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Senior Combat Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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$120K - $145K/yr

We're seeking a Senior Level Designer to join our Level Design team - a multidisciplinary group ... When needed, design and implement combat encounters within levels. This includes initial setup ...

Sr Designer

Muskegon, MI

$92.10K - $98.50K/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 ...

Sr Designer

Muskegon, MI

$92.10K - $98.50K/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 ...

Senior AI Designer (Combat & Encounters)

Cary, NC · On-site

$94.50K - $101K/yr

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for an experienced Senior AI Designer to join our cross-disciplinary development team, where you will own the vision and create innovative features. In this role ...

The Senior Sandbox Designer plays a pivotal role in crafting engaging, systemic, and narrative-rich ... Experience balancing combat and puzzle within missions * Excellent communication skills with the ...

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

Senior Sandbox Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

The Senior Sandbox Designer plays a pivotal role in crafting engaging, systemic, and narrative-rich ... Experience balancing combat and puzzle within missions * Excellent communication skills with the ...

Senior Design Specialist

Sterling Heights, MI

$95K - $101.50K/yr

Senior Designer Location: Sterling Heights, MI (Onsite only) Position Type: Full-time We are ... Previous experience with Combat Vehicle is strongly preferred. Education: * Associate Degree with ...

Senior Game Designer

Glendale, CA

$105.10K - $140.90K/yr

Senior Game Designer Req ID: 10152543 Senior Game Designer, 20th Century Games Come work with 20th ... Combat design * Level design * Systems design * Progression design * Area design * Quest or mission ...

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Senior Combat Designer information

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$59K

$105.9K

$131K

How much do senior combat designer jobs pay per year?

As of May 31, 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Combat Designer, and why are they important?

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 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 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? The most popular types of Combat Designer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Combat Designer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Combat Designer jobs include:

$120K - $145K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

We're seeking a Senior Level Designer to join our Level Design team - a multidisciplinary group responsible for crafting immersive, emotionally resonant gameplay spaces that blend exploration, storytelling, and player agency. The ideal candidate is a seasoned generalist who thrives in collaborative environments and can take ownership of complex levels from concept to completion. 

This role is central to shaping the player's journey through pacing, flow, and environmental storytelling. You'll work closely with directors and discipline leads to ensure that each space supports the game's emotional and gameplay goals - and you'll be ready to own combat setups from start to finish when called upon. 

Responsibilities:  

  • Own and deliver gameplay spaces from concept to final polish, blending exploration, narrative, and combat into cohesive player experiences. 
  • Collaborate with animation, art, tech designers and engineering to develop levels, gameplay systems, and pipelines that support world-class design execution. 
  • Create and maintain Unreal Engine assets, scripting gameplay logic, events, and interactions using Blueprints, Sequencer, and related tools. 
  • When needed, design and implement combat encounters within levels. This includes initial setup, iteration, and collaboration with dedicated combat encounter designers. 
  • Partner with production and leadership to define priorities, scope, and milestones for level development. 
  • Drive iteration between disciplines, balancing creative vision, technical feasibility, and player experience. 
  • Provide mentorship and feedback to other designers, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing across the team. 

Requirements & Skills:  

  • Deep experience building levels in Unreal Engine from concept to completion, including layout, loading, optimization and balancing mechanical with narrative goals. Skilled working with world partition and data layers, managing content at scale and balancing optimization with fidelity is a must an understanding with unreal tools 
  • Comprehensive understanding of scripting in a variety of contexts, including blueprints, animation and presentation systems. Comfortable moving between scripting and sequencer, montages and dialogue systems 
  • Passion for interactive narrative in all its forms and familiarity with complexity involved in bringing it to quality.  
  • Excellent debugging skills and a solid understanding of scripting architecture at scale a significant plus. 
  • Comfortable designing and implementing combat encounters when needed, with a working knowledge of AI behaviors and player flow.  
  • Comprehensive understanding of spatial markup techniques and nav implementation. 
  • Strong sense of spatial design, readability, pacing, and player guidance. 
  • Excellent cross-disciplinary communication skills and ability to collaborate in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Demonstrated ability to take content from prototype to polished final implementation. 
  • Passion for creating immersive, high-quality player experiences that balance gameplay and narrative. 

Qualities: 

  • Collaborative, communicative, and confident working across multiple disciplines. 
  • Approaches design with a holistic mindset, embracing how all elements of gameplay and presentation fit together. 
  • Adaptable - able to step into different types of content ownership, from exploration to combat to narrative presentation 
  • Mentorship-oriented, invested in helping others improve their craft. 
  • Comfortable iterating and problem-solving in a dynamic, creative environment across multiple disciplines. 
  • Passionate about the craft and delivering experiences that resonate with players. 

(This is a temporary "Project Hire" position. The anticipated duration of this assignment will vary. TNM Project Hire employees will be eligible to participate in a number of TNM benefit plans such as medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, and flexible PTO)

TNM considers a number of factors when determining each role's base pay range, including industry benchmarks, location, experience, and other job specific skills. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for other incentive compensation including equity and profit share. The estimated base pay range for this role is U.S. only and not applicable for locations outside of the U.S.

The estimated base pay range for this role is: $120k - $145k