ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Gaming Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

MrBeast

Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

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. In this role you'll be responsible for pitching original concepts, developing pitches from team ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA · On-site

$169K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Across all of our teams and locations, we are united by a common purpose: to share great gaming ... PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Experience designing player-facing AI features such as adaptive ...

Spellbrush

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 ...

TapBlaze

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, but someone who genuinely loves them. You'll design new mechanics and improve existing ones for ...

TapBlaze

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, but someone who genuinely loves them. You'll design new mechanics and improve existing ones for ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGaming Designer JobsGaming Designer Jobs in California

Gaming Designer information

See California salary details

$46.4K

$154K

How much do gaming designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for gaming designer in California is $147,165.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $153,000.00 and $153,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a gaming designer do?

A Gaming Designer is responsible for creating the concepts, rules, and structure of video games. They work with a team to develop the game's storylines, characters, gameplay mechanics, and levels. Gaming Designers often collaborate with artists, programmers, and writers to ensure the game offers a compelling and enjoyable experience. Their work involves both creative and technical skills, including problem-solving, prototyping, and playtesting to refine ideas. Ultimately, they help shape the player's experience from the initial idea to the final product.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a gaming designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Gaming Designer, you need a strong grasp of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, typically supported by a degree in game design, computer science, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and graphic design software, as well as knowledge of scripting languages, is highly valued. Creativity, teamwork, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating on multidisciplinary teams and bringing innovative ideas to life. These skills are crucial for creating engaging, playable games that meet both player expectations and project objectives.

What are some common challenges gaming designers face when working on collaborative projects?

Gaming designers often collaborate with developers, artists, and writers, which can present challenges in aligning creative visions and managing feedback from multiple stakeholders. Balancing gameplay mechanics with visual and narrative elements requires clear communication and flexibility. Additionally, meeting tight deadlines while accommodating changes in scope or design can be demanding. Successful gaming designers are proactive in soliciting input, open to iteration, and skilled at resolving conflicts to keep the project on track.

What is the difference between Gaming Designer vs Game Developer?

AspectGaming DesignerGame Developer
CredentialsTypically a degree in game design, computer science, or related fieldsUsually a degree in computer science, software engineering, or programming
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, creative teams, collaborative settingsProgramming environments, coding teams, technical development
Industry UsageFocuses on game concept, mechanics, and user experienceFocuses on coding, software architecture, and technical implementation

While both roles are essential in game development, Gaming Designers primarily focus on creating game concepts, mechanics, and user experience, whereas Game Developers handle the technical coding and software development. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and collaboration in the gaming industry.

How do you become a gaming designer?

To become a gaming designer, individuals typically pursue a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a related field. Developing strong skills in programming, graphic design, storytelling, and using tools like Unity or Unreal Engine is essential, along with building a portfolio of game projects and gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions.

What jobs can a gaming designer get?

A gaming designer can pursue roles such as game developer, level designer, game artist, or user experience designer within the video game industry. These positions often require skills in programming, graphic design, storytelling, and familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.

What are popular job titles related to Gaming Designer jobs in California?

For Gaming Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Gaming Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Gaming Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Gaming Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Gaming Designer job openings:

Gaming Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gaming Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 57% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 42% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,165 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Game Designer

MrBeast

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$182K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

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

Apply