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Gameplay Combat Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping ... Create and script engaging gameplay encounters that highlight the core systems and pacing of the ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (Encounters)

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for scripting and shaping ... Create and script engaging gameplay encounters that highlight the core systems and pacing of the ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of ... Deep understanding of game mechanics, combat systems, and AI NPC design. * Fluent with game ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of ... Deep understanding of game mechanics, combat systems, and AI NPC design. * Fluent with game ...

teamLFG

Senior Gameplay Designer (Combat & AI)

OR · On-site +1

... action game, designing, documenting, and building combat/character systems Experience delegating work or ownership of an area to multi-disciplinary peers Knowledge and perspective from playing ...

teamLFG

Senior Gameplay Designer (Combat & AI)

$118K - $177K/yr

... game, designing, documenting, and building combat/character systems • Experience delegating work or ownership of an area to multi-disciplinary peers • Knowledge and perspective from playing ...

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Gameplay Combat Designer information

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How much do gameplay combat designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for gameplay combat designer in the United States is $24.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.15 and $27.40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a gameplay combat designer?

A Gameplay Combat Designer is a video game professional responsible for designing, balancing, and refining the combat systems of a game. They create rules for how characters interact in battle, design enemy behaviors, and collaborate with other team members to ensure combat is engaging and fun. Their work often involves prototyping combat mechanics, adjusting difficulty, and responding to player feedback to enhance the fighting experience. Combat designers also play a key role in shaping the overall feel and pacing of a game's action sequences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a gameplay combat designer?

To thrive as a Gameplay Combat Designer, you need a solid understanding of game design principles, experience with combat systems, and proficiency in relevant game engines, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Unreal Engine or Unity, scripting languages, and version control systems is typically required. Creativity, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills that help designers create engaging gameplay experiences. These skills ensure the delivery of balanced, fun, and innovative combat mechanics that meet both player expectations and project goals.

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

Gameplay Combat Designers work closely with teams like animators, programmers, and narrative designers to create engaging combat systems. They regularly communicate their vision through detailed design documents, prototypes, and feedback sessions, ensuring that combat mechanics integrate seamlessly with visuals, story, and technical constraints. Collaboration is often iterative, with designers playtesting new features and refining them based on feedback from QA testers and other stakeholders. Effective teamwork and open communication are essential to bring dynamic, balanced, and fun combat experiences to players.

What is the difference between Gameplay Combat Designer vs Gameplay Level Designer?

AspectGameplay Combat DesignerGameplay Level Designer
Primary FocusDesigning combat mechanics, systems, and interactionsDesigning game levels, environments, and layout flow
Skills & QualificationsKnowledge of combat systems, scripting, game mechanicsLevel design, environment art, spatial reasoning
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with gameplay programmers, artists, and designersWorks closely with environment artists, level artists, and gameplay teams
Industry UsageCommon in action, shooter, fighting gamesCommon in adventure, platformer, open-world games

While both roles involve designing aspects of gameplay, the Gameplay Combat Designer focuses on creating engaging combat systems and mechanics, whereas the Gameplay Level Designer concentrates on designing the environments and levels players navigate. Both roles require collaboration with different teams and contribute to the overall player experience, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

What are popular job titles related to Gameplay Combat Designer jobs?

For Gameplay Combat Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Gameplay Combat Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,768 per year, or $24.4 per hour.

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA • On-site

Cloud Chamber
See more jobs at Cloud Chamberexternal

$119K - $128K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of designers, artists, and engineers to create industry-leading AI characters and combat gameplay. You will be responsible for expanding and building on the ideas of player expression and emergent design experiences. Utilizing your deep knowledge of Unreal Engine, you will develop interactive AI characters to support the overall creative vision for our project, ensuring that our ambitious design goals are achieved and ultimately bring the richly imagined world of BioShock to life.
What You'll Do:
  • Work with the Leads, Design Director, and the design team to pitch and develop interactive AI characters and execute the vision for the game.
  • Act as the primary owner of AI and combat implementation in cross-disciplinary pods.
  • Develop working prototypes of AI and combat scenarios.
  • Communicate progress, workflows, and availability of AI and combat standards to content developers.
  • Maintain and tune assigned combat AI behavior and parameters through to project completion.
  • Create detailed and easy-to-follow design documentation.
  • Collaborate across development sites in Novato and Montreal on a day-to-day basis.
  • Expand and build on the ideas of player expression and emergent design experiences.
  • Use your creativity to execute on design goals and solve design challenges that push our games forward.
  • Participate in brainstorm sessions, refine, and execute on ideas within a schedule.
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to execute on design implementation and problem solving.

What We'll Do Together:
At Cloud Chamber, we are champions of high standards, pushing for progress and embracing change. We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and identify solutions to overcome developmental obstacles.
In this combat design capacity, you will support the Creative Director's vision, ensuring creative intent is translated into a performant reality while taking ownership of complex design challenges.
Skills & Experiences:
  • Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer responsible for AI combatants.
  • 5+ years professional experience in video game design.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Experience working with a variety of established game toolsets.
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-disciplinary groups and across multi-site team settings.
  • Deep understanding of game mechanics, combat systems, and AI NPC design.
  • Fluent with game development tools, and experience with pipelines, standards and workflows.
  • Strong presentation skills.
  • Current knowledge of gaming industry development landscape, technology and tools.
  • Understanding of how AI, tactical space, and player verbs combine to create magic in both scripted and unscripted settings.
  • In-depth knowledge of industry standard AI, progression systems, and player mechanics features.

Who You Are:
  • A strong empathetic team member, able to take ownership over your tasks and mentor more junior designers.
  • A reliable, positive force multiplier, actively seeking opportunities to integrate work across disciplines and contribute to a healthy, supportive team environment.
  • A solid communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, package information for diverse audiences, and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
  • A persistent and self-motivated person with a proactive mindset.
  • Able to maintain effectiveness and quality under pressure, ambiguity, and fast-changing priorities.
  • An active listener able to build and maintain trust-based relationships across all levels of the organization, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
  • Highly open to feedback and direction, possessing a desire to learn new skills, and capable of producing quick, quality revisions based on new insights or constraints.
  • A strong owner of your tasks, who strives to drive their work forward autonomously while maintaining a critical eye for detail and organization, ensuring high standards of quality.
  • Dedicated to upholding Cloud Chamber's core values, contributing to a positive and respectful company culture while striving for excellence in all endeavors.

Who We Are:
At Cloud Chamber we strive to make BioShock games that move people: evocative, immersive, and meaningful experiences that stay with you long after you've rolled credits. Great games are born from great collaborations, supported by a culture that brings out the best in our teams. We work openly, learn through play, take ownership, push ourselves to be better, and deliver for our players.
For candidates located in Quebec:This position requires professional proficiency in both French and English. Proficiency in English is required to collaborate with our U.S. teams and international partners, as well as to handle specialized technical documentation (reading, writing, and communication).
#LI-Hybrid
The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $100,200 and $148,320 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.
Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. When emailing prospective employees, we only use 2K.com accounts

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