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Lead Level Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ability to perform as an area or system lead designer. * Has thorough understanding of discipline ... The career-level designer performs the key role of design development, acting under the auspices of ...

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Final role level--Designer, Project Designer, or Senior Designer--will be aligned with experience ... Lead overall design vision and strategy for projects, guiding teams from concept through key ...

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Final role level--Designer, Project Designer, or Senior Designer--will be aligned with experience ... Lead overall design vision and strategy for projects, guiding teams from concept through key ...

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Final role level--Designer, Project Designer, or Senior Designer--will be aligned with experience ... Lead overall design vision and strategy for projects, guiding teams from concept through key ...

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$93K - $148K/yr

Final role level--Designer, Project Designer, or Senior Designer--will be aligned with experience ... Lead overall design vision and strategy for projects, guiding teams from concept through key ...

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Lead Level Designer information

See salary details

$65.5K

$108.8K

$175.5K

How much do lead level designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead level designer in the United States is $108,846.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,500.00 and $157,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Lead Level Designer position, and why are they important?

A Lead Level Designer typically requires extensive experience in level design, strong understanding of game design principles, and proficiency with industry-standard game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity, often supported by a relevant degree. Advanced skills in 3D modeling tools, scripting languages, and project management software are also highly beneficial. Leadership, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams set top performers apart. These abilities are crucial to ensuring cohesive, engaging gameplay experiences and successful project delivery in a fast-paced creative environment.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Lead Level Designer?

As a Lead Level Designer, your daily responsibilities often include overseeing the creation and refinement of game levels, providing guidance and feedback to junior designers, and coordinating closely with artists, programmers, and other departments. You’ll review level layouts, prototype new gameplay ideas, and help establish best practices and documentation to maintain consistency and quality throughout the game's development. Additionally, you are responsible for identifying and solving design challenges, conducting playtests, and making data-driven adjustments to improve player experience. This hands-on and collaborative role is central to shaping the game’s overall vision and ensuring the team meets project milestones.

What is a Lead Level Designer job?

A Lead Level Designer is responsible for overseeing the creation of engaging and well-structured game levels. They collaborate with designers, artists, and programmers to ensure levels support gameplay mechanics and narrative goals. This role involves managing a team, providing feedback, and maintaining design consistency across the project. Additionally, they help refine level layouts, pacing, and player experience through iterative testing and adjustments. Strong communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills are essential for success in this position.

More about Lead Level Designer jobs
Who are the top companies hiring for Lead Level Designer jobs? The top employers for Lead Level Designer jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Lead Level Designer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Level Designer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Lead Level Designer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 89% Full Time, and 10% Part Time. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,846 per year, or $52.3 per hour.

Architectural Design Technician Career Level

Solvenow Inc.

Burlington, VT

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

Qualifications:

  • Has deep knowledge of required discipline subject areas as well as a high familiarity with other subject areas both within structural and other disciplines.
  • Has a solid understanding of how your work affects scope, schedule, and budget. Understands the importance of identifying scope creep early with the ability to elevate to project leadership.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify various options to solve technical problems, itemize pros and cons of each option, followed by the presentation of all options and findings to the design team and customer where appropriate.
  • Ability to determine the correct path forward by asking pertinent questions and requesting clarity.
  • Understands industry best practices.
  • Provides leadership to more junior staff while maintaining a positive attitude and outlook.
  • Demonstrates working knowledge of codes and standards.
  • Ability to break a project down into required tasks, assign hours to each task, and provide work estimates to leadership on an as-needed basis.
  • Extensive modeling and drafting experience utilizing Revit and AutoCAD or other programs as necessary.
  • Extensive model review experience utilizing Navisworks and Bluebeam.
  • Ability to perform as an area or system lead designer.
  • Has thorough understanding of discipline requirements

Responsibilities:

General Summary:

At this level designers develop more ownership in their designs. Work at this level can sometimes be standalone on smaller projects where the designer may work directly with an engineer to identify project goals, perform code research, discuss system requirements with engineers and owners, and provide cross-discipline coordination with other trades, both internal and external. On larger projects the career-level designer could function as lead designer for a system, a building, or a level in a building, or be tasked as the wet side or dry side systems design lead, while overseeing the work of intermediate and entry-level designers. The incumbent has experience in the subject area and a working knowledge of the systems required. Designers at this level will be adept at back-checking their designs and the work of other designers on their team to a high degree of accuracy.

Responsibilities:

In addition to the responsibilities of intermediate-level designers, you are responsible for the creation, coordination, and publishing of project deliverables, including drawings, details, models, and other necessary documentation. The career-level designer performs the key role of design development, acting under the auspices of more senior-level designers and engineers. It is the expectation that this level has developed the ability to act as a standalone entity able to take verbal direction and move the project forward. The career-level designer performs work with minimal supervision, reviews the work of entry- and intermediate-level designers as well as early-career engineers for accuracy and completeness, and provides technical guidance related to their area of work to designers and engineers of all levels where appropriate. At this level, creativity and the drive to solve problems while hitting deadlines is an expectation. Depending on project need, assists with engineering calculations under the guidance of a project engineer.

General Tasks Performed:

  • Plans and conducts work requiring judgment, creativity, and coordination in the layout and design of structural systems.
  • Participates in the design approach and proposes solutions.
  • Prepares deliverables for all phases of the project, including models, plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and details to support design and engineer leads for meetings, proposals, and construction documents.
  • Attends and participates in design status updates for their areas of responsibility in discipline meetings, both internal and external, as needed.
  • Reviews and adheres to specifications in developing and delivering quality designs. Provides specifications input and comments where appropriate.
  • Coordinates designs and deliverables and resolves conflicts with / between all disciplines and existing field conditions where required.
  • Performs a field survey of existing conditions.
  • Responds to design and coordination requests, conflict resolution requests, and information sharing requests in a timely manner.
  • Provides labor estimates for proposed tasks for self.
  • Reviewing and processing submittal documents.