1

Unreal Engine Level Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Animation Systems Programmer

Larkspur, CA ยท On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

In collaboration with the Unreal Engine team, we strive to put our technology and knowledge into ... Write technical documentation and designs * Conduct exploratory research to pioneer and develop ...

The Senior UI Artist will collaborate closely with Art Directors, UI/UX Designers, Engineers, Game ... Implement, review, polish and iterate UI assets directly in Unreal Engine 5 (UMG), validating ...

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$122K - $168K/yr

... modern GPUs and low level graphics APIs on the latest generation of gaming platforms. โ€ข ... Preferred : โ€ข Strong understanding and familiarity with current Unreal Engine technology desired ...

Expression of Interest - Technical Artist

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$136K - $163K/yr

You'll collaborate with artists, designers, and engineers to build scalable workflows, optimize ... Support the implementation, integration, and optimization of assets within Unreal Engine, ensuring ...

Senior UI Artist

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$105K - $150K/yr

The Senior UI Artist will collaborate closely with Art Directors, UI/UX Designers, Engineers, Game ... Implement, review, polish and iterate UI assets directly in Unreal Engine 5 (UMG), validating ...

Familiarity with Unity, Unreal Engine, or other immersive development platforms. * Basic understanding of HTML/CSS and front-end development workflows. * Experience designing AI-driven products or ...

Lead Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$180K - $200K/yr

The ideal candidate has significant hands-on experience developing with Unreal Engine, with either ... Contribute to high-level strategic decisions with the rest of the Engineering and Executive teams.

Familiarity with Unity, Unreal Engine, or other immersive development platforms. * Basic understanding of HTML/CSS and front-end development workflows. * Experience designing AI-driven products or ...

New

Showing results 41-60

Unreal Engine Level Designer information

What are some common challenges faced by Unreal Engine level designers when collaborating with artists and programmers?

Unreal Engine Level Designers frequently need to balance creative vision with technical constraints, which can be challenging during cross-disciplinary collaboration. Communicating level design requirements clearly to artists helps ensure assets match gameplay needs, while close coordination with programmers is essential to optimize performance and implement interactive elements. Effective collaboration often involves regular meetings, detailed documentation, and iterative feedback to align everyone's contributions and deliver cohesive, high-quality levels on schedule.

What does an Unreal Engine level designer do?

An Unreal Engine Level Designer is responsible for creating and designing game environments using Epic Games' Unreal Engine. They craft immersive worlds by placing objects, setting up lighting, and scripting interactive elements to enhance player experience. Level designers work closely with artists, programmers, and other team members to ensure that the levels are visually appealing, engaging, and function smoothly within the game's mechanics. Their work involves both creative and technical skills, balancing aesthetics with gameplay functionality.

What is the difference between Unreal Engine Level Designer vs Environment Artist?

AspectUnreal Engine Level DesignerEnvironment Artist
Primary FocusDesigning and building playable levels within Unreal EngineCreating detailed, realistic environments and assets for games
Skills & ToolsUnreal Engine, level scripting, gameplay integration3D modeling, texturing, environment composition
Work EnvironmentGame development teams, using Unreal EngineArt departments, using 3D software and Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine Level Designers focus on constructing engaging levels and gameplay flow within Unreal Engine, while Environment Artists specialize in creating the visual assets and environments that populate those levels. Both roles often collaborate but have distinct skill sets and responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Unreal Engine level designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Unreal Engine Level Designer, you need strong proficiency in level design principles, 3D modeling, and a deep understanding of Unreal Engine, often supported by a degree in game design or a related field. Familiarity with technical tools such as Unreal Engine's Blueprint system, asset management workflows, and version control systems like Perforce is essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and crafting engaging player experiences. These skills ensure that levels are not only visually compelling and functional but also optimized for gameplay and performance within complex development environments.
What are popular job titles related to Unreal Engine Level Designer jobs in California? For Unreal Engine Level Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Unreal Engine Level Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Unreal Engine Level Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Unreal Engine Level Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Unreal Engine Level Designer job openings:
Infographic showing various Unreal Engine Level Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Animation Systems Programmer

Epic Games

Larkspur, CA โ€ข On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ENGINEERING - SPECIAL PROJECTS
What We Do
The Special Projects team at Epic is responsible for executing high-impact projects that push the envelope to define the future of real-time graphics and gaming technology (The Matrix Awakens, Lumen in the Land of Nanite). In collaboration with the Unreal Engine team, we strive to put our technology and knowledge into the hands of users, empowering developers and content creators with the most powerful suite of real-time tools in the world.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for an experienced Animation Systems Programmer for our Special Projects team. As a member of our team, you will play a critical role in driving future projects that push boundaries, explore new technology, and help define the future of Unreal Engine. You will be responsible for developing, enhancing, optimizing, and maintaining the core animation systems and will work closely with Animation, Design, and Engineering colleagues to ensure characterful and entertaining animation that is efficient and performant. You will also help identify potential issues and deploy correct solutions, using your technical knowledge to help bridge and facilitate communication between the animation team and other departments.
In this role, you will
  • Architect, implement, and maintain core animation systems used across the Special Projects team
  • Work closely with other engineers, animators, technical animators, product designers, leads and external technology partners across multiple teams and time zones
  • Write technical documentation and designs
  • Conduct exploratory research to pioneer and develop innovative animation systems and techniques that push the boundaries of what is possible in real-time production
What we're looking for
  • Extensive experience writing C++ applications
  • Excellent linear algebra skills and applications of linear algebra in software
  • Experience with rigging systems, animation state machines, low-level animation systems, physics-based, procedural, and/or IK animation systems
  • Experience with multi-threaded programming and system tasks such as graphics, audio, I/O, networking, memory handling, debuggers, etc.
  • Experience with application-level programming, such as script compilers and user-facing tools
  • Strong artistic intuition and an eye for quality animation; as technical tooling becomes more advanced, you prioritize the visual "feel" of the animation to ensure it meets the highest standards
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, self-motivated, and able to work independently
  • Creativity in problem-solving and the ability to think outside of the established solutions
  • Knowledge of ML/AI and its potential applications
  • Someone who is user-focused, passionate, solutions-focused, and innovative. These traits equal success at Epic and influence everything we do
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
California Base Pay Range
$167,399-$245,519 USD
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.