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Melee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Associate Game Designer, Technical

Santa Monica, CA ยท On-site

$37 - $50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

Melee * Combat Systems * Character animation * Enemy & boss design As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview #LI-SP3 At SIE, working ...

Game Designer, Technical (Contingent)

Santa Monica, CA ยท On-site

$56.70 - $65/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

Melee * Combat Systems * Enemy & boss design โ€ญ โ€ญSony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity ...

Game Designer, Technical (Contingent)

Santa Monica, CA ยท On-site

$56.70 - $65/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

Melee * Combat Systems * Enemy & boss design โ€ญ โ€ญSony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity ...

Analyst - Diamond & Gemstone Supply Planning

New York, NY ยท On-site

$77K - $85K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Maintains a view into our diamond melee, gemstone, and pearl pipelines to understand possible constraints or issues to meet demand. * Identify and understand changes in demand and forecast potential ...

Pendants/brooch modifications, gallery reconstruction, watch case repair/fabrication, bespoke alterations, melee stone setting/tightening in all setting types. Hand-make settings for fancy shape ...

Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Staff Gemologist

Secaucus, NJ ยท On-site

$22 - $28/hr

Review and quality assurance inspections of loose diamonds, sapphires and other colored gemstones, and melee to optimize high quality, maintain consistency, and reduce cost. * Review and catalog ...

Experience working closely with animation systems and/or designing melee or ranged combat systems. * A passion for tuning, iteration, gameplay, design, and crafting joyful player experiences. * Bonus:

Pendants/brooch modifications, gallery reconstruction, watch case repair/fabrication, bespoke alterations, melee stone setting/tightening in all setting types. Hand-make settings for fancy shape ...

Pendants/brooch modifications, gallery reconstruction, watch case repair/fabrication, bespoke alterations, melee stone setting/tightening in all setting types. Hand-make settings for fancy shape ...

Staff Gemologist

Secaucus, NJ ยท On-site

$22 - $28/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Review and quality assurance inspections of loose diamonds, sapphires and other colored gemstones, and melee to optimize high quality, maintain consistency, and reduce cost. * Review and catalog ...

Experience working closely with animation systems and/or designing melee or ranged combat systems. * A passion for tuning, iteration, gameplay, design, and crafting joyful player experiences. * Bonus:

Experience working closely with animation systems and/or designing melee or ranged combat systems. * A passion for tuning, iteration, gameplay, design, and crafting joyful player experiences. * Bonus:

Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$47K - $88K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Designer, Combat

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$89K - $166K/yr

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Direct experience in implementing combat mechanics (with a preference on melee-based combat) on at least 2 shipped titles. * Strong programming or scripting knowledge and experience required. * B.A ...

Staff Gemologist

Secaucus, NJ ยท On-site

$22 - $28/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Review and quality assurance inspections of loose diamonds, sapphires and other colored gemstones, and melee to optimize high quality, maintain consistency, and reduce cost. * Review and catalog ...

Showing results 21-40

Melee information

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How much do melee jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for melee in the United States is $18.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the melee roles?

Melee roles in gaming or combat contexts typically include positions such as front-line fighters, tanks, or damage dealers who engage directly with opponents using close-range weapons or hand-to-hand combat. These roles often require skills in agility, strength, and strategic positioning, and may involve using weapons like swords, axes, or fists. In professional settings, melee roles can also refer to roles involving physical combat or martial arts training.

What are some of the unique challenges faced by professionals working in melee combat roles, such as in law enforcement or security?

Professionals in melee combat roles, such as law enforcement officers or security personnel, often face the challenge of needing to respond quickly and effectively to physical confrontations while minimizing harm to themselves and others. These roles require strong situational awareness, physical fitness, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Additionally, melee professionals must adhere to strict protocols and legal guidelines during engagements, which can make split-second decision-making particularly demanding. Teamwork and clear communication are essential, as these individuals often operate alongside colleagues and must coordinate their actions for safety and effectiveness.

What is the difference between Melee vs Mechatronics Technician?

AspectMeleeMechatronics Technician
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent, basic technical trainingAssociate's degree or technical certification in mechatronics or robotics
Work EnvironmentManufacturing floors, assembly lines, warehousesIndustrial settings, laboratories, maintenance facilities
Industry UsageManufacturing, logistics, warehousingAutomation, robotics, manufacturing industries

While both roles involve working with machinery, Melee typically refers to manual or physical tasks, whereas Mechatronics Technicians focus on maintaining and troubleshooting automated systems and robotics. The latter requires more specialized technical training and certifications, often working in more advanced industrial environments.

What is a melee?

Melee jobs refer to roles or classes in games, especially role-playing or multiplayer online games, that specialize in close-range physical combat. Characters in melee jobs typically use weapons like swords, axes, or fists and rely on strength, agility, and endurance to fight opponents up close. Examples of melee jobs include warriors, knights, rogues, and monks. These roles often serve as damage dealers or tanks, absorbing damage for their team. Their gameplay focuses on positioning, timing, and effective use of abilities in direct combat.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a melee combat specialist?

To thrive as a Melee combat specialist, you need a strong foundation in physical fitness, hand-to-hand combat techniques, and tactical awareness, often supported by military or martial arts training. Familiarity with personal protective equipment, training simulators, and possibly certifications in self-defense or close-quarters combat are typically required. Exceptional situational awareness, discipline, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are critical soft skills in this role. These skills are essential for ensuring effectiveness and safety during close-range engagements in demanding environments.
What are the most commonly searched types of Melee jobs? The most popular types of Melee jobs are:
Infographic showing various Melee job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,220 per year, or $18.4 per hour.

Associate Game Designer, Technical

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA โ€ข On-site

$37 - $50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 11 days ago


Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
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 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.
In this role you'll be responsible for prototyping gameplay using our in-house tools and scripting language, which could range from combat encounters to narrative sequences to player mechanics and enemy behaviors. Then working across departments to bring your prototypes into production and polish your work to the high level of quality Naughty Dog is known for. We're looking for self-motivated, proactive designers who enjoy creating unique experiences and can combine their technical and creative skills while iterating rapidly.
What you will do
  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, and AI behaviors
  • Collaborating with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the areas you're owning
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

What skills will you use
  • Significant programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree preferred)
  • Knowledge of 3D math
  • Experience with C++, C#, Lua, or other scripting language
  • Broad understanding of gaming landscape
  • Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills
  • Willingness to take design direction when offered, brainstorm, iterate and come up with fun and creative solutions
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed

Bonus Skills
  • Experience developing third-person action games
  • Experience with 3D level editors
  • Understanding of narrative principles, and conveying emotion through gameplay
  • Experience with the following areas of design
    • Behavior Trees
    • Melee
    • Combat Systems
    • Character animation
    • Enemy & boss design

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview
#LI-SP3
At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.
$37-$50 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.