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Non Union Video Game Level Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Studio Wildcard

Level Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

ARK is the most successful Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview title ever and continues to break industry records on consoles and PC. We are looking for a capable Level Designer to fill a remote ...

Studio Wildcard

Level Designer

Bellevue, WA · On-site +1

$123K/yr

ARK is the most successful Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview title ever and continues to break industry records on consoles and PC. We are looking for a capable Level Designer to fill a remote ...

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 ...

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 ...

Epic Games

Lead Level Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Lead Level Designer to join our dynamic team. This person will ...

Lionbridge

Video Game Tester

Boise, ID · On-site

$14/hr

On-site in Boise, ID Compensation: $14.00 USD/h Level Up Your Career at Lionbridge Games! Are you a proud nerd with a passion for video games? Whether you're a Jedi, a wizard, a coder, or a comic ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Our games embrace diversity and are fueled by the adventurous spirit of our team. We are the ... Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Our games embrace diversity and are fueled by the adventurous spirit of our team. We are the ... Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Our games embrace diversity and are fueled by the adventurous spirit of our team. We are the ... Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have you worked with ...

AGBO

Senior Level Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$99K - $106K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... You will design and build gameplay spaces, including test maps and sandbox environments, that ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Des Plaines, IL · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Sugar Land, TX · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

MS · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Waltham, MA · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Alexandria, VA · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Fairfax, VA · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Stillwater, OK · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Norwalk, CT · Remote

$40/hr

Deep knowledge of game design principles, game mechanics, level design, narrative design, user ... Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

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All JobsNon Union Video Game Level Designer Jobs

Non Union Video Game Level Designer information

See salary details

$47K

$156K

How much do non union video game level designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for non union video game level designer in the United States is $149,118.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $155,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Non Union Video Game Level Designer vs Union Video Game Level Designer?

AspectNon Union Video Game Level DesignerUnion Video Game Level Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a relevant degree or portfolioSimilar credentials, often with union membership requirements
Work EnvironmentPrivate studios, independent projectsUnionized game studios, larger companies
Industry UsageCommon in both union and non-union companiesPrimarily in unionized studios
Search & ComparisonOften searched by those seeking freelance or non-union rolesOften compared by those interested in union benefits and protections

The main difference between a Non Union Video Game Level Designer and a Union Video Game Level Designer lies in union membership and associated benefits. Non union designers typically work in private studios or freelance, while union designers are employed in unionized companies with collective bargaining agreements. Credentials and work environments are similar, but union roles often offer additional job protections and benefits.

What is a non union video game level designer?

A non union video game level designer is a professional who creates and constructs levels, maps, or environments for video games but is not a member of a formal labor union. Their work involves designing the gameplay experience, balancing challenges, and collaborating with other team members such as artists and programmers. Being non union typically means they may have more flexible work arrangements but might not receive the same labor protections or benefits as unionized designers. Non union positions are common in the gaming industry, especially with smaller studios or on freelance projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Non Union Video Game Level Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Non Union Video Game Level Designer, you need strong spatial reasoning, creativity, and a solid understanding of game design principles, typically backed by a portfolio of completed levels or related coursework. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine, Unity, and 3D modeling software like Blender or Maya is commonly expected. Collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills help you work effectively with artists, programmers, and other stakeholders. These abilities ensure you can create engaging, playable levels that enhance the overall player experience and meet project goals.

What are some typical challenges a Non Union Video Game Level Designer might face during the development process?

Non union video game level designers often encounter challenges such as balancing creative vision with technical constraints, meeting tight production deadlines, and effectively communicating ideas within multidisciplinary teams. Since non union environments may have varied project management structures, designers might also need to adapt quickly to shifting priorities or limited resources. Regular collaboration with programmers, artists, and writers is essential to ensure that levels are both engaging for players and feasible to implement within the game engine.
What cities are hiring for Non Union Video Game Level Designer jobs? Cities with the most Non Union Video Game Level Designer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Video Game Level Designer jobs? The most popular types of Video Game Level Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Non Union Video Game Level Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Non Union Video Game Level Designer jobs include:
Non Union Video Game Level Designer jobs near you
Level Designer

Level Designer

Studio Wildcard

Bellevue, WA • On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Level Designer- Remote
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014 by industry veterans Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak. ARK is the most successful Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview title ever and continues to break industry records on consoles and PC. We are looking for a capable Level Designer to fill a remote role to help support our studio's next endeavor.
Position Overview
As a Level Designer, you will create expansive worlds, engaging encounters, and immersive gameplay zones inspired by survival, exploration, and PvP/PvE mechanics found in ARK-style gameplay. You'll collaborate closely with environment artists, gameplay programmers, and world builders to craft memorable player experiences.
The ideal candidate understands open-world pacing, traversal, base-building environments, biome diversity, and emergent gameplay systems.
Responsibilities
  • Design and build large-scale gameplay environments in Unreal Engine 5
  • Create compelling survival gameplay areas including forests, caves, ruins, mountains, rivers, and hostile zones
  • Block out and iterate on world layouts, traversal paths, and encounter spaces
  • Design exploration-focused content with hidden locations, loot routes, and environmental storytelling
  • Build gameplay experiences supporting crafting, taming, PvP/PvE combat, and tribe progression
  • Implement gameplay logic and scripted interactions using Blueprints
  • Collaborate with environment art teams to bring worlds from graybox to polished production quality
  • Optimize large open-world environments for performance and gameplay readability
  • Participate in playtesting and gameplay iteration

Required Qualifications
  • Professional or indie experience designing levels in Unreal Engine 5
  • Strong understanding of open-world survival gameplay design
  • Experience creating large environments with meaningful player flow
  • Proficiency with Unreal Engine Blueprints
  • Knowledge of terrain tools, foliage systems, lighting, and world composition
  • Understanding of encounter pacing, risk/reward gameplay, and exploration design
  • Strong communication and collaborative skills
  • Portfolio demonstrating open-world or survival-style level design work

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience modding or building maps for ARK-style survival games
  • Familiarity with multiplayer gameplay systems and PvP balancing
  • Experience designing caves, dungeons, boss arenas, and biome transitions
  • Understanding of AI navigation and creature encounter design
  • Experience with procedural world-building workflows
  • Passion for survival sandbox games and emergent gameplay systems

Tools & Technologies
  • Unreal Engine 5
  • Blueprints
  • World Partition
  • Landscape & Foliage Tools
  • Perforce / Git
  • Blender / Maya / Houdini
  • Jira / Confluence

Equal Opportunity Employer
Wildcard is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws, regulations or ordinances. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to disability during the application or the recruiting process, please let us know.
Pay Transparency Information
The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position vary based on a variety of factors, which include: (but aren't limited to) skills, competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. Each pay range is only relevant to those residing in WA state and can vary based on geographical location.
Wildcard Benefits
We pay 100% of all premiums for the employee and discounted rates for dependent premiums. Our coverage includes Medical (3 different plans to choose from), Dental, Vision, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, 401(k) option, 100% covered Parental Leave, PTO, Paid Holidays, Unlimited Sick Time, and FSA/ HSA options

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