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Narrative Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Technical Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects ... Working with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers and directors well-informed. What ...

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$77K - $108K/yr

You will be responsible for implementing, iterating on and supporting key combat and narrative game systems. WHO YOU ARE: * You have experience shipping games as a tech, systems, or gameplay designer.

ProbablyMonsters

Technical Designer

Dallas, TX · On-site

$77K - $108K/yr

You will be responsible for implementing, iterating on and supporting key combat and narrative game systems. WHO YOU ARE: * You have experience shipping games as a tech, systems, or gameplay designer.

Aquent

Brand Designer

Beaverton, OR · On-site

$50 - $60/hr

You will work closely with art directors, creative directors, designers, narrative teams, and production partners to bring campaign ideas to life with precision and impact. What You'll Do * Lead ...

Snap, Inc.

Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$109K - $117K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

Snap, Inc.

Senior Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $128K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

Snap, Inc.

Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$109K - $117K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

Snap, Inc.

Senior Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $112K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

Snapchat

Senior Designer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

Snapchat

Senior Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$109K - $117K/yr

Demonstrated ability to interpret strategy and narrative and turn complex stories into simple ... Experience designing for B2B narratives, vertical GTMs, or thought leadership in addition to ...

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How much do narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for narrative designer in the United States is $83,148.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

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 is a Narrative Designer job?

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 are some 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. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced designers working on AAA titles or in high-demand markets can earn higher salaries. Skills in storytelling, scripting, and game development tools can influence compensation.

What does a narrative designer do?

A narrative designer creates and develops storylines, dialogue, and world-building elements for video games or interactive media. They collaborate with writers, designers, and developers to ensure the story aligns with gameplay and engages players, often using tools like scripting languages or storyboarding. Strong storytelling, writing skills, and understanding of game mechanics are essential for this role.

Do you need a degree to be a narrative designer?

A degree is not strictly required to become a narrative designer, but many employers prefer candidates with a background in creative writing, game design, or related fields. Strong storytelling skills, a portfolio of writing samples, and experience with tools like Twine or dialogue systems are often more important than formal education.

Are narrative designers in demand?

Narrative designers are increasingly sought after in the gaming and interactive media industries as storytelling becomes a key component of user engagement. Their skills in writing, world-building, and collaboration with development teams are valuable, especially in larger studios and projects that prioritize strong narratives.
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What cities are hiring for Narrative Designer jobs? Cities with the most Narrative Designer job openings:
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Narrative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Narrative Designer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,148 per year, or $40 per hour.
Senior Technical Designer

Senior Technical Designer

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday

Job description

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 Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us.
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.
What you will do:
  • Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, AI behaviors, and other 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.
  • Fostering team cohesion, advising design leadership regarding communication breakdowns and personality conflicts.
  • Working with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers and directors well-informed.

What skills you will use:
  • 5+ years of industry experience in Technical Design for games
  • 2+ shipped games
  • Significant programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree preferred)
  • Deep understanding of narrative principles and how to convey emotion through gameplay
  • Expertise in 3D math
  • Fluent in C++, C#, Lua, or other text-based scripting language
  • Ability to identify and act on opportunities for improvements to tools and workflows that can help the team be more efficient
  • Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills

Bonus Skills:
  • Experience developing third-person action games
  • Experience with the following areas of design
    • Behavior Trees
    • Narrative Gameplay Sequences
    • Encounter Design

#LI-SP3
At SIE, 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 base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$145,100-$181,400 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.

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