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Junior Game Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145.10K - $181.40K/yr

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 ...

Turtle Rock Studios

Senior Sandbox Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Collaborate closely with narrative, level design, AI, gameplay, and systems teams to deliver ... Champion mission design best practices and mentor junior designers, fostering a collaborative and ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119.80K - $128K/yr

Use your creativity to execute on design goals and solve design challenges that push our games ... A strong empathetic team member, able to take ownership over your tasks and mentor more junior ...

Netflix

Senior ML Engineer, GenAI - Games

$466K - $750K/yr

Provide guidance to mid-level and junior engineers on ML best practices, data privacy, and the ... game design. Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not ...

Netflix

Senior ML Engineer, GenAI - Games

$466K - $750K/yr

Provide guidance to mid-level and junior engineers on ML best practices, data privacy, and the ... game design. Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not ...

Netflix

OR

$466K - $750K/yr

Provide guidance to mid-level and junior engineers on ML best practices, data privacy, and the ... game design. Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not ...

Netflix

OR

$466K - $750K/yr

Provide guidance to mid-level and junior engineers on ML best practices, data privacy, and the ... game design. Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not ...

iCode San Ramon

Be Seen First

Junior Instructor, iCode San Ramon, CA

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$18 - $21/hr

Comfort with one or more of our program areas - coding, Scratch, game design, Roblox, Minecraft, 3D modeling, digital art, or AI tools * Experience working with kids or teens in any capacity ...

iCode San Ramon

Be Seen First

Junior Instructor, iCode San Ramon, CA

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$18 - $21/hr

Comfort with one or more of our program areas - coding, Scratch, game design, Roblox, Minecraft, 3D modeling, digital art, or AI tools * Experience working with kids or teens in any capacity ...

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Junior Game Design information

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$31K

$56.7K

$86K

How much do junior game design jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior game design 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.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Junior Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Junior Game Designer, you generally need a strong understanding of game mechanics, creative problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree or coursework in game design or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, basic scripting, and proficiency in design software such as Photoshop are typically expected. Collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication are vital soft skills that help integrate feedback and work efficiently within a development team. These skills ensure the creation of engaging gameplay experiences and support smooth project workflows in a competitive industry.

How does a Junior Game Designer typically collaborate with other departments during the development process?

As a Junior Game Designer, you’ll regularly collaborate with artists, programmers, and writers to ensure your game concepts are effectively implemented. This means attending cross-functional meetings, providing clear documentation of your designs, and giving feedback during playtesting. Open communication and flexibility are essential, as you may need to adjust your ideas based on technical constraints or creative input from other teams. These interactions provide valuable learning experiences and help you understand the broader development pipeline.

What are Junior Game Designers?

Junior Game Designers are entry-level professionals in the gaming industry who assist in creating and developing the concepts, mechanics, and rules of video games. They work closely with senior designers, programmers, and artists to help turn ideas into playable experiences. Their tasks often include creating design documents, prototyping gameplay features, and playtesting. This role is ideal for individuals looking to start a career in game development and build foundational skills in game design.

What is the difference between Junior Game Design vs Game Designer?

AspectJunior Game DesignGame Designer
Required CredentialsDegree in game design, computer science, or related field; portfolioSimilar credentials, often with more experience
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team collaboration, under supervisionMore autonomous, leadership roles possible
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in game studios for entry rolesUsed for experienced roles, but overlaps with senior positions
Search & Comparison IntentPeople looking to start in game designPeople seeking to advance or understand the role

Junior Game Design roles are entry-level positions requiring foundational skills and education, often working under supervision. Game Designers typically have more experience, greater responsibilities, and may lead projects. The main difference lies in experience level and scope of responsibilities, with Junior Game Design serving as a stepping stone toward becoming a full Game Designer.

More about Junior Game Design jobs
What cities are hiring for Junior Game Design jobs? Cities with the most Junior Game Design job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Design jobs? The most popular types of Game Design jobs are:
What states have the most Junior Game Design jobs? States with the most job openings for Junior Game Design jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Junior Game Design jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Junior Game Design jobs are:
Junior Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Game Design job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 47% Full Time, and 53% Part Time. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,698 per year, or $27.3 per hour.
Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

PlayStation Global

Santa Monica, CA

Other

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

This is a hybrid/ onsite position. 

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 Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working onIntergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us. 

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 

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