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Senior Combat Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred * Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though ...

ManTech

Combat Systems Engineer

Washington, DC · On-site

$116K - $194K/yr

MANTECH seeks a motivated, career and customer-oriented Senior Combat Systems Engineer to join our ... Will support in designing, implementing, and executing all phases of international programs, from ...

teamLFG

Senior Gameplay Designer (Combat & AI)

OR · On-site +1

We are seeking a highly technical, creative, and team-oriented Senior Sandbox Designer to ... and combat prioritization Create and balance a suite of active and passive player items that can ...

teamLFG

Senior Gameplay Designer (Combat & AI)

$118K - $177K/yr

We are seeking a highly technical, creative, and team-oriented Senior Sandbox Designer to ... combat prioritization • Create and balance a suite of active and passive player items that can ...

Combat Mobility Solutions

Sr Designer

Muskegon, MI · On-site

$92K - $98K/yr

... combat situations. RENK America employs over 500 employees at our US locations in Muskegon ... Description The Senior Designer role is an experienced level position responsible for the design ...

TechINT Solutions Group, LLC

C-UAS Trainer

Baltimore, MD · On-site

Job# TI1449 Will be responsible for conducting instructional training to include designing specific ... Special Operations/Special Forces background OR a senior combat arms type background. * Demonstrate ...

BAE Systems

Designer Senior

Merrimack, NH · On-site

$97K - $164K/yr

Electronic Combat Solutions (ECS) has technology, engineering and program teams that educate and ... The Senior Designer position we are seeking to fill requires 15+ years of experience in the ...

BAE Systems

Designer Senior

Merrimack, NH · On-site

$97K - $164K/yr

Electronic Combat Solutions (ECS) has technology, engineering and program teams that educate and ... The Senior Designer position we are seeking to fill requires 15+ years of experience in the ...

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Senior Combat Designer information

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How much do senior combat designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior combat designer in the United States is $105,882.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior combat designer?

A Senior Combat Designer is a game development professional responsible for designing, implementing, and balancing combat systems in video games. They work closely with other designers, artists, and programmers to create engaging and challenging combat experiences for players. Senior Combat Designers often lead teams, mentor junior staff, and ensure that combat mechanics align with the game's vision and objectives. Their work involves designing enemy behaviors, player abilities, weapons, and progression systems, as well as iterating on feedback and playtesting results.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior combat designer?

To thrive as a Senior Combat Designer, you need deep expertise in game design principles, combat mechanics, and balancing, usually demonstrated through a portfolio and several years of industry experience. Proficiency with game engines like Unreal or Unity, scripting languages, and familiarity with design documentation tools are typically required. Creative problem-solving, collaboration, and strong communication skills help you work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and iterate on feedback. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, balanced, and fun combat experiences that enhance player satisfaction and game success.

How does a senior combat designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

A Senior Combat Designer works closely with programmers, animators, artists, and narrative designers to ensure that combat systems are engaging, balanced, and visually coherent. This collaboration often involves frequent meetings, playtesting sessions, and iterative feedback cycles. Clear communication and documentation are essential, as the combat designer must translate creative visions into actionable tasks for various teams while also integrating technical and artistic constraints.

What is the difference between Senior Combat Designer vs Combat Designer?

AspectSenior Combat DesignerCombat Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or related field; several years of experienceBachelor's degree in game design, related field; entry to mid-level experience
Work EnvironmentDevelops complex combat systems, mentors junior staff, and leads design initiativesDesigns combat mechanics, collaborates with teams, and implements gameplay features
Industry UsageCommon in AAA and large-scale game studiosUsed across indie and mid-sized studios as well

The main difference between a Senior Combat Designer and a Combat Designer lies in experience, leadership responsibilities, and scope of work. Senior Combat Designers typically oversee complex systems, mentor team members, and contribute to strategic planning, while Combat Designers focus on designing and implementing combat mechanics. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to game development teams.

What cities are hiring for Senior Combat Designer jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Combat Designer job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Combat Designer jobs?

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Senior Combat Designer jobs near you

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

Naughty Dog
PC Games • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Naughty Dogexternal

$145K - $181K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required.
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 Part I is now available for the first time on PC.
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:
  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team

What skills you will use:
  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills

The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.
$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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