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Senior Technical Game Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

That's No Moon Entertainment

OR · On-site

$120K - $145K/yr

We're seeking a Senior Level Designer to join our Level Design team - a multidisciplinary group ... Drive iteration between disciplines, balancing creative vision, technical feasibility, and player ...

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Senior Technical Game Designer information

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$79.5K

$130.8K

$196K

How much do senior technical game designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior technical game designer 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.

How does a Senior Technical Game Designer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

As a Senior Technical Game Designer, you will work closely with engineers, artists, and producers to ensure that gameplay systems are both technically feasible and creatively aligned with the game's vision. You’ll often bridge the gap between design and engineering—translating creative ideas into actionable technical specifications and prototyping features in scripting languages or custom tools. Regular meetings, playtests, and feedback sessions with cross-disciplinary teams are common, and strong communication skills are essential for resolving challenges and keeping projects on track.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior Technical Game Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Technical Game Designer, you need expertise in game design principles, strong programming or scripting skills, and experience with game engines—often supported by a degree in game development or computer science. Proficiency in tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, visual scripting systems, and version control software is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and effective communication are vital soft skills for translating design ideas into engaging, playable experiences while working with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure that complex game features are implemented efficiently and contribute to high-quality, innovative gameplay.

What are Senior Technical Game Designers?

Senior Technical Game Designers are experienced professionals who bridge the gap between game design and programming. They are responsible for implementing complex gameplay mechanics, developing tools and systems, and ensuring that the game's technical aspects support the creative vision. These designers collaborate closely with engineers, artists, and other designers to prototype features, troubleshoot issues, and optimize player experiences. Their strong technical skills, combined with a deep understanding of game design principles, make them essential to delivering high-quality, innovative games.
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Senior Technical Game Designer jobs near you
Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA

Other

Posted 11 days ago

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 onIntergalactic: 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: 

  • 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 

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