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Internship Lead Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Company Description Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. We have no centrally-located headquarters and are unincorporated at this time. Most of the original ...

Are you an experienced tabletop RPG designer with the demonstrated ability to lead major RPG products from inception through publication? We are seeking a Senior Game Designer to work with our design ...

Lead by example in grey-boxing, pacing, layout beats, scripting, encounters, and gameplay ... Level Designer - Principal * Reports to: Director of Design * Department: Design * Work Location:

Level / Game Designer - Senior

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$80K - $120K/yr

Lead by example in grey-boxing, pacing, layout beats, scripting, encounters, and gameplay ... Level Designer - Principal * Reports to: Director of Design * Department: Design * Work Location:

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Internship Lead Game Designer information

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$78.5K

$147.4K

$186K

How much do internship lead game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for internship lead game designer in the United States is $147,403.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,500.00 and $167,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an internship lead game designer?

To excel as an Internship Lead Game Designer, you need a solid understanding of game design principles, creative problem-solving abilities, and typically a background in game development or related education. Familiarity with industry-standard engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, prototyping tools, and an understanding of version control systems such as Git is crucial. Strong communication, leadership, and collaboration skills help guide teams and articulate design visions effectively. These competencies ensure the creation of engaging game experiences while maintaining project direction and team cohesion.

What are some common challenges faced by internship lead game designers when managing both design tasks and team coordination?

Internship Lead Game Designers often balance hands-on design responsibilities with coordinating a team of interns, which can be challenging. They need to ensure that project milestones are met while fostering collaboration and mentoring less experienced team members. Communication is key, as aligning everyone's creative vision and addressing feedback constructively can be demanding. Additionally, adapting to fast-paced changes in project direction or technical constraints is a common aspect of the role. Successfully managing these challenges helps develop strong leadership and project management skills, which are valuable for future career advancement.

What does an internship lead game designer do?

An Internship Lead Game Designer is responsible for guiding a team of interns in the creation and development of game concepts, mechanics, and features. They oversee the design process, provide feedback, and help interns understand industry standards and workflows. This role often includes mentoring, coordinating tasks, and ensuring that the team's output aligns with the overall vision for the game. The Internship Lead Game Designer acts as a bridge between the interns and senior design staff, fostering a collaborative and educational environment.
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Infographic showing various Internship Lead Game Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $147,403 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Lead Environment Artist | Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago


Blizzard Entertainment rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 76 rated media


Job description

Team Name:
Job Title:
Lead Environment Artist | Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA
Requisition ID:
R027773
Job Description:
Your Mission
At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations - only made possible by building a work environment that nurtures the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.
We are looking for a Lead Environment Artist to help us define and craft Blizzard's next great game. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality Environment work through artistic and technical knowledge, team building, and leadership. You understand how to effectively build, integrate, and optimize a variety of Environment content that supports gameplay and hits iconic visual standards. You are comfortable operating in a startup environment, navigating through ambiguity with purpose.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.
Responsibilities
  • Working closely with the Art Director, you will collaborate with designers, artists, code, Materials, VFX and Lighting departments to define and deliver game environments to a world class standard.
  • Use your expertise in Environment Art creation to guide our working practices from iterative prototyping to final best-in-class execution.
  • Create artifacts (content creation briefs, presentations) to guide the work of internal and external artists.
  • Directly contribute to and oversee the practical work of taking Environments from concept to completion.
  • Remain current on industry trends including advancement in commercial game engines and workflow efficiencies.
  • Own and drive the most creatively challenging artwork, demonstrating the high bar for your department.
  • Proactively identify risks and propose solutions within the area of Environment Art creation.
  • Level up your team's abilities through mentorship of skills, process, and artistic techniques.

Requirements
  • 10+ years of experience in AAA Environment Art.
  • 2 + years of management/leadership experience.
  • Proven experience, having shipped multiple major titles in a relevant role.
  • Experience working with a AAA game engine with stra ong understanding of implementation and integration into the pipeline.
  • Comprehensive understanding of all aspects of Environment Art creation including strong proficiency in industry-standard 3D workflows.
  • A portfolio, with examples and detailed breakdowns, showcasing your work.
  • Strong understanding of authoring PBR content.
  • Experience developing pipelines and collaborating with Engineers and Tech Artists to develop technology.
  • A team-oriented approach to your work, understanding the importance of collaboration, and partnering with all departments.
  • The ability to inspire others with an enthusiastic approach to game development and improving core skills.
  • Self-motivated ability to lead initiatives.

Extra Points
  • Experience working through early development R&D phases of a project is a plus.
  • Solid understanding of game art creation outside of Environment Art (e.g. Lighting, VFX, Characters, Animation, Rendering).
  • An interest in Photography and Cinema.
  • Experience creating and handling photogrammetry data.
  • Expertise in 3D composition, form, balance, and color theory.
  • Passion for playing a variety of video games.

Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!
Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered!
The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $119,280.00 - $220,700.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

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About Blizzard Entertainment

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blizzard Entertainment is a globally recognized leader in the Digital Gaming industry, renowned for creating some of the world's most popular video games such as "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo." The company was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Irvine, California, USA. Aside from creating engaging video games, Blizzard Entertainment also develops and supports a wide range of software products within the realm of entertainment. The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, an element that can be recognized in its vast array of legendary games. Notably, its creation, World of Warcraft, remains one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

1991

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