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Lead Character Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Warner Bros. Discovery

Designer, Combat

Bradley, IL · On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

Alongside Lead and fellow Designers, the Combat Designer is expected to implement and maintain combat-centric systems, game balance, and character tuning. The Daily * Establishes and maintains design ...

Imagine Staffing Technology

Toy Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site +1

$70K - $90K/yr

Tasks That Will Lead to Your Success : * Design original toy and prize concepts across multiple ... Track toy, novelty, and character trends across pop culture, licensing, and the broader toy ...

Warnerbros

Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL · On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

Alongside Lead and fellow Designers, the Combat Designer is expected to implement and maintain combat-centric systems, game balance, and character tuning. The Daily * Establishes and maintains design ...

Epic Games

Lead Gameplay Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic. What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Gameplay Designer to ...

Imagine Staffing Technology

Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site +1

$80K - $110K/yr

Tasks That Will Lead to Your Success : * Design original plush characters and product lines ... color studies, and character personality/story development. * Create detailed technical ...

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Lead Character Designer information

See salary details

$42K

$91.2K

$157K

How much do lead character designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead character designer in the United States is $91,161.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,500.00 and $109,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead character designer do?

A Lead Character Designer is responsible for creating and overseeing the visual development of characters in animation, video games, or other media projects. They collaborate with art directors, writers, and animators to ensure that character designs align with the project's story and style. The lead also mentors junior designers, manages the character design team, and reviews all character concepts to maintain consistency and quality throughout the project.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a lead character designer?

To thrive as a Lead Character Designer, you need advanced drawing and design skills, a strong understanding of anatomy, color theory, and storytelling, often supported by a degree in art or a related field. Proficiency in digital illustration tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, ZBrush, and industry-standard 3D modeling software is typically required. Leadership, collaboration, and clear communication are essential soft skills for guiding design teams and interpreting creative direction. These qualities ensure that character concepts are both visually compelling and aligned with project goals, driving the overall success of creative projects.

How does a lead character designer typically collaborate with other departments during a game or animation project?

A Lead Character Designer regularly works with teams such as art direction, animation, modeling, and narrative to ensure that character concepts align with the overall vision of the project. This often means attending cross-department meetings, providing feedback on 3D models or animations, and adjusting designs based on gameplay needs or story developments. Effective communication and flexibility are key, as the Lead must balance creative vision with technical and production constraints. Collaboration also involves mentoring junior artists and ensuring consistency in character style across the project.

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

AspectLead Character DesignerCharacter Artist
Primary FocusLeading the design and conceptualization of characters, overseeing the creative processCreating detailed 3D or 2D character models based on designs
Required SkillsConcept art, leadership, collaboration, strong understanding of character design principlesModeling, texturing, rigging, technical skills in 3D software
Work EnvironmentCreative teams in game or animation studios, often in a leadership roleArt departments, working closely with designers and animators

While both roles involve character creation, the Lead Character Designer focuses on conceptualizing and guiding the overall character design process, whereas the Character Artist specializes in the technical creation of character models. The Lead Character Designer often leads the creative vision, and the Character Artist executes that vision through detailed modeling and texturing.

More about Lead Character Designer jobs

What states have the most Lead Character Designer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Lead Character Designer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Lead Character Designer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Lead Character Designer jobs are:

Lead Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Character Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $91,161 per year, or $43.8 per hour.

Designer, Combat

Warner Bros. Discovery

Bradley, IL • On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Establishes and maintains design documentation for player character combat and enemies.

  • Designs, implements, and iterates on in-game character actions, including attacks, reactions, and navigation.

  • Builds AI logic and behaviors for enemies and NPCs.

Warner Bros. Discovery rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

Based on 55 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

32nd of 78 rated media

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are...
When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
The creative team that brought Mortal Kombat and Injustice to life is now NetherRealm Studios, part of the Warner Bros. Games family. With over 20 years of creation under our belts, NetherRealm's mission remains the same: to create cutting edge entertainment and deliver industry leading tech, game art and overall gaming experiences. NetherRealm Studios is a collaborative and creative environment, constantly striving to up the ante on what is possible in interactive entertainment. Our team is comprised of dedicated professionals with years of experience who are at the forefront of the gaming industry. The passion and energy that made Mortal Kombat a reality is still on display every day in our offices, our hallways and most definitely the studio's arcade room.
The Job
The Combat Designer will be responsible for significant contributions to game design, with a focus on combat, moment-to-moment gameplay, and character implementation. Alongside Lead and fellow Designers, the Combat Designer is expected to implement and maintain combat-centric systems, game balance, and character tuning.
The Daily
  • Establishes and maintains design documentation for player character combat and enemies.
  • Design, implement and iterate on in-game character actions. This includes attacks, reactions and navigation.
  • Works closely with art teams to collaborate on and help define all associated visual elements.
  • Support combat efforts through building gameplay functions and scripted encounters.
  • Build AI logic and behaviors for enemies and NPCs.

The Essentials
  • 4+ years of game design experience required.
  • Shipped at least 1 title with a strong emphasis in combat design and implementation
  • Direct experience in implementing combat mechanics (with a preference on melee-based combat) on at least 1 shipped title
  • Strong programming or scripting knowledge and experience required
  • B.A. degree preferred or equivalent job experience.
  • Ability to work well under pressure and with deadlines.
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
  • Passion for action and fighting games with a focus on combat mechanics.
  • Positive attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving.

How We Get Things Done...
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.
In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $47,600.00 - $88,400.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

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