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Level Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$70K - $92K/yr

Level Designer Department: Design Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time Location: Eugene, OR Compensation: $70,000 - $92,000 / year Description Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or ...

Pipeworks, Inc.

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site

$70 - $92/hr

Level Designer Department: Design Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time Location: Eugene, OR Compensation: $70,000 - $92,000 / year Description Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or ...

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$70K - $92K/yr

Description Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA action-adventure title set within a legendary ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Spellbrush is a company focused on creating engaging gameplay experiences, and they are seeking a Level Designer to craft fun tactics missions using their in-house tools. The role involves designing ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Collaborate closely with other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the ...

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$109K/yr

Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA action-adventure title set within a legendary franchise. This ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Collaborate closely with other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the ...

Jobtailor

Level Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$75 - $110/hr

... level design Collaborate with game designers, scripters, artists, and producers from concept through launch Maintain organized project files and provide handoff notes for scripters and artists ...

Epic Games

Lead Level Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Lead Level Designer to join our dynamic team. This person will contribute to various aspects of game design as part of our collaboration with Disney. In this role ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with terrain tools to create organic exteriors or random dungeon generators to make sprawling dynamic ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with terrain tools to create organic exteriors or random dungeon generators to make sprawling dynamic ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with terrain tools to create organic exteriors or random dungeon generators to make sprawling dynamic ...

C2 Staffing

Mid Level Designer

Jackson, WI · On-site

Client provides hardware and software The Mid-Level Graphic Designer creates point-of-purchase displays, retail signage, merchandising systems, and other in-store marketing materials from concept ...

SupportFinity™

Senior Level Designer

Boston, MA · On-site

$78.40 - $145.60/hr

About the role WB Games Boston's Mobile Publishing is seeking a Senior Level Designer with a strong eye for visual design and deep experience designing action oriented playable ads. The role focuses ...

PGAL

Mid-Level Designer

Hoboken, NJ

We are seeking a talented Mid-Level Designer with 3-5 years of experience who is interested in contributing to and thriving in a positive, mutually supportive studio environment. Responsibilities ...

Sawhorse Productions

Roblox Level Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $45/hr

And numerous digital fashion releases on UGC Gaming platforms - Sawhorse Productions We are seeking a talented, hands-on Roblox Level Designer to build the playable worlds behind our branded Roblox ...

Sawhorse Productions

Roblox Level Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$30 - $45/hr

And numerous digital fashion releases on UGC Gaming platforms - Sawhorse Productions We are seeking a talented, hands-on Roblox Level Designer to build the playable worlds behind our branded Roblox ...

2K

Senior Level Designer

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for blocking out the world and crafting the player experience within the stunning narrative experience and systems-driven world of ...

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Level Designer information

See salary details

$106K

$108.7K

$111.5K

How much do level designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for level designer in the United States is $108,658.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a level designer do?

A Level Designer is responsible for creating the environments, stages, or levels in a video game. They design the layout, challenges, and pacing to ensure the gameplay experience is engaging and balanced. Level Designers work closely with other team members such as artists, programmers, and game designers to bring their concepts to life, often using specialized software and game engines. Their goal is to make sure each level is fun, visually appealing, and fits within the story and mechanics of the game.

What does a level designer do?

A level designer uses special design software to create levels, which are also known as stages or maps, for a video game. As a level designer, your duties may include mapping the level, creating a layout, and using your artistic skills to create the look and feel of the stage's environments and locales. Your designs need to fit with the gameplay and story scenarios, so you frequently collaborate with other members of the design team, like environment artists. Your designs need to include any structural elements required by the storyline or game missions, so adhering to a game’s narrative is an essential part of your job.

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

To thrive as a Level Designer, you need a solid understanding of game design principles, spatial awareness, and experience with 3D modeling or level editing software, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Unity, Unreal Engine, and visual scripting systems is typically required. Creativity, strong collaboration skills, and attention to detail help Level Designers stand out when crafting engaging player experiences. These skills are crucial for building immersive, balanced, and enjoyable game environments that support both gameplay and storytelling.

How does a level designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

Level Designers work closely with artists, programmers, and game designers to bring levels to life. They often start by discussing design goals with the core game design team, then partner with artists to ensure visual consistency and technical requirements are met. Regular playtesting sessions with QA and feedback from other departments help refine the player experience. Effective communication and iteration are essential, as Level Designers must balance creative ideas with technical constraints and gameplay objectives.

What is the difference between Level Designer vs Environment Artist?

AspectLevel DesignerEnvironment Artist
Primary FocusDesigning gameplay spaces, layout, and player flowCreating visual environments, textures, and atmosphere
Skills & ToolsLevel design software, scripting, game mechanics3D modeling, texturing, art software
Work EnvironmentGame studios, collaborative teamsArt departments, visual teams
Common Industry UsageUsed in game design and developmentUsed in art and environment creation

While both roles contribute to the game's visual and spatial experience, Level Designers focus on gameplay layout and player experience, whereas Environment Artists specialize in creating the visual aesthetics of game worlds. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus within the game development industry.

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The top employers for Level Designer jobs are:

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States with the most job openings for Level Designer jobs include:

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For Level Designer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Level Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Level Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,658 per year, or $52.2 per hour.

Level Designer

Eugene, OR • On-site, Remote

Pipeworks Studios
See more jobs at Pipeworks Studiosexternal

$70K - $92K/yr

Temporary

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired 2 days ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Level Designer
Department: Design
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Eugene, OR
Compensation: $70,000 - $92,000 / year
Description
Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA action-adventure title set within a legendary franchise.
This role will design, build, and iterate on locations and points of interest that combine exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, and environmental storytelling. As part of a co-development team, the designer will collaborate closely with developers at Pipeworks and the project's core development team while taking meaningful ownership of assigned spaces.
This is a full-time temporary role with the possibility of extension or conversion to regular full-time employment after six months. Our studio is based in Eugene, Oregon, and the role may be performed remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or in the office.
Day To Day
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with level design leadership to define the goals, intended player experience, and quality bar for assigned content.
  • Design, block out, implement, and iterate on open-world locations and points of interest in Unreal Engine 5.
  • Create readable and engaging gameplay spaces that support exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, pacing, challenge, and environmental storytelling.
  • Use Blueprint and project-specific tools to implement objectives, triggers, encounter logic, scripted behaviors, state changes, and other interactive content.
  • Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support intended player behaviors and challenge.
  • Collaborate with design, engineering, art, production, QA, and partner teams to communicate design intent, resolve dependencies, and incorporate feedback.
  • Participate in playtests and design reviews, identify problems with flow or player experience, and iterate based on findings.
  • Create and maintain clear documentation, layout callouts, encounter notes, task updates, and acceptance criteria.
  • Maintain organized content, naming conventions, source control practices, and general level hygiene.
  • Identify risks, blockers, and dependencies early, and adapt effectively as project priorities or creative direction change.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Must Have Skills
  • Professional experience designing and implementing gameplay spaces in Unreal Engine 5 or a comparable modern game engine.
  • Practical experience using Blueprint or similar visual scripting tools to prototype and implement level-specific gameplay.
  • Strong understanding of level design fundamentals, including spatial composition, navigation, gameplay flow, sightlines, traversal, pacing, readability, and player guidance.
  • Experience creating encounters, puzzles, activities, or other interactive content within authored or open-world spaces.
  • Ability to work with AI behaviors, gameplay objects, scripted events, triggers, and environmental content.
  • Strong creative problem-solving skills and the ability to iterate within technical, production, and scope constraints.
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and with external development partners.
  • Familiarity with source control and collaboration tools such as Perforce, Jira, and Confluence, or equivalent tools.
  • Strong organization and attention to detail in a fast-paced, distributed development environment.

Nice-To-Have Skills
  • Experience developing open-world action-adventure content or comparable systemic, exploration-driven gameplay spaces.
  • Experience designing traversal challenges, environmental puzzles, or open-world activities.
  • Experience working in a AAA full or co-development environment.

Education and Experience
  • Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional experience. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to independently build and iterate on assigned level content while working with regular guidance from more experienced designers. Professional contribution to at least one shipped AA or AAA project is preferred.
  • Level Designer II candidates should generally have five or more years of relevant professional experience and experience contributing to at least two shipped AA or AAA projects. Candidates should demonstrate substantial ownership of levels, locations, encounters, or other authored gameplay content, along with greater autonomy in planning, implementation, iteration, and problem-solving
  • A portfolio demonstrating level layouts, playable spaces, blockouts, or shipped level-design work is preferred.

What We Can Offer You
A Flexible Working EnvironmentAlmost all of our roles allow for your choice of work location. We're happy to support our team no matter where they prefer to work: remote, in office, or hybrid.
Benefits
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision
  • 401K with employer match
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance Policy
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • 18-20 Paid Company Holidays
  • Relocation
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Fitness Club Discounts
  • Sports Team Sponsorship
  • Annual Company Events
  • Project Wrap Parties

A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionPipeworks Studios recognizes the importance of creating an environment where all of our employees feel included and empowered to bring ideas to the the table. We value each employee's unique experiences and perspectives and recognize that it is both the smart and right thing to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization.
By diversifying our workforce, increasing equity, and ensuring that our individual differences are valued, we are better able to deliver an experience that reflects, inspires, and connects with our audience... because games are for everyone!
Pipeworks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Go to Pipeworks.com to see some of our continued efforts and our latest Diversity Report.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in a job description. Our top priority is finding the best candidate for the job and if you are interested in the position, we would encourage you to apply, even if you don't believe you meet every one of the qualifications above.

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