design and engineering to spec, ship, measure, and improve gameplay-driven product experiences.
  • Study user behavior to optimize and identify loops.
  • Push Cofounder toward the feeling of a great strategy game while keeping it useful for real companies.
Who you are
  • You have 5+ years of experience in game design, game systems design, or gameplay design.
  • You have worked in the gaming industry, ideally on strategy games, simulation games, live-service games, management games, MMOs, RPGs, or other systems-heavy products.
  • You have shipped player-facing gameplay systems, not just managed tasks or roadmaps.
  • You deeply understand strategy games: macro loops, micro loops, progression, pacing, compounding systems, tutorials, rewards, and retention.
  • You know how to balance fun, clarity, pacing, and utility.
  • You care about product quality and craft.
  • You are high agency.
  • You have aura. If you don't know what this means, it's not a fit.
How we work
In-person only in New York. You'll be in the room with founders daily. Relocation assistance is available.
High agency. We hire smart people and get out of their way.
Outcomes over inputs. You're measured on what ships and what gets better.
Direct feedback. You'll hear what's working and what's not; same applies in reverse.
Ship fast, iterate daily. Taste matters, but perfection is the enemy of progress.
What's different about General Intelligence?
Real leverage. You will have a legitimately unlimited token budget for AI tools.
No bureaucracy. You'll be frustrated by red tape everywhere else after working here.
Small, elite team. You work directly with founders and engineers building agents.
Craft matters. Speed is key, but sloppiness isn't tolerated.

Apply