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Gaming Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... in the gaming industry. With our focus on live service projects like WWE SuperCard and NBA 2K ... Cat Daddy is seeking a Game Designer to join our team of artists, engineers, and product managers ...

Game Designer

Kirkland, WA ยท On-site

$78K - $116K/yr

... in the gaming industry. With our focus on live service projects like WWE SuperCard and NBA 2K ... Cat Daddy is seeking a Game Designer to join our team of artists, engineers, and product managers ...

Game Designer

Lehi, UT ยท On-site

$145K/yr

If you have a passion for gaming and want to make an impact, apply now! RESPONSIBILITIES: * Enable ... Be a generalist game designer, ready to work end-to-end, from core loop development to live service ...

Game Designer

Greenville, NC

$148K/yr

Job Title: Game Designer Location : Greenville, NC Department: AI Studio Reports To : Director ... We exist to create excellent gaming experiences, treat our customers the way we want to be treated ...

Senior Game Designer Req ID: 10152543 Senior Game Designer, 20th Century Games Come work with 20th ... Bachelor's Degree or relevant work experience in the gaming industry Our Benefits: Disney offers a ...

$162K/yr

Game Designer (Puzzle) About us: Deep expertise. Personal and Industry evolution. Impeccable craft ... Limit Break is founded by global industry leaders in mobile gaming. We are unlocking its potential ...

Part Time Unity Game Designer

Huntsville, AL ยท On-site

$152K/yr

Pinnacle Solutions is looking for a passionate and motivated Game Designer to join our virtual development team on a part-time basis. The ideal candidate has a foundational understanding of game ...

Game Designer

Reno, NV ยท On-site

$154K/yr

This game is unique in that it must operate at scale: think hundreds of players, eventually ... are playing simultaneously, and designing for that reality. Scoring and rewards systems ...

Part Time Unreal Game Designer

Huntsville, AL ยท On-site

$152K/yr

Pinnacle Solutions is looking for a passionate and motivated Game Designer to join our virtual development team on a part-time basis. The ideal candidate has a foundational understanding of game ...

Game Designer

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$77K - $176K/yr

As a game designer, you're excited at the prospect of unlocking the secrets held by a data set, and you're fascinated by the possibilities presented by IoT, machine learning, and artificial ...

The Lead Designer should have excellent game design ability in both single and multiplayer and be a proven leader. Finally, the perfect candidate will be a designer that doesn't accept the status quo ...

As a game designer, you're excited at the prospect of unlocking the secrets held by a data set, and you're fascinated by the possibilities presented by IoT, machine learning, and artifi cia l ...

Game Designer

Washington, DC ยท On-site

$77K - $176K/yr

As a game designer, you're excited at the prospect of unlocking the secrets held by a data set, and you're fascinated by the possibilities presented by IoT, machine learning, and artificial ...

Game Designer

Greenville, NC ยท On-site

$148K/yr

Valicy is a company dedicated to creating excellent gaming experiences and positively impacting people's lives. The Game Designer is responsible for creating and refining game concepts, mechanics ...

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Gaming Designer information

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$47K

$156K

How much do gaming designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for gaming designer in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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.

More about Gaming Designer jobs
What cities are hiring for Gaming Designer jobs? Cities with the most Gaming Designer job openings:
What states have the most Gaming Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Gaming Designer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Gaming Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Gaming Designer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Gaming Designer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 88% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.
Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Senior Technical Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site, Remote

Other

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

All Game Designers at Riot have a base set of skills: you design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity aid in crafting in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players.ย 

As a Senior Technical Game Designerย specializing in core gameplay on an unpublished R&D product, you excel in designing mechanics and systems for gameplay-centric experiences. You will also help designers and engineers build and expand our engine capabilities creating powerful tools that can empower other designers to make satisfying core gameplay. You will partner closely with designers and engineers to translate ambitious creative visions into actionable, technically sound designs. Through a mix of mentorship and content reviews, you also ensure that local designers are building the game with strong technical rigor. Reporting directly to the Lead Technical Game Designer, your contributions will elevate the capabilities of the entire team on this ambitious project.

Responsibilities:
  • Design and implement content as a vanguard in the most technical areas of player actions, game mechanics, and systemsย 
  • Build out solutions to design problems that require a deep level of technical expertise and consistently advance the team's knowledge of how to work in those spaces in the future.
  • Playtest the game regularly, constructively providing and processing feedback to identify and drive ongoing improvements.
  • Collaborate with engineering to define the technical strategy and execution of gameplay systems and gameplay mechanics.
  • Develop, advocate, and enforce a system of organizational excellence in content creation that allows for the long-term sustainability of software while supporting a rapid prototyping culture.
  • Implement gameplay workflows within Unreal Engine to enable designers to rapidly prototype and iterate.
  • Proactively identify technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate clearly with team leadership and stakeholders.
  • Ensure high-quality implementation of complex gameplay systems, promoting performance, scalability, and maintainability.
Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of experience in professional Technical Game Design or related Tech Design or Engineering roles
  • 2+ years of experience in either gameplay mechanics or gameplay feel in real-time games
  • Proven experience shipping high-quality titles using Unreal Engine, demonstrating expertise in Blueprints, scripting, and technical workflows
  • Experience with C++ or C#
  • Deep understanding of gameplay system architecture, online networking, and gameplay mechanics
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with experience working cross-functionally between engineering, test, production, art, and design
Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience working on a live product
  • Experience with technical optimization and performance profiling within Unreal Engine.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, weย put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.

It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the Sanย Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.ย 


Riot Games logo

About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

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