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Gameplay Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

$90 - $120/hr

Senior Game Designer - Weapons/Combat (Apex Legends) Work Model: Hybrid Respawn Entertainment Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom ...

New

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Spellbrush is a company focused on creating engaging gameplay experiences, and they are seeking a Level Designer to craft fun tactics missions using their in-house tools. The role involves designing ...

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 ... Concept, prototype, and iterate on new gameplay mechanics for Good Pizza, Great Pizza and Good ...

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 ... dynamic gameplay experiences that appeal to non-traditional gaming audiences. In tandem with ...

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Showing results 1-20

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 21, 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 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 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 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.

How do I become a gameplay designer?

To become a gameplay designer, you typically need a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a related field, along with strong skills in game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience. Gaining experience through personal projects, internships, or portfolio work is important, and proficiency with game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine can be beneficial.

What jobs can a gameplay designer get?

A gameplay designer can pursue roles such as level designer, game designer, systems designer, or narrative designer within the game development industry. These positions often require skills in game mechanics, storytelling, and proficiency with design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Career progression may lead to senior designer, lead designer, or creative director roles.

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:

Infographic showing various Gameplay Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $143,455 per year, or $69 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Designer - Weapons/Combat (Apex Legends)

Electronic Arts

On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

Locations: Los Angeles - Chatsworth, California, United States of America

  • Vancouver - Great Northern Way, British Columbia, Canada
  • Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America

Role ID: 213731

Worker Type: Regular Employee

Work Model: Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Job Title: Senior Game Designer – Weapons/Combat (Apex Legends)

Work Model: Hybrid

Respawn Entertainment

Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they’ll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars™ Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world’s leading live service franchises.

Apex Legends is looking for a Senior Game Designer who will help us create exciting and innovative new weapons and combat systems, and ensure our combat sandbox is a strong competitive experience. You will work on new weapons and combat systems from early prototype through release. With our existing combat sandbox, you will focus on tuning and evolving the sandbox in response to player feedback and ensuring the competitive health of Apex. You have experience on a live service game in weapon and combat design, and have strong enough technical and scripting abilities to work independently.

Responsibilities

  • Work with other disciplines to create the concept for a weapon.
  • Create a playtestable prototypes by kitbashing existing assets.
  • See weapons and combat systems through production, including tuning, polishing, and writing robust, shippable script.
  • Hold and communicate the vision for weapons and combat systems to your collaborators in other departments.
  • Ensure a high quality release by bug fixing, balancing, and creating combat systems.
  • Work with other designers on to improve multiple parts of Apex.
  • Playtest frequently and provide high quality feedback.

Qualifications

  • 5+ years professional experience as a game designer on a competitive multiplayer game.
  • Experience in rapid prototyping and iterative design.
  • Experience in balancing competitive game metas.
  • Understanding of game feel and polish.
  • Solid technical understanding of scripting and 3D action game fundamentals.
  • Strong track record in design and balance.
  • Played and formed a lot of opinions about many live games.
  • Strong opinions on how we could do better and a drive to accomplish them.
Pay Transparency - North America COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

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