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Video Game Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

NIS America, Inc.

Graphic Design Manager

Santa Ana, CA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Graphic Design Manager Full Time NIS America, Inc., Santa Ana, CA, US 5 days ago Requisition ID ... Passion for video games and familiarity with Japanese titles. * Proficiency with Google Workspace ...

Gondola

Producer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$60 - $81/hr

... Game Presentation group to create high-caliber content. Must have a passion for helping the SJ ... sound design, color correction, incorporation of graphics, and editing.* Production of video ...

wimatec MATTES GmbH

UI Artist

Foster City, CA · On-site

$70 - $90/hr

Comfortable with design and illustration tools such as Figma or Sketch and Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop * Familiarity with common video game language and paradigms, particularly those from free-to ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer responsible for AI combatants. * 5+ years professional experience in video game design. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills. * Experience ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer responsible for AI combatants. * 5+ years professional experience in video game design. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills. * Experience ...

Absurd Ventures

Lead Game UI/UX Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

Core Qualifications * 7+ years of experience in UI/UX design within the video game industry. * Proficiency in design tools such as Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, or similar. * Experience implementing UI/UX ...

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Video Game Design information

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How much do video game design jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game design in California is $18.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $19.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is video game design?

Video game design is the process of creating the content and rules of a video game, including its story, characters, gameplay mechanics, and environment. Game designers work closely with artists, programmers, and other team members to bring their vision to life. They are responsible for shaping the player’s experience, balancing challenges, and ensuring the game is engaging and fun. This role often involves prototyping ideas, playtesting, and iterating on feedback to improve the game before release.

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

To thrive as a Video Game Designer, you need a solid understanding of game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience, often backed by a degree in game design, computer science, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and graphic design software, along with knowledge of scripting languages, is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, and strong communication are vital soft skills for turning ideas into engaging, playable experiences within a team environment. These skills and qualities are essential for developing innovative games that captivate players and succeed in a competitive market.

What are some common challenges faced by video game designers when working on collaborative projects?

Video game designers often work in multidisciplinary teams, collaborating with artists, programmers, and sound engineers. A common challenge is effectively communicating design ideas and ensuring that everyone understands the game vision, especially as features evolve. Balancing creative input from various team members while adhering to deadlines and technical constraints can also be demanding. Successful designers develop strong communication and problem-solving skills to navigate these dynamics and keep projects on track.

What is the difference between Video Game Design vs Video Game Programming?

AspectVideo Game DesignVideo Game Programming
Primary RoleCreating game concepts, storylines, and gameplay mechanicsWriting code to implement game features and functionalities
Required SkillsCreativity, storytelling, understanding of game mechanicsProgramming languages, software development, problem-solving
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, collaborative teams, creative settingsDevelopment teams, technical environments, coding labs
Common CertificationsGame design degrees, portfolios, UX/UI knowledgeComputer science degrees, coding certifications, software proficiency

Video Game Design focuses on conceptualizing and designing the game's overall experience, while Video Game Programming involves coding and implementing those designs into a playable product. Both roles are essential in game development but require different skill sets and focus areas.

How do you get a job as a video game designer?

To become a video game designer, you typically need a bachelor's degree in game design, computer science, or a related field, along with strong skills in programming, storytelling, and graphic design. Building a portfolio of game projects and gaining experience through internships or entry-level roles can improve job prospects. Familiarity with game development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine is also beneficial.

Is video game design a good career?

Video game design is a viable career that involves creating game concepts, mechanics, and visuals, often requiring skills in programming, art, and storytelling. The industry offers opportunities in entertainment, education, and simulation, with roles typically requiring a portfolio and knowledge of design tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. Job stability and salary vary based on experience, location, and company size.

What jobs are there in video game design?

In video game design, common roles include game designer, level designer, character designer, and UI/UX designer. Other positions include game programmer, animator, sound designer, and quality assurance tester, each requiring specific skills and tools like game engines and design software.

What are the most commonly searched types of Video Game Design jobs in California?

The most popular types of Video Game Design jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Video Game Design jobs in California?

For Video Game Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Video Game Design jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Video Game Design jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Video Game Design jobs?

Cities in California with the most Video Game Design job openings:

Video Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,094 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

Sr Concept Artist, Environments

PlayStation Global

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 hours ago

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.
Join the award-winning team that created God of War
Santa Monica Studio is seeking an experienced Sr Environment Concept Artist for the development of a new unannounced title!
We are looking for an experienced concept artist with a focus on environments to help us visualize imaginative and unique worlds that set the bar for creativity and complexity on the PlayStation console. You would contribute to the artistic vision, working with art teams to establish the tone of the game, and bring it to life. As a member of the team passionate about environments, you must effectively collaborate with the Art Director, Game Director, and Art Leads to craft worlds that are visually spectacular and cohesive while also working with a wide range of development team members to ensure technical feasibility. Help us craft unique visuals that define our industry!
Responsibilities
  • Design environments, props, production callouts, system interacts, high vision concept art, color scripts, marketing material and other visual guides and tasks as needed to assist the development team
  • Combine the goals of game design, art direction, and technological considerations to build industry defining environments
  • Research and initiate information gathering of pertinent subject matter to your task
  • Develop and maintain strong creative and collaborative partnerships across disciplines to help further develop the in-game environments, visual language, and rule sets for fantasy-based worlds
  • Solve complex artistic development issues for both artists as well as other team members
  • Actively improve your skills and maintain an awareness of industry techniques, tools, evaluate competitive products, learning new software packages and traditional art methods
  • Serve as an artistic resource for overall product or as a studio resource - this includes, but is not limited to conducting general research, developing ground-breaking techniques, or testing new systems and tools
Requirements
  • Strong command of foundation art skills (drawing, painting and rendering, material indication, perspective, composition, color theory, design, anatomy and 2d and 3d design techniques)
  • Strong design skills with the ability to render realistic believable fantasy based props, architecture, and natural landscapes using contemporary industry standard tools and techniques
  • Strong ideation, brainstorming and documentation skills
  • Proficiency in Photoshop with an emphasis on drawing, painting and image making
  • Ability to block out ideas in 3D as well as 2D depending on the needs of the task
  • Strong time management and prioritization skills - this entails collaborating with the Production group to coordinate task lists to ensure assignments are progressing well according to schedules, objectives, and overall project goals
  • Familiarity with video game product development and the fundamentals of 3D packages
  • Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts or relevant curriculum or equivalent skillset
  • 3+ years of AAA video game platform experience
Preferred Experience
  • Two or more published titles is desirable

#LI-SMS
#LI-AM1
Avoid Recruitment Scams/Phishing Attempts:
Please be aware that any official outreach in response to your application will always be done from a @sony.com email address. Always make sure to double check the spelling on Sony is correct and the characters have not been replaced with any numbers/symbols before replying.
Anyone using an email that is not @sony.com is not affiliated with us and should be reported either via the platform they are contacting you on or directly to your email service as a phishing attempt/scam.
At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$120,600-$180,800 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.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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