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Narrative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Absurd Ventures

Mission Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Summary We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in ... Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. Plus If... * Experience building game ...

Absurd Ventures

Mission Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site +1

$100K - $115K/yr

Summary We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in ... Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. Plus If... * Experience building game ...

Aquent

Spatial Windows Designer

Campbell, CA · On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

... narrative-driven visual destinations. In this pivotal role, you will leverage your unique 3D ... Your designs will captivate audiences, turning passing pedestrians into enchanted spectators ...

ThirdLove

Sr. Visual Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment • Responsible for developing the foundational ...

ThirdLove

Sr. Visual Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment Responsible for developing the foundational "Brand ...

Formal

Founding Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... brand narrative. * Craft Visuals: Create engaging visuals and dynamic content for marketing ... Standout portfolio showcasing UI/UX designs, marketing assets, and brand design * Ability to fully ...

ThirdLove

Sr. Visual Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment * Responsible for developing the foundational ...

Prosum Inc.

Visual Designer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$63.75/hr

Senior Visual Designer Pay Range : $63.75/hour Location & Onsite Requirements: Glendale, 3 days ... bring our narrative and value proposition to life through visual presentations, artifacts, and ...

Prosum

Visual Designer

Glendale, CA · On-site

Senior Visual Designer Pay Range : $63.75 Location & Onsite Requirements: Glendale, 3 days/week on ... bring our narrative and value proposition to life through visual presentations, artifacts, and ...

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All JobsNarrative Designer JobsNarrative Designer Jobs in California

Narrative Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for narrative designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a narrative designer?

A Narrative Designer is responsible for shaping the story, dialogue, and overall storytelling experience in a game. They collaborate with writers, game designers, and other developers to ensure that narrative elements integrate seamlessly with gameplay. Unlike traditional writers, they focus on how story interacts with mechanics, level design, and player choices. Their work involves character development, world-building, and ensuring consistency in the game's narrative structure.

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

To thrive as a Narrative Designer, you need a strong background in creative writing, storytelling, and an understanding of narrative techniques, often supported by a degree in writing, game design, or a related field. Familiarity with interactive scripting tools, branching dialogue systems, and game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine is typically required. Collaboration, adaptability, and excellent communication skills are vital for working with multidisciplinary teams and incorporating feedback. These skills ensure the creation of compelling, player-centric narratives and smooth integration of story elements within interactive media.

What are common collaborative responsibilities for a narrative designer within a game development team?

Narrative Designers regularly work alongside game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure that story elements align with gameplay mechanics and visual storytelling. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, review narrative implementation in-game, and revise scripts based on team feedback. Effective cross-department collaboration is key, as the narrative must support and enhance the overall player experience while fitting technical and design limitations. This collaborative environment requires strong communication and a willingness to iterate on ideas based on input from various team members.

How much are narrative designers paid?

Narrative designers typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior or specialized narrative designers with industry experience can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000. Compensation may also include benefits such as bonuses, royalties, or profit sharing, especially in larger studios or successful projects.

How to get into narrative designer?

To become a narrative designer, develop strong storytelling skills, a background in writing or game design, and proficiency with tools like Twine or Ink. Building a portfolio of writing samples and gaining experience through internships or indie projects can also help entry into the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Narrative Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Narrative Designer jobs in California?

For Narrative Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Narrative Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Narrative Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Narrative Designer job openings:

Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Narrative Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 65% In-person, and 35% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Mission Designer

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 hours ago

Job description

Summary
We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in-class storytelling with action gameplay for an all-new open world IP built in Unreal Engine 5. As a Mission Designer, you will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and be a hands-on contributor and implementer of story missions including critical path and side missions alongside single-player campaign features.
Core Responsibilities
  • Own implementation of engaging, diverse, innovative missions within a story-driven, open-world game.
  • Work with the Lead Mission Designer to develop best practices and robust solutions for faster iteration across the team.
  • Challenge the status quo and demonstrate understanding of where open-world mission design can change and where it's already working.
  • Build brand new, innovative game systems for missions that can help define core features across the rest of the game.
  • Leverage the game's existing open-world systems and mechanics to create dynamic and unpredictable mission experiences that adapt to player choices and actions.
  • Provide feedback to other mission designers to improve the quality of the design and storytelling.
  • Create documentation to support missions, mission tools, and game features developed for missions.
  • Ability to implement and design changes based on play testing data from both internal and external sources.

Core Qualifications
  • 1-2+ years of experience building mission content, ideally within an open-world game.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Innovative thinker with creative problem-solving skills who can thrive in a collaborative team environment.
  • High-quality portfolio showcasing previous scripting, encounter or mission design work in games.
  • Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design.

Plus If...
  • Experience building game-wide systems or features.
  • Experience with level design, blockout or world-building.
  • Experience in UE4 or UE5.
  • Experience working with co-development partners.
  • Experience working on an open world title.

Description
  • Full time job with benefits
  • Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA
  • Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeways.

The base pay range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

Apply