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Video Game Level Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$70K - $92K/yr

Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support ... Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional ...

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$70K - $92K/yr

Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support ... Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Spellbrush is a company focused on creating engaging gameplay experiences, and they are seeking a Level Designer to craft fun tactics missions using their in-house tools. The role involves designing ...

Jobtailor

Level Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$75 - $110/hr

... level design Collaborate with game designers, scripters, artists, and producers from concept ... Game Design Tools #J-18808-Ljbffr

New

Pipeworks Studios

Level Designer

Eugene, OR · On-site +1

$109K/yr

Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support ... Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Collaborate closely with other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the ...

Spellbrush

Level Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$128K/yr

Collaborate closely with other game designers, artists, and engineers on the team. Help engineers improve the level design tooling that you are using. Maintain knowledge and context of all of the ...

Absurd Ventures

Level Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$122K/yr

Absurd Ventures is seeking a Mission Designer to craft memorable missions for a new open-world IP ... game systems that define core features. On-site role with full benefits and competitive ...

New

Epic Games

Lead Level Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Lead Level Designer to join our dynamic team. This person will ...

Absurd Ventures

Level Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$122K/yr

Absurd Ventures is seeking a Mission Designer to craft memorable missions for a new open-world IP ... game systems that define core features. On-site role with full benefits and competitive ...

New

2K

Senior Level Designer

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for blocking out the world and ... Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer. * 5+ years professional experience in video game ...

2K

Senior Level Designer

Novato, CA

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for blocking out the world and ... Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer. * 5+ years professional experience in video game ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY

$100K - $150K/yr

We make games for people who appreciate craft and a little bit of magic. If you're curious, you'll be in good company. Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Level Designer

Novato, CA · On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for blocking out the world and ... Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer. * 5+ years professional experience in video game ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Level Designer

Novato, CA

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will be responsible for blocking out the world and ... Shipped at least one AAA title as a designer. * 5+ years professional experience in video game ...

Velan Studios

Level Designer (Senior+)

Troy, NY · On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

We make games for people who appreciate craft and a little bit of magic. If you're curious, you'll be in good company. Are you a level designer with experience creating procedural environments? Have ...

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Video Game Level Designer information

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How much do video game level designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game level designer in the United States is $18.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.83 and $20.19 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a video game level designer do?

Video game level designers use development software to build specific sections within a video game. In this role, you focus on one aspect or progression of the game, determining what steps a player needs to take to progress to the next level. The nature of a level depends on the game; it can be as simple as selecting and developing challenges for the player to overcome or as complicated as a dense, objective-filled map. This is a highly-collaborative position; video game level designers often work with asset creators and producers to design levels that match the intended concept and play environment.

What does a video game level designer do?

A video game level designer is responsible for creating the environments, stages, and challenges that players experience within a game. They work closely with artists, programmers, and writers to craft engaging gameplay, ensuring that levels are both visually appealing and fun to play. Level designers use specialized software to build layouts, place objects, and script events, all while considering pacing, difficulty, and storytelling. Their goal is to guide players through the game in a way that is immersive and rewarding.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a video game level designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Video Game Level Designer, you need strong spatial design abilities, knowledge of game mechanics, and often a degree in game design or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and level editing software, as well as familiarity with scripting languages, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for collaborating with artists, programmers, and other designers. These skills are crucial for creating engaging, balanced, and technically feasible game environments that enhance player experience.

How does a video game level designer typically collaborate with other departments during the development process?

Video Game Level Designers work closely with artists, programmers, and writers to bring a cohesive vision to each level. They frequently participate in cross-functional meetings to ensure that gameplay, visuals, and narrative are well integrated. It's common for designers to iterate on their levels based on feedback from QA testers or gameplay engineers, requiring strong communication and adaptability. Collaboration is essential, as level designers must balance creative ideas with technical constraints and project timelines.

What is the difference between Video Game Level Designer vs Video Game Environment Artist?

AspectVideo Game Level DesignerVideo Game Environment Artist
Primary FocusDesigning gameplay spaces, level layout, and player flowCreating visual assets and environments for levels
Skills & ToolsLevel design software, game engines, scripting3D modeling, texturing, art software
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, programmers, artistsWorks mainly with art teams, using creative software
Industry UsageUsed in game development to craft playable levelsUsed to produce visual environment assets for levels

While both roles contribute to the game's environment, the Video Game Level Designer focuses on designing the gameplay experience within levels, whereas the Video Game Environment Artist creates the visual elements that bring those levels to life. Both roles often collaborate closely to ensure a cohesive and engaging player experience.

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Video Game Level Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Level Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,600 per year, or $18.6 per hour.

Level Designer

Pipeworks Studios

Eugene, OR • On-site, Remote

$70K - $92K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Description
Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA action-adventure title set within a legendary franchise. 
This role will design, build, and iterate on locations and points of interest that combine exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, and environmental storytelling. As part of a co-development team, the designer will collaborate closely with developers at Pipeworks and the project’s core development team while taking meaningful ownership of assigned spaces. 
This is a full-time temporary role with the possibility of extension or conversion to regular full-time employment after six months. Our studio is based in Eugene, Oregon, and the role may be performed remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or in the office. 

Day To Day
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with level design leadership to define the goals, intended player experience, and quality bar for assigned content. 
  • Design, block out, implement, and iterate on open-world locations and points of interest in Unreal Engine 5. 
  • Create readable and engaging gameplay spaces that support exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, pacing, challenge, and environmental storytelling. 
  • Use Blueprint and project-specific tools to implement objectives, triggers, encounter logic, scripted behaviors, state changes, and other interactive content. 
  • Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support intended player behaviors and challenge. 
  • Collaborate with design, engineering, art, production, QA, and partner teams to communicate design intent, resolve dependencies, and incorporate feedback. 
  • Participate in playtests and design reviews, identify problems with flow or player experience, and iterate based on findings. 
  • Create and maintain clear documentation, layout callouts, encounter notes, task updates, and acceptance criteria. 
  • Maintain organized content, naming conventions, source control practices, and general level hygiene. 
  • Identify risks, blockers, and dependencies early, and adapt effectively as project priorities or creative direction change. 

Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Must Have Skills
  • Professional experience designing and implementing gameplay spaces in Unreal Engine 5 or a comparable modern game engine. 
  • Practical experience using Blueprint or similar visual scripting tools to prototype and implement level-specific gameplay. 
  • Strong understanding of level design fundamentals, including spatial composition, navigation, gameplay flow, sightlines, traversal, pacing, readability, and player guidance. 
  • Experience creating encounters, puzzles, activities, or other interactive content within authored or open-world spaces. 
  • Ability to work with AI behaviors, gameplay objects, scripted events, triggers, and environmental content. 
  • Strong creative problem-solving skills and the ability to iterate within technical, production, and scope constraints. 
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and with external development partners. 
  • Familiarity with source control and collaboration tools such as Perforce, Jira, and Confluence, or equivalent tools. 
  • Strong organization and attention to detail in a fast-paced, distributed development environment. 

Nice-To-Have Skills
  • Experience developing open-world action-adventure content or comparable systemic, exploration-driven gameplay spaces.  
  • Experience designing traversal challenges, environmental puzzles, or open-world activities.  
  • Experience working in a AAA full or co-development environment. 

Education and Experience
  • Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional experience. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to independently build and iterate on assigned level content while working with regular guidance from more experienced designers. Professional contribution to at least one shipped AA or AAA project is preferred. 
  • Level Designer II candidates should generally have five or more years of relevant professional experience and experience contributing to at least two shipped AA or AAA projects. Candidates should demonstrate substantial ownership of levels, locations, encounters, or other authored gameplay content, along with greater autonomy in planning, implementation, iteration, and problem-solving 
  • A portfolio demonstrating level layouts, playable spaces, blockouts, or shipped level-design work is preferred. 

What We Can Offer You
A Flexible Working Environment
Almost all of our roles allow for your choice of work location. We're happy to support our team no matter where they prefer to work: remote, in office, or hybrid.
Benefits
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision
  • 401K with employer match
  • Employer Paid Life Insurance Policy
  • Generous Paid Time Off
  • 18-20 Paid Company Holidays
  • Relocation
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Fitness Club Discounts
  • Sports Team Sponsorship
  • Annual Company Events
  • Project Wrap Parties
A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Pipeworks Studios recognizes the importance of creating an environment where all of our employees feel included and empowered to bring ideas to the the table. We value each employee's unique experiences and perspectives and recognize that it is both the smart and right thing to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization.
By diversifying our workforce, increasing equity, and ensuring that our individual differences are valued, we are better able to deliver an experience that reflects, inspires, and connects with our audience... because games are for everyone!
Pipeworks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Go to Pipeworks.com to see some of our continued efforts and our latest Diversity Report.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in a job description. Our top priority is finding the best candidate for the job and if you are interested in the position, we would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications above.