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Puzzle Game Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Product Manager

Carlsbad, CA · On-site

$140K - $180K/yr

The ideal candidate is passionate about casual and puzzle games games, can pull, analyze, and ... Identify tools and reporting, working with technical teams, to design, implement and improve ...

... games developer, crafting beloved casual puzzle and story-driven titles enjoyed by millions. Our ... Engagement: Design and launch organizational programs * Compensation: $163,200.00 base / year ...

$80 - $100/hr

Inkwell Games, the studio behind daily digital logic puzzles like Stars, Fields and Lazy River, is ... Bring outside perspective on where the puzzle and brain-health/mindful-phone-use space is heading ...

$180K - $250K/yr

Brilliant's learning experiences blend thoughtful mechanics, intuitive level design, and deep ... How we make learning games with AI - When "almost right" is catastrophically wrong: Evals for AI ...

$110K - $180K/yr

The Role Math Learning Designers at Brilliant design interactive learning games to teach a wide ... Design visual, puzzle-driven learning experiences that guide learners along problem-solving ...

Activities Director AL

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$18.25 - $25/hr

Gathers information to design Recreation programs that meet the functional levels, needs and ... Provide activities to promote socialization (yearly puzzle challenge, ice cream socials, Bingo ...

Activities Director AL

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$18.25 - $25/hr

Gathers information to design Recreation programs that meet the functional levels, needs and ... Provide activities to promote socialization (yearly puzzle challenge, ice cream socials, Bingo ...

Activities Director AL

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$18.25 - $25/hr

Gathers information to design Recreation programs that meet the functional levels, needs and ... Provide activities to promote socialization (yearly puzzle challenge, ice cream socials, Bingo ...

Activities Director AL

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$18.25 - $25/hr

Gathers information to design Recreation programs that meet the functional levels, needs and ... Provide activities to promote socialization (yearly puzzle challenge, ice cream socials, Bingo ...

Irrigation Specialist - Golf

Aurora, CO · On-site

$23.84 - $29.80/hr

You make the magic happen beneath the surface so golfers can enjoy their game. Think of yourself as ... Keeping a massive irrigation system running is like maintaining a giant, living puzzle where every ...

Showing results 21-38

Puzzle Game Design information

See salary details

$79.5K

$130.8K

$196K

How much do puzzle game design jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for puzzle game design in the United States is $130,762.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,000.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is puzzle game design?

Puzzle game design is the process of creating games that challenge players to solve problems or complete tasks using logic, pattern recognition, strategy, or word completion. Designers in this field focus on developing engaging mechanics, interesting challenges, and rewarding progression to keep players entertained and mentally stimulated. Puzzle game designers often balance difficulty, accessibility, and creativity to ensure their games are both fun and approachable for a wide audience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a puzzle game designer?

To excel as a Puzzle Game Designer, you need a strong grasp of game design principles, logic, creativity, and often a degree in game design, computer science, or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal, as well as proficiency in prototyping tools and scripting languages, is typically required. Outstanding problem-solving, collaboration, and playtesting communication skills help designers create engaging player experiences. These competencies are crucial for developing innovative, challenging puzzles that captivate players and contribute to a game's success.

What are some common challenges faced by puzzle game designers during the development process?

Puzzle game designers often face the challenge of balancing difficulty to keep players engaged without causing frustration. Creating original and intuitive mechanics that provide satisfying 'aha!' moments is another common hurdle. Additionally, designers must ensure that puzzles integrate seamlessly with the game's narrative and visual style, and frequently collaborate with artists, programmers, and playtesters to refine each level. Effective communication and iteration are key to addressing feedback and enhancing the overall player experience.

What is the difference between Puzzle Game Design vs Level Designer?

AspectPuzzle Game DesignLevel Designer
Required SkillsGame mechanics, puzzle logic, creativityLevel layout, environment design, user experience
Work EnvironmentGame studios, remote, collaborative teamsGame studios, freelance, collaborative teams
Industry UsageMobile, casual, puzzle genresVarious genres including action, adventure, puzzle
Common Search IntentDesigning puzzles, game mechanics, creative rolesCreating levels, environment design, game flow

While both roles involve game development, Puzzle Game Design focuses on creating engaging puzzles and mechanics, whereas Level Designer emphasizes designing the overall environment and levels. Puzzle Game Designers develop the core gameplay elements, while Level Designers craft the spaces players explore. Both roles often collaborate but serve distinct functions within game development teams.

How to become a puzzle game designer?

To become a puzzle game designer, develop strong skills in game design, programming, and logic, often through a degree in game design, computer science, or related fields. Building a portfolio of puzzle prototypes and gaining experience with game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine can improve job prospects. Understanding player psychology and testing puzzle mechanics are also important for success in this role.

Which puzzle game design jobs pay the most?

Senior puzzle game designers and lead roles in game development typically have the highest salaries in puzzle game design, often exceeding $100,000 annually. These positions require extensive experience, strong skills in game mechanics and user experience, and often involve leadership responsibilities within development teams.
More about Puzzle Game Design jobs

What cities are hiring for Puzzle Game Design jobs?

Cities with the most Puzzle Game Design job openings:

What states have the most Puzzle Game Design jobs?

States with the most job openings for Puzzle Game Design jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Puzzle Game Design jobs?

For Puzzle Game Design jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Puzzle Game Design job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, and 50% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $130,762 per year, or $62.9 per hour.

Lead Product Manager

Carlsbad, CA • On-site

Jam City
PC Games • 501 - 1,000 employees

$140K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're searching for innovators who consider themselves dynamic, collaborative, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
PERKS & BENEFITS
Unlimited Vacation, Paid Sick Days, Recharge Days & Holidays
100% Employee Covered Medical, Dental, Vision Plan Base Plan
Life Insurance, 401k, Flexible Spending Accounts & More
Happy Hours
Company Events
Jam City is on the hunt for a Lead Product Manager to support Cookie Jam, one of Jam City's flagship titles. You will manage a F2P game and use that data to inform strategic roadmap decisions in the pursuit of delivering amazing player experiences and driving business outcomes.
As a Lead Product Manager you'll have a direct impact on the success of Cookie Jam. You will make decisions and understand our "Game as a Business Strategy", looking to achieve great player experiences while maximizing ROI.
You will help us to define, set up and maintain in-game offers, sales, promotional events, along with new content and features to drive KPI goals.
The ideal candidate is passionate about casual and puzzle games games, can pull, analyze, and report data from the game and use this to inform effective live ops decisions and product prioritization. They have the agility to manage projects on their own and understand how they work in a fast evolving, data driven company. They have the people skills to work smoothly and communicate effectively with Producers, Designers, and Engineers.
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Key stakeholder and decision-maker for feature prioritization, in combination with other crafts.
  • Identifies and designs/improves features to improve key indicators, by making our games more engaging.
  • Manages LiveOps, in game events & sales to maximize revenue and keep players engaged through balancing and optimizations.
  • Analyze data, build automated reports, and work with the Analytics team to make informed business decisions.
  • Work closely with game teams to identify, test and measure high-impact product changes that drive growth in revenue, reach and retention.
  • Identify tools and reporting, working with technical teams, to design, implement and improve through rapid iteration.
  • Understand game metrics to inform hypotheses and create A/B testing experiments with clear and measurable success criteria.
  • Effectively communicates relevant KPIs and updates to key stakeholders in a timely fashion.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • 5+ years experience in Product Management, Business Intelligence or related role in the F2P games industry.
  • Excellent analytical and quantitative skills with a focus on data-driven decision making.
  • Gaming or comparable industry experience.
  • Thrives in an entrepreneurial environment with a creative problem solving mindset.
  • Experience writing SQL queries and distilling complex analysis into actionable insights or willingness to learn.
  • Self-starter with experience managing projects from concept through completion.
  • Outstanding communication and organizational skills.
  • Must be able to understand and diagnose the economy of the game, driving healthy behavioral metrics.
  • Must be able to work closely with studio leadership in developing an optimum roadmap for future features based on evolving game needs.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation for this role. The range listed is just one component of Jam City's total compensation package for employees, which may also include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, or market demands. This range is based on a full-time position. This range may be modified in the future. In addition, Jam City provides a variety of benefits to employees, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan, life, disability, and accident insurance. Pay Range: $140,000 - $180,000 salary per year.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION
We believe in creating games that unite people across the world and that showcase our commitment to providing an environment that is both inclusive and diverse for our players and employees. We strive to create a workforce that is reflective of our global player community as we know that we are stronger and better when we play together. To help promote an inclusive culture, we celebrate the visible and invisible diversity of our Jam Citizens through initiatives including Employee Resource Groups, cultural events, trainings, speaker series, and more.
Jam City is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, religion, ethnicity, marital, or domestic partnerships status, disability, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws. Our management is committed to following this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruiting, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.
ABOUT JAM CITY
Jam City is a leading entertainment studio with a proven track record of creating some of the world's most beloved casual puzzle and story-driven mobile games. As the creative force behind fan-favorite, award-winning titles such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City develops engaging and dynamic games that become an enduring part of our players' lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.