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Video Game Level Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

UI Designer

Redwood City, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops. * Create intuitive, responsive, beautiful and engaging designs for the web * Collaborate with ...

UI Designer

Redwood City, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops. * Create intuitive, responsive, beautiful and engaging designs for the web * Collaborate with ...

... level of craft and attention to detail. Capture cinematic in-game imagery from the Zwift video game ... Experience designing for sport, gaming, or culturally relevant consumer brands. * Experience art ...

New

Senior Graphic Designer

Burbank, CA

$68K - $94K/yr

... toys and video games, online marketing assets, including first party portals. This role will ... Expert-level skills in Photoshop and Illustrator with the ability to transform concept ...

Senior Graphic Designer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$86K - $107K/yr

... toys and video games, online marketing assets, including first party portals. This role will ... Expert-level skills in Photoshop and Illustrator with the ability to transform concept ...

Senior Designer, Creative

Long Beach, CA · On-site +1

$70K - $110K/yr

... level of craft and attention to detail. * Capture cinematic in-game imagery from the Zwift video ... Experience designing for sport, gaming, or culturally relevant consumer brands. * Experience art ...

Producer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$139K - $141K/yr

Solid understanding of video game development, software development processes, and project ... Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, on both a personal and team level * Self ...

Producer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$64.47 - $80.58/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

Solid understanding of video game development, software development processes, and project ... Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, on both a personal and team level * Self ...

Showing results 41-60

Video Game Level Designer information

See California salary details

$12

$18

$22

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 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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

What cities in California are hiring for Video Game Level Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Video Game Level Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Video Game Level Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,094 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

AI Game Developer (Designer, Artist, Or Engineer)

Scopely

Culver City, CA • On-site

$169K - $253K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Get excited to join Scopely's AI-native incubation team, which is focused on discovering the next generation of mobile games. This role can be remote in the US or hybrid in Culver City, LA.
Rather than spending years developing a single title, we believe one of the most effective ways to find great games is to rapidly transform ideas into playable experiences, launch them to real players, and learn from live market feedback.
We're pioneering a new approach to game creation-one in which AI enables creators to work across traditional discipline boundaries, take greater ownership of ideas from concept through launch, and bring more great games to players.
What You'll Do
If you're passionate for rapid experimentation, enjoy navigating ambiguity, and love bringing ideas to life, you'll feel at home on this team.
We don't organize our work strictly around traditional disciplines. We believe AI enables skilled creators to contribute to more of the game development process than ever before. Whether your background is in engineering, design, art, or another discipline, we're looking for people who are excited to work across boundaries, develop new skills, and use AI to turn ideas into playable games.
As an AI Game Developer, you'll:
  • Own game ideas from concept through launch, helping to generate concepts and shape mechanics, player experiences, and creative direction.
  • Rapidly transform concepts into playable prototypes using AI-native workflows, modern game engines, and development tools.
  • Use AI to accelerate programming, design, art, content creation, testing, and production.
  • Design internal tools, automations, and agentic workflows that increase team velocity and unlock new creative possibilities.
  • Evaluate emerging AI technologies and experiment with new applications in game development.
  • Collaborate across disciplines to rapidly iterate on gameplay, features, and player experiences.
  • Launch prototypes to real players, analyze qualitative and quantitative feedback, and use those insights to guide future iterations.
  • Balance speed and quality by making thoughtful trade-offs that maximize learning.
  • Help define AI development practices that can scale across Scopely.
  • Challenge traditional game development workflows and help pioneer new approaches to creating games.
What We're Looking For
  • Strong expertise in at least one game development discipline, such as engineering, game design, art, technical art, or UX.
  • Enthusiasm for using AI to expand beyond your primary discipline and broaden your capabilities as a game creator.
  • Experience incorporating AI into creative or development workflows.
  • A preference for building, testing, and learning rather than relying on lengthy planning cycles.
  • Curiosity and adaptability, with an interest in learning new tools and techniques as the AI landscape evolves.
  • Strong product instincts and an understanding of what makes games engaging.
  • The ability to work effectively through ambiguity, rapid iteration, and changes in direction informed by player feedback.
  • Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.

For candidates in CA, CO, NJ, NY, and WA, the annual salary range is provided below. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for equity, bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare benefits, retirement benefits, pet insurance, paid holidays, paid Scopely free days, and unlimited paid time off. Base pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
CA, CO, NJ, NY, and WA Annual Salary Range
$169,600-$253,000 USD
About Scopely
Scopely is a leading video game and global interactive entertainment company, home to many of the world's most beloved and enduring experiences, including two of the most successful mobile games of all-time "MONOPOLY GO!" and "Pokémon GO," along with "Stumble Guys," "Star Trek™ Fleet Command," "MARVEL Strike Force," "WWE Champions," the Scrabble® franchise, "Yahtzee® With Buddies," and many others. Across mobile, web, PC, and console, Scopely creates, develops, publishes, and live-operates one of the most diversified and award-winning portfolios in the games industry - bringing hundreds of millions of players together through a shared love of play.
Founded in 2011, Scopely is powered by its exceptional team - including thousands of world-class gamemakers around the globe, a distinctive tenet-driven culture, and its proprietary technology platform, Playgami. Together, these strengths have fueled Scopely's position as the #1 mobile games company in the U.S. and #2 globally, generating more than $10 billion in lifetime revenue. Whether building global sensations like "MONOPOLY GO!" from the ground up, or expanding through strategic acquisitions, including the FoxNext, GSN, and Scopely Explore games businesses - Scopely consistently delivers experiences players love today and return to for years to come.
Recognized multiple times as one of the "100 Most Influential Companies in the World" by TIME magazine and one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" and "Best Workplaces for Innovators," Scopely believes that video games can be a force for good - creating meaningful connections, vibrant communities, and making life better through play.
Scopely has global operations and partners across four continents in more than a dozen countries worldwide. For more information, visit: https://www.scopely.com/.
Notice to Candidates: Scopely will never request payment or financial information during the application or hiring process. Please apply only through our official website and verify that all Talent Partner communications come from an email address ending in @scopely.com.
Should you have any questions or encounter any fraudulent requests/emails/websites, please immediately contact recruiting@scopely.com. Our job applicant privacy policies are available here: California Privacy Notice and EEA/UK Privacy Notice.
Employment at Scopely is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications. Scopely does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.