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Junior Character Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

CACI International, Inc.

Junior Mechanical Engineer

Crane, IN · On-site

$47K - $95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... • Draw finished designs from sketches utilizing solid models and layouts and other ship ... At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team ...

Jazwares

Senior Packaging Designer - Stickers

Bristol, PA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

... character art, prints and graphic compositions for consumer products. You will drive concept-to ... Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and support junior creative talent and lead by example.

Jazwares

Senior Packaging Designer - Stickers

Bristol, PA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

... character art, prints and graphic compositions for consumer products. You will drive concept-to ... Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and support junior creative talent and lead by example.

CACI International, Inc.

Junior Naval Architect

Leavenworth, WA · On-site

$61K - $122K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Develop complex designs for current and conceptualized ships, systems and equipment. Use design ... At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team ...

General Motors

Entry-Level Wheel Designer

Warren, MI

This role focuses on the creation of innovative wheel designs that reinforce GM's brand character (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC/Hummer) and support the proportion, stance, and performance of ...

General Motors

Entry-Level Wheel Designer

Warren, MI · On-site

This role focuses on the creation of innovative wheel designs that reinforce GM's brand character (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC/Hummer) and support the proportion, stance, and performance of ...

General Motors

Entry-Level Wheel Designer

Warren, MI

This role focuses on the creation of innovative wheel designs that reinforce GM's brand character (Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC/Hummer) and support the proportion, stance, and performance of ...

Hospitality Purveyors, Inc.

Senior Interior Designer

Miami, FL · On-site

$65K - $80K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

... regional character. This role provides guidance to junior team members while collaborating closely with design managers, regional project managers, and cross-functional partners to deliver ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY

$90K - $115K/yr

... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ... Grow into increasing responsibility for defined areas of interior scope and junior team ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ... Grow into increasing responsibility for defined areas of interior scope and junior team ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY

$90K - $115K/yr

... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ... Grow into increasing responsibility for defined areas of interior scope and junior team ...

CACI International, Inc.

Junior Electrical Engineer

Crane, IN · On-site

$47K - $95K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

At CACI, we place character and innovation at the center of everything we do. As a valued team ... Our broad and competitive mix of benefits options is designed to support and protect employees and ...

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All JobsCharacter Designer JobsJunior Character Designer Jobs

Junior Character Designer information

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$31K

$56.7K

$86K

How much do junior character designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior character designer in the United States is $56,698.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,500.00 and $65,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a junior character designer typically collaborate with other departments during a production?

Junior Character Designers frequently work closely with concept artists, animators, and art directors to ensure their character designs fit the project's visual style and storytelling needs. They participate in team meetings to review feedback, iterate on designs, and make adjustments based on narrative or technical requirements. This collaborative environment helps them learn industry workflows and develop a strong foundation for future advancement.

What is the difference between Junior Character Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectJunior Character DesignerCharacter Artist
Required SkillsBasic drawing, understanding of character concepts, software familiarityAdvanced illustration, detailed modeling, texturing skills
Experience LevelEntry-level, often internship or junior rolesMid to senior level, with portfolio demonstrating complex character work
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation companies, often collaborative teamsSimilar environments, often more specialized in character creation
ResponsibilitiesAssisting in character design, concept sketches, initial modelingCreating detailed character models, textures, and final assets

The main difference between a Junior Character Designer and a Character Artist lies in experience and scope. Junior Character Designers focus on basic concepts and assisting in initial design phases, while Character Artists handle detailed modeling and final asset creation. Both roles are essential in game and animation industries, often working closely together in collaborative environments.

What does a junior character designer do?

A Junior Character Designer assists in creating and developing original characters for video games, animation, comics, or other media. They work under the guidance of senior designers or art directors, helping to sketch, model, and refine character concepts based on project requirements. Their responsibilities may include researching reference materials, collaborating with other artists, and making revisions according to feedback. This role is ideal for creative individuals who have a strong foundation in drawing and digital art, and are eager to learn and grow within a team environment.

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

To thrive as a Junior Character Designer, you need a solid grasp of drawing fundamentals, character anatomy, and digital illustration, typically supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, and drawing tablets is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to take constructive feedback help junior designers excel in collaborative, fast-paced environments. These skills are crucial for producing compelling character designs that meet project goals and align with a creative vision.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Character Designer jobs?

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Junior Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Character Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,698 per year, or $27.3 per hour.

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

Santa Monica, CA

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

What you will do:

  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team

What skills you will use:

  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills
The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.
$145,100-$181,400 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

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