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Head Of Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Akima, LLC

Part Time Unreal Game Designer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$152K/yr

The ideal candidate has a foundational understanding of game design principles, and a strong desire ... Collaborate with artists, software engineers, and other game designers to implement gameplay ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Houston, TX · Remote

As a group of skilled and diverse professionals, we always ask ourselves, "What's next?" Our drive ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Reno, NV · Remote

As a group of skilled and diverse professionals, we always ask ourselves, "What's next?" Our drive ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Amazon

Game Designer, Amazon Game Studios

Culver City, CA

$169K/yr

Amazon Game Studios is looking for a Game Designer - we build exciting new casual and innovative ... In this role, you will participate in the idea generation of what kind of great games will be best ...

Amazon

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 ... In this role, you will participate in the idea generation of what kind of great games will be best ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Las Vegas, NV · Remote

As a group of skilled and diverse professionals, we always ask ourselves, "What's next?" Our drive ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Austin, TX · Remote

As a group of skilled and diverse professionals, we always ask ourselves, "What's next?" Our drive ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Dallas, TX · Remote

As a group of skilled and diverse professionals, we always ask ourselves, "What's next?" Our drive ... The Senior Game Designer leads the development of new slot game designs, themes, game flow, and ...

Epic Games

Senior Game Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a ... As a Senior Game Designer, you'll own complex areas of the game, exercise strong creative judgment ...

Hasbro

Associate Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

You'll write compelling, fun game content under the leadership of senior designers. Location & Work Arrangement This role is based in Renton, WA and follows a hybrid schedule, with in-office ...

Arrow International, Inc

Senior Game Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $150K/hr

Arrow International is the world's #1 maker of charitable gaming products, from pull tabs and bingo ... Position Summary We are looking for an enthusiastic Game Designer based at our Chicago studio. You ...

Arrow International Inc

Senior Game Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $150K/hr

Arrow International is the world's #1 maker of charitable gaming products, from pull tabs and bingo ... Position Summary We are looking for an enthusiastic Game Designer based at our Chicago studio. You ...

Fanatics Collectibles

Game Designer - TCG

Seattle, WA · On-site

$176K/yr

As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over ... Who We're Looking For We're seeking a Game Designer to contribute meaningfully to the design of ...

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How much do head of game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of game 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 does a head of game designer do?

A Head of Game Designer leads the creative vision and design direction for a video game or multiple projects within a studio. They manage and mentor teams of game designers, oversee the development of gameplay mechanics, storylines, and user experiences, and ensure that the final product aligns with the company's goals. This role also involves collaborating with other departments like art, programming, and production to deliver a cohesive and engaging game. The Head of Game Designer is responsible for making high-level design decisions and keeping the team motivated and on track.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a head of game designer?

To thrive as a Head of Game Designer, you need deep expertise in game design principles, leadership experience, and often a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal Engine), project management tools, and prototyping software is essential, along with a strong portfolio of shipped titles. Creativity, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills help you guide teams and articulate vision effectively. These skills are critical for leading creative teams, ensuring cohesive gameplay experiences, and successfully managing complex game development projects.

How does the head of game design typically collaborate with other departments during a game's development?

The Head of Game Design plays a central role in cross-departmental collaboration, working closely with art, programming, audio, and production teams to ensure the game's vision is consistently executed. They facilitate regular meetings to align gameplay mechanics with technical limitations and artistic direction, and often mediate between creative ambition and production realities. Effective communication and problem-solving skills are crucial, as the Head of Game Design must balance input from various stakeholders while keeping the project on track. This collaborative environment fosters innovation but can also present challenges in prioritizing features and managing expectations.

What is the difference between Head Of Game Designer vs Game Designer?

AspectHead Of Game DesignerGame Designer
ResponsibilitiesOversees the entire game design team, sets creative vision, and manages project directionDevelops game concepts, mechanics, and levels under the guidance of senior staff
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced design skills, and industry experienceCreative design, technical skills, and gameplay development
Work EnvironmentLeadership role within a game development studio, collaborating with multiple departmentsHands-on design work within a team, often reporting to senior designers or leads

The Head Of Game Designer typically holds a leadership position, guiding the overall game design process and managing teams, while a Game Designer focuses on creating gameplay elements and mechanics. Both roles require strong design skills, but the head role emphasizes management and strategic oversight.

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Head Of Game Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Head Of Game Designer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,118 per year, or $71.7 per hour.

Principal Game Designer, Competitive Systems - VALORANT

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Riot Games
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Riot Gamesexternal

$167K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

As a Principal Game Designer, you will 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. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to innovate and iterate player-focused designs that'll delight millions around the world.
VALORANT is Riot's take on a character-based tactical shooter. As a Principal Game Designer on the Competitive Systems team, you'll help shape and define how players engage with competition across ranked, matchmaking, and adjacent systems that influence mastery, fairness, and long-term growth. You'll partner with product managers, engineers, analysts, and other designers to develop systems that are strategically sound, motivating to engage with, and worthy of players' investment over time. You have significant competitive multiplayer affinity and experience, understanding the challenges players encounter and the motivations that drive them. You are comfortable operating in ambiguous spaces and can design and iterate on solutions to complex systemic problems. This role reports to the Lead Metasystems Designer.
Responsibilities:
  • Define and evolve competitive systems that reward player skill, growth, and long-term investment in VALORANT.
  • Guide the design of ranked, matchmaking, and adjacent competitive systems to support fairness, competitive integrity, and player engagement.
  • Work closely with product managers, engineers, analysts, and design leadership to ensure systems are cohesive, consistent, and in line with VALORANT's overall vision.
  • Keep the focus on player value by leveraging feedback, research, and game data to iterate on designs and improve the competitive experience.
  • Create multiple design solutions and clearly articulate the trade-offs, risks, and player impact of each.
  • Provide direction, mentorship, and feedback to other designers, fostering collaboration and craft excellence across systems design.
  • Playtest VALORANT regularly and help push improvements for existing systems and new concepts.
Required Qualifications:
  • 7+ years of experience in professional Game Design.
  • Deep experience developing competitive multiplayer systems such as matchmaking, ranked, and skill systems.
  • Shipped or contributed to at least one AAA+ online competitive title.
  • Demonstrated ability to design and iterate on complex systems with a clear understanding of player impact and downstream effects.
  • Strong communication skills with proven ability to articulate design rationale, trade-offs, and decision frameworks to cross-disciplinary partners.
  • Experience working in a live-service development environment.
Desired Qualifications:
  • Deep passion for and understanding of competitive online games and their player communities.
  • Familiarity with online shooters, especially VALORANT or tactical shooters.
  • Experience balancing competitive integrity with engaging and rewarding systems.
  • Experience as a senior craft leader or thought partner on materially impactful design initiatives.
  • Ability to interpret and learn from charged or emotional player feedback to improve the product experience.
  • Experience developing across multiple platforms, including PC, console, or mobile.

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 has a focus on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy, in addition to 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, we 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 San 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.
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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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