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Junior Video Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SpiderWare

Video Game QA Tester

Work directly with engineers and designers to get problems actually solved, not just filed * Verify ... Where This Leads Almost everyone who joins Spiderware at junior level starts in QA or Support, by ...

Hasbro

Sr Game Designer - D&D

Renton, WA · On-site

$112K - $168K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Game Designer to work with our design team to conceptualize and build ... Break down large design projects and assign tasks for junior designers * Manage the work of ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Des Plaines, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Fairfax, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Provo, UT · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Stillwater, OK · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Alexandria, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Sugar Land, TX · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Roswell, GA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Waltham, MA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

MS · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Norwalk, CT · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Lawrenceville, GA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Winston Salem, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Minneapolis, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Edina, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Paramus, NJ · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Salem, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

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Junior Video Game Designer information

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$86K

How much do junior video game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for junior video game 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.

What does a junior video game designer do?

A Junior Video Game Designer assists in creating and developing the concepts, storylines, characters, and gameplay mechanics for video games. They typically work under the guidance of senior designers, helping to build levels, design puzzles, and balance game features. Their responsibilities may also include playtesting, providing feedback, and collaborating with artists, programmers, and other team members to bring the game's vision to life. This role is a great entry point for those looking to start a career in game design, offering valuable hands-on experience in the game development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a junior video game designer?

To thrive as a Junior Video Game Designer, you need a solid understanding of game design principles, creativity, and familiarity with scripting or programming languages, often backed by a degree in game design or a related field. Experience with industry-standard tools such as Unity or Unreal Engine and basic graphic or sound editing software is highly valuable. Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills help you contribute effectively to multidisciplinary teams and adapt to feedback. These skills and qualities are essential for creating engaging gameplay experiences and meeting project goals in a dynamic development environment.

What are some typical challenges that junior video game designers face during their first year on the job?

Junior Video Game Designers often encounter challenges such as adapting to collaborative workflows, learning to iterate quickly based on feedback, and balancing creative ideas with technical constraints. It's common to work closely with programmers, artists, and senior designers, which requires effective communication and flexibility. New designers may also need to quickly become proficient with game engines and design tools used by the studio. Embracing constructive criticism and being open to learning are essential for overcoming these initial hurdles and growing within the team.

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

AspectJunior Video Game DesignerGame Designer
Required CredentialsAssociate's or Bachelor's in Game Design, Computer Science, or related fieldBachelor's degree often preferred; experience may suffice
Work EnvironmentEntry-level role in game development teams, often under supervisionMid-level or senior role, more independent responsibilities
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in game studios, indie developers, and entertainment companiesMore general, includes senior roles in similar settings
Search & Comparison IntentOften searched by newcomers or those starting in game designCompared for career progression or role clarification

In summary, a Junior Video Game Designer is an entry-level position requiring foundational education and limited experience, working under supervision. A Game Designer typically has more experience, greater responsibilities, and works more independently. The roles are part of the same industry but differ in seniority and scope.

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Junior Video Game Designer jobs near you

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 25 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.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

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