ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Video Game Level Designer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special ... Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both ...

Epic Games

Technical Designer in Animation

Cary, NC · On-site

Create documentation and deliver training to level up the animation team's technical fluency * Collaborate with Technical Designers in Animation (TDiA) across Epic Games to share solutions, align ...

Epic Games

Environment Outsource Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Collect or generate detailed documentation, video references, and examples of art asset production ... Communicate cross-discipline with artists, level designers, game designers, and production to ...

Firaxis

Director of UI/UX

Cary, NC · On-site

$145K - $215K/yr

Present and pitch designs to the Creative Director, Game Directors and Franchise Leadership ... in video games.to design features and complex UX systems and complete them across multiple ...

Firaxis

Director of UI/UX

Cary, NC

$145K - $215K/yr

Present and pitch designs to the Creative Director, Game Directors and Franchise Leadership ... in video games.to design features and complex UX systems and complete them across multiple ...

2K

Director of UI/UX

Cary, NC · On-site

$145K - $215K/yr

Present and pitch designs to the Creative Director, Game Directors and Franchise Leadership ... in video games.to design features and complex UX systems and complete them across multiple ...

2K

Director of UI/UX

Cary, NC

$145K - $215K/yr

Present and pitch designs to the Creative Director, Game Directors and Franchise Leadership ... in video games.to design features and complex UX systems and complete them across multiple ...

Epic Games

Character Outsource Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... Collect or create detailed documentation, video references, production examples, and engine ...

Epic Games

Lead Environment Concept Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $135K/yr

... designs, paint-overs, and reference sheets * Understanding of downstream game development workflows and how concept art supports environment art, lighting, level design, and VFX production

NCSU

Studios Student Advisor

Raleigh, NC

The Studios include the Makerspace, Gaming & VR Studio, Digital Media Lab at the Hill Library as ... video editing, 3D scanning, audio production, graphic design, Virtual Reality, desktop PC and ...

Epic Games

Senior Environment Concept Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

... designs that support the visual identity and storytelling needs of the project * Collaborate closely with environment art, level design, lighting, VFX, and gameplay teams to ensure concepts support ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsVideo Game Level Designer JobsVideo Game Level Designer Jobs in Raleigh, NC

Video Game Level Designer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$12

$18

$22

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

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game level designer in Raleigh, NC is $18.04, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $19.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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.
More about Video Game Level Designer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Video Game Level Designer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Video Game Level Designer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Video Game Level Designer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Video Game Level Designer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What cities near Raleigh, NC are hiring for Video Game Level Designer jobs? Cities near Raleigh, NC with the most Video Game Level Designer job openings:
Video Game Level Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Level Designer job openings in Raleigh, NC as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 91% In-person, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $37,522 per year, or $18 per hour.
Character Animation Lead

Character Animation Lead

Epic Games

Cary, NC • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 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.
ART
What We Do
Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character, and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special Projects team to help drive the vision and execution of character animation across experimental and gameplay-driven prototypes. You will combine strong animation fundamentals with technical fluency in Unreal Engine to build responsive, expressive, and scalable animation systems. You will act as a bridge between animation and engineering - helping to define workflows, shape systems, and solve complex problems at the intersection of gameplay and motion. This role requires both hands-on creation and leadership: setting quality bars, guiding others, and helping a small team move quickly without sacrificing clarity or craft.
In this role, you will
  • Lead the creation and implementation of high-quality, gameplay-driven animation in Unreal Engine
  • Prototype and iterate on new approaches to character movement, responsiveness, and player-driven animation
  • Collaborate closely with engineers and technical designers to design scalable, flexible animation systems. Excite those around you with creative and clear thinking
  • Own animation quality and leadership across projects, ensuring a strong and consistent point of view
  • Translate gameplay needs into animation behaviors that feel intuitive and responsive
  • Debug and solve complex animation and integration issues in the engine
  • Contribute to and help evolve animation pipelines, tools, and workflows for rapid iteration
  • Mentor and support other animators, fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and craft excellence
What we're looking for
  • Expert-level understanding of character animation principles, with the ability to deliver both realistic and stylized motion; experience with motion matching, procedural animation, or emerging animation technologies is a plus
  • Deep experience working in Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blending, and runtime systems
  • Strong understanding of gameplay animation-how input, timing, and responsiveness shape player experience
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and technical designers on complex, system-driven features
  • Experience building or contributing to animation systems (not just assets), including debugging and iteration in-engine
  • Animating in-engine using Unreal Engine animation tools; familiarity with Control Rig and runtime rigging workflows in Unreal Engine
  • Comfort working in ambiguous, exploratory environments with rapid iteration cycles
  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance creative goals with technical constraints
  • Experienced AAA development or equivalent real-time production environments
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills
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.
ABOUT US
Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 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.

Apply