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Gameplay Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MrBeast

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

Game Designer (Experience & Systems) About the Role We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer ... Strong systems thinking and the ability to balance interconnected gameplay mechanics. * Comfortable ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... Design and develop several projects, responding to feedback from key stakeholders to craft gameplay ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... Design and develop several projects, responding to feedback from key stakeholders to craft gameplay ...

Exploding Kittens

Contract Game Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $38/hr

The Game Designer plays a key role in the game and product development process from start to finish ... Design and develop several projects, responding to feedback from key stakeholders to craft gameplay ...

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$136K - $151K/yr

Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break-down design goals into smaller technical tasks * Provide feedback on gameplay and offer suggestions for ...

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA

$136K - $151K/yr

Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break-down design goals into smaller technical tasks * Provide feedback on gameplay and offer suggestions for ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

With the power of Luna at your fingertips, you will have the chance to innovate in gameplay ... PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience designing player-facing AI features such as adaptive ...

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All JobsGameplay Designer JobsGameplay Designer Jobs in California

Gameplay Designer information

See California salary details

$79.9K

$143.5K

$202.3K

How much do gameplay designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for gameplay designer in California is $143,455.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a typical day look like for a gameplay designer?

A typical day for a Gameplay Designer often involves collaborating with programmers, artists, and other designers to brainstorm new features, refine mechanics, and address feedback from playtests. You can expect to design and document gameplay systems, tweak parameters for balance, and prototype new ideas to see how they work in practice. Communication with cross-functional teams is frequent to ensure all aspects of the gameplay are cohesive and fun for players. Additionally, regular participation in team meetings and reviews helps keep everyone aligned on project vision and priorities.

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

To thrive as a Gameplay Designer, you need strong game design fundamentals, creative problem-solving abilities, and a solid understanding of player experience and engagement. Experience with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, scripting languages (like C# or Blueprint), and familiarity with version control systems is highly valued. Excellent teamwork, communication skills, and a collaborative mindset are essential for effectively working with development teams and stakeholders. These skills help ensure the creation of compelling and balanced gameplay experiences that resonate with players and meet project goals.

What does a gameplay designer do?

A Gameplay Designer is responsible for creating and refining the interactive systems that define the player's experience in a game. They design mechanics, gameplay loops, and balance difficulty to ensure an engaging and fun experience. This role involves collaborating with programmers, artists, and other designers to implement and iterate on gameplay elements. Gameplay Designers also analyze player feedback and data to fine-tune mechanics and improve overall game feel.

What are popular job titles related to Gameplay Designer jobs in California? For Gameplay Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Gameplay Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Gameplay Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Gameplay Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Gameplay Designer job openings:
Gameplay Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gameplay Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,455 per year, or $69 per hour.

Game Designer

MrBeast

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

About Us
Beast Industries is a multifaceted media and entertainment company founded by Jimmy Donaldson, popularly known as MrBeast, the most watched person in the world. Renowned for revolutionizing digital content creation, Beast Industries encompasses a diverse portfolio of ventures that extend far beyond its origins on YouTube. With a mission to entertain, inspire, and create significant social impact, Beast Industries operates across various domains including digital media, philanthropy, consumer products, and innovative business initiatives. At Beast Industries, we believe in the transformative power of digital media and its potential to entertain, educate, and effect positive change. Our commitment to innovation, creativity, and philanthropy drives us to explore new frontiers, create unforgettable experiences, and build a legacy that inspires future generations.
Game Designer (Experience & Systems)
About the Role
We're looking for an exceptional Game Designer to help build the most fun and engaging consumer app in the world.
This is not a traditional game design role. You'll design the mechanics, UI, UX, progression, and reward systems that power games and interactive experiences. You'll think deeply about how players discover, learn, play, compete, and come back.
You'll work across original games, tournaments, quests, and social experiences, partnering closely with Product, Design, Engineering, Data Science, and Creative.
We're looking for someone who has shipped games, has outstanding product instincts, and understands what makes games genuinely fun. Someone who loves elegant mechanics, intuitive UX, and memorable moments not manipulative monetization. And because a meaningful part of our audience is young, we design experiences that are safe, fair, and fun for everyone on purpose, from the start.
What You'll Do
  • Design game mechanics and the systems around them: progression, quests, achievements, tournaments, leaderboards, collectibles, and in-game economies that are simple to learn and rewarding to master.
  • Own the end-to-end player experience: onboarding, tutorials, HUDs, menus, rewards, and game flows, building the interaction patterns that keep every game feeling consistent.
  • Design the moments of delight, interaction, animation, feedback, and reward presentation that give our games their feel.
  • Communicate ideas through wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes, then playtest and iterate fast on player feedback and product metrics.
  • Partner daily with Product Designers, Motion Designers, Engineers, Artists, and Data Scientists to bring ideas to life.
  • Review and collaborate with external game studios to raise the quality of gameplay and player experience across the ecosystem.
We're Looking For
  • You've designed and shipped games players genuinely loved, 5+ years of experience, but we weigh what you've shipped over how long you've been shipping.
  • Experience designing both game mechanics and player UX/UI, with excellent visual and interaction design instincts.
  • Strong understanding of player psychology, engagement, progression, retention, and game feel.
  • Polished wireframes, mockups, and prototypes in Figma or similar tools.
  • Strong systems thinking and the ability to balance interconnected gameplay mechanics.
  • Comfortable using data to validate ideas while maintaining strong creative intuition.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration across design, engineering, product, and creative.
Bonus Points
  • Experience designing multiplayer, live-service, or social games.
  • Experience balancing virtual economies and progression systems.
  • Experience designing all-ages or age-appropriate experiences kids and families are part of our world, and we build for them deliberately.
  • Familiarity with Unity, Unreal, Godot, or similar game engines.
  • Experience designing for mobile-first experiences.
  • Passion for YouTube creators, MrBeast, and building products for millions of users.
What Success Looks Like
  • Players immediately understand how to play and want to keep coming back.
  • Every interaction feels intuitive, rewarding, and polished.
  • Game mechanics are engaging without relying on exploitative monetization.
  • You develop a recognizable gameplay style that is fun, social, accessible, and uniquely "Beast."
The Kind of Person Who Thrives Here
You have a deep obsession with the core of what makes games fun.
You analyze the world's best games to grasp their underlying principles rather than just copying them. You value mechanics, UX, motion, and game feel as a single, cohesive experience. You can whiteboard a concept by morning, build a Figma prototype by afternoon, and iterate based on real playtest feedback before the day is done.
You believe engagement should be earned through mastery, surprise, and elegant design never through dark patterns or exploitative monetization strategies.
If you have shipped experiences that players truly love and want to help redefine interactive entertainment alongside a massive global creator brand, we should talk.
Benefits
The Perks, Why Work On the MrBeast Team
We are redefining what entertainment and storytelling look like at global scale. Every piece of content we publish reaches millions and influences culture in real time. This is your opportunity to lead the team that decides how those moments come to life across every screen.
  • Competitive Salary
  • Generous Medical (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Dental, Vision and company-paid Life Insurance
  • Company contributions to employee Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
  • 401k Plan with Safe Harbor company-matching
  • Flexible vacation policy and paid company holidays
  • Company-provided technology package
  • Relocation assistance where applicable, including travel and company-provided housing for the first 90 days

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