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Narrative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

Cloud Chamber

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 ...

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 ...

Cloud Chamber

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 ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

You understand the psychology of casual, cozy, and narrative-driven game players. * Long-term ... Experience designing for narrative-driven or cozy game genres specifically. * Familiarity with A/B ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

You understand the psychology of casual, cozy, and narrative-driven game players. * Long-term ... Experience designing for narrative-driven or cozy game genres specifically. * Familiarity with A/B ...

DocuSign

Sr. Brand Designer, Events

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

What you'll do The Sr. Brand Designer, Events will be a core member of Docusign's Brand & Creative ... Concept and design swag, premium items, and small-scale activations that extend the event narrative ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

... narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Docusign

Sr. Brand Designer, Events

San Francisco, CA · On-site

What you'll do The Sr. Brand Designer, Events will be a core member of Docusign's Brand & Creative ... Concept and design swag, premium items, and small-scale activations that extend the event narrative ...

Jam City

Senior UI/UX Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... UI/UX Designer to bring their expert game UI/UX skills to help build a new game within our ... Provide cohesive UI design spanning the full player experience - from narrative gameplay and puzzle ...

Jam City

Senior UI/UX Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... UI/UX Designer to bring their expert game UI/UX skills to help build a new game within our ... Provide cohesive UI design spanning the full player experience - from narrative gameplay and puzzle ...

Jam City

Senior UI/UX Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... UI/UX Designer to bring their expert game UI/UX skills to help build a new game within our ... Provide cohesive UI design spanning the full player experience - from narrative gameplay and puzzle ...

Apex Informatics

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Should be able to produce a narrative around their design and thinking * Prototyping * Higher level stakeholders - VP * Incubation projects - Agencies * Should be able to demonstrate design thinking

EHDD

Interior Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Interior Designer I Position EHDD is seeking thoughtful Interior Designers with exceptional design ... design narrative. * Develop selection and specification of finishes, furniture, fixtures, and ...

EHDD

Interior Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Interior Designer I PositionEHDD is seeking thoughtful Interior Designers with exceptional design ... design narrative.Develop selection and specification of finishes, furniture, fixtures, 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.

Senior Level Designer

2K

Novato, CA • On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 20 days ago

Job description

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 BioShock. At your core you are collaborative, compassionate, and authentic; a dedicated designer with a passion for creating memorable, immersive player experiences. You will be an integral part of a design team that is breathing life into a new and fantastical world.
What You'll Do:
  • Use Blueprint scripting to create gameplay content.
  • Design and block out world geometry.
  • Collaborate closely with world architects on layout, and other teams as needed, to implement the creative vision of the project.
  • Take the initiative on solving difficult or novel cross-disciplinary sequences or sections of content, and see them through from initial conception to completion.
  • Work with multi-disciplinary strike teams to improve the game in various focus areas (combat, AI, progression, exploration, narrative, etc).
  • Apply your years of experience and knowledge to mentor junior designers and encourage them to grow their skills.
  • Design and implement other scripted and systemic content throughout the game world.

What We'll Do Together:
At Cloud Chamber, we are champions of high standards, pushing for progress and embracing change. We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and identify solutions to overcome developmental obstacles to deliver a world-class AAA experience.
Skills & Experiences:
  • Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer.
  • 5+ years professional experience in video game design.
  • Self-motivated with an eye for solution-based problem solving.
  • Previous experience with Unreal is a plus.
  • Able to collaborate well across time zones in a global, multi-site organization.
  • Able to work well independently, in small pods, and in larger collaborative teams.
  • Able to succinctly and effectively document your work.
  • Excellent communications skills.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and handle opposing priorities.

Who You Are:
As a collaboratively minded designer you are eager to work with a global design team to pitch and develop playable game content. You are a dreamer and a creator who isn't shy about sharing your ideas. At Cloud Chamber we encourage design theory discourse and the free exchange of ideas. You're able to give constructive feedback, and receive it as well. You're a gamer; always playing the next, new thing, often revisiting the oldies as well, learning from what you've played, good and bad, and sharing your findings with the team.
  • A reliable, positive force multiplier, actively seeking opportunities to integrate work across disciplines and contribute to a healthy, supportive team environment.
  • A solid communicator with excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, package information for diverse audiences, and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
  • Experienced in working in cross-disciplinary teams with strong communication skills.
  • Persistent and self-motivated with a proactive mindset.
  • Able to maintain effectiveness and quality under pressure, ambiguity, and fast-changing priorities.
  • An active listener able to build and maintain trust-based relationships across all levels of the organization, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
  • Highly open to feedback and direction, possessing a desire to learn new skills, and capable of producing quick, quality revisions based on new insights or constraints.
  • A strong ownership of tasks, striving to drive work forward autonomously while maintaining a critical eye for detail and organization, ensuring high standards of quality.
  • Dedicated to upholding Cloud Chamber's core values, contributing to a positive and respectful company culture while striving for excellence in all endeavors.

Who We Are:
At Cloud Chamber we strive to make BioShock games that move people: evocative, immersive, and meaningful experiences that stay with you long after you've rolled credits. Great games are born from great collaborations, supported by a culture that brings out the best in our teams. We work openly, learn through play, take ownership, push ourselves to be better, and deliver for our players.
The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $100,200 and $148,320 USD per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
For candidates located in Quebec:This position requires professional proficiency in both French and English. Proficiency in English is required to collaborate with our U.S. teams and international partners, as well as to handle specialized technical documentation (reading, writing, and communication).
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.
Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. When emailing prospective employees, we only use 2K.com accounts.

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