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Game Systems Designer Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)

YO AI Labs

Game Developer - Remote

Toronto, ON · Remote

Game Developer Job Type: Contract Location: Remote Job Summary: Our customer's team is seeking a ... systems to support development. * Collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to deliver ...

Tripledot Studios

Lead Game Designer

Toronto, ON

Role Overview We're looking for a Lead Game Designer to shape the creative direction of our ... Design features, systems, and live ops events grounded in player research and behavioural data ...

Velan Studios

Narrative Designer (Senior+)

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$80K - CA$110K/yr

The Narrative Designer will collaborate closely with the Game Director, Systems Designers and other team members to drive, define and expand the story as well as the narrative systems of our co-op ...

Velan Studios

Narrative Designer (Senior+)

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$80K - CA$110K/yr

The Narrative Designer will collaborate closely with the Game Director, Systems Designers and other team members to drive, define and expand the story as well as the narrative systems of our co-op ...

Puzzle Cats

AI Product Engineer, Games

Toronto, ON · On-site +1

... designers, engineers, and product teams to launch new games and improve live ones. Features you ... systems * Prototype and launch new game ideas quickly, moving from concept to playable builds in ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$100K - CA$150K/yr

Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with ... Own the design of the procedural dungeon system in collaboration with gameplay and tools engineers

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Toronto, ON · On-site

CA$100K - CA$150K/yr

Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with ... Own the design of the procedural dungeon system in collaboration with gameplay and tools engineers

Digital Extremes

Software Engineer II, Web

London, ON · On-site

CA$80K - CA$95K/yr

... with game systems. * Profile, refactor, and optimize backend code for low latency and high ... Collaborate with product managers and designers to deliver world-class, player-first web ...

Trophiai

Senior Product Designer

Toronto, ON · Hybrid

As a senior designer you will set the quality bar, own our systems and patterns, and define the look and feel of an AI powered coach that meets players inside their favorite games and our studio ...

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All JobsGame Systems Designer JobsGame Systems Designer Jobs in Ontario

Game Systems Designer information

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.
Infographic showing various Game Systems Designer job openings in Ontario as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution.

Game Developer - Remote

YO AI Labs

Toronto, ON • Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Job Title: Game Developer

Job Type: Contract

Location: Remote

Job Summary: Our customer's team is seeking a Game Tools & Modding Engineer with strong rendering and engine-level experience to build high-performance, real-time applications. This role goes beyond gameplay—you'll work on graphics systems, rendering pipelines, and low-level optimizations using technologies such as DirectX (DX11 and DX12), Vulkan, OpenGL, or similar APIs.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design and develop game systems and engine-level features using C++ and game engines.
  • Develop tools and modding related to games.
  • Work on rendering pipelines, shaders, and real-time graphics systems.
  • Optimize performance across CPU/GPU, memory, and rendering workloads.
  • Build and extend tools, pipelines, and engine systems to support development.
  • Collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to deliver high-quality experiences.
  • Debug complex issues related to rendering, performance, and cross-platform compatibility.
  • Write clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.
  • Participate in code reviews and contribute to technical decision-making.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

  • 3–6 years of experience in game development or real-time graphics programming.
  • Strong proficiency in C++.
  • Hands-on experience with one or more graphics APIs: DirectX (DX11/12), Vulkan, OpenGL, or Metal.
  • Solid understanding of Rendering pipelines.
  • Solid understanding of Shaders (HLSL/GLSL).
  • 3D math and real-time graphics concepts.
  • Experience with Unreal Engine or similar game engines.
  • Familiarity with performance optimization (CPU/GPU, memory, multithreading).
  • Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work independently in a remote, distributed team.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with engine customization or low-level systems development.
  • Familiarity with profiling tools (RenderDoc, PIX, Nsight, etc.).
  • Experience working on cross-platform or performance-constrained environments.
  • Exposure to tooling, pipelines, or editor extensions.
  • Background in multiplayer or large-scale systems.