Mid Level Design Director Jobs
Mid level design director jobs go to designers ready to own projects end to end, guide junior creatives, and drive visual decisions with limited oversight. Roles are 27% remote or hybrid, concentrated in Technology & Software, Retail, and Insurance, with AEVA, USAA, and Merck hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 26+ Mid Level Design Director jobs
General Information
- Location: Vancouver - Great Northern Way
- State: British Columbia
- Country: Canada
- Location: Madison
- State: Wisconsin
- Country: United States of America
Description & Requirements
Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars™ Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world's leading live service franchises.
Apex Legends is looking for a Director of Game Design (Game Modes) to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of innovative gameplay experiences that will shape the future of Apex for years to come. In this role, you will partner closely with leaders across Design, Production, Engineering, Art, UX, QA, Analytics, and Product Management to define and deliver game modes that deepen player engagement, expand the Apex experience, and support the long-term goals of a live service franchise.
As a Design Director, you will be responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the Modes team, growing and mentoring a team of designers and design leaders, and ensuring the highest standards of quality from concept through launch and live operations. You will champion Respawn's culture of creative ownership, candid feedback, and player-first thinking while helping evolve the design practices that enable the team to operate at its best.
This is an opportunity to have a lasting impact on one of the world's leading live service shooters while working alongside some of the most talented developers in the industry.
What You'll Do
Define and drive the long-term vision, strategy, and roadmap for game modes across Apex Legends.
Lead and develop a high-performing team of designers and design leaders, providing mentorship, career growth, performance management, and organizational guidance.
Partner with leadership across all disciplines to identify opportunities for innovation, investment, and growth within the Apex gameplay ecosystem.
Establish goals, priorities, and execution plans for the Modes team, ensuring alignment with franchise objectives and seasonal content strategies.
Guide game mode development from early ideation and prototyping through production, launch, and post-launch support.
Review, evaluate, and provide direction on game mode concepts, features, and gameplay systems to ensure they meet quality, engagement, and business objectives.
Champion player-focused design decisions informed by qualitative feedback, gameplay expertise, and live service performance data.
Collaborate with Engineering and Technical Design leadership to evolve tools, workflows, and technical capabilities that improve team efficiency and scalability.
Drive design excellence by establishing and advocating for best practices in design process, documentation, playtesting, feature scoping, and production planning.
Lead cross-functional design reviews and facilitate alignment on complex design and development challenges.
Partner with Production to identify risks, manage scope, and make informed tradeoff decisions throughout development.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Design organization.
Play the game regularly, maintain deep knowledge of the Apex player experience, and proactively provide feedback on all aspects of the product.
Help shape the future of Apex Legends by contributing to franchise-level planning, strategic initiatives, and long-term product vision.
What We're Looking For
10+ years of professional game design experience, including significant experience developing multiplayer games.
5+ years of leadership experience managing designers, design leads, or multidisciplinary design teams.
Experience leading game mode development or major gameplay initiatives for a live service title.
Deep expertise in multiplayer FPS design, player motivation, progression systems, and competitive gameplay.
Proven ability to establish vision, align stakeholders, and lead large-scale initiatives across multiple disciplines.
Strong understanding of live service development, content planning, and operating games through multiple seasons of post-launch support.
Experience building and scaling high-performing teams through mentorship, coaching, and talent development.
Strong communication, presentation, and organizational leadership skills.
Experience balancing player experience, technical constraints, production realities, and business objectives.
Proficiency with scripting, prototyping, or technical design workflows sufficient to effectively partner with technical teams and evaluate implementation approaches.
Passion for creating exceptional player experiences and collaborating with diverse perspectives.
Bonus Qualifications
Shipped multiple AAA multiplayer titles, including at least one live service game.
Experience leading game mode strategy for a competitive multiplayer FPS.
Expertise in player retention, engagement, and live service content ecosystems.
Experience managing managers or leading larger design organizations.
Familiarity with analytics-driven design methodologies and experimentation frameworks.
Deep knowledge of Apex Legends, its player community, and the factors that contribute to its success.
Strong perspective on the future of multiplayer game modes and a track record of turning vision into shipped player experiences.
Pay Transparency - North America
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
General Information
- Location: Vancouver - Great Northern Way
- State: British Columbia
- Country: Canada
- Location: Madison
- State: Wisconsin
- Country: United States of America
Description & Requirements
Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars™ Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world's leading live service franchises.
Apex Legends is looking for a Director of Game Design (Game Modes) to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of innovative gameplay experiences that will shape the future of Apex for years to come. In this role, you will partner closely with leaders across Design, Production, Engineering, Art, UX, QA, Analytics, and Product Management to define and deliver game modes that deepen player engagement, expand the Apex experience, and support the long-term goals of a live service franchise.
As a Design Director, you will be responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the Modes team, growing and mentoring a team of designers and design leaders, and ensuring the highest standards of quality from concept through launch and live operations. You will champion Respawn's culture of creative ownership, candid feedback, and player-first thinking while helping evolve the design practices that enable the team to operate at its best.
This is an opportunity to have a lasting impact on one of the world's leading live service shooters while working alongside some of the most talented developers in the industry.
What You'll Do
Define and drive the long-term vision, strategy, and roadmap for game modes across Apex Legends.
Lead and develop a high-performing team of designers and design leaders, providing mentorship, career growth, performance management, and organizational guidance.
Partner with leadership across all disciplines to identify opportunities for innovation, investment, and growth within the Apex gameplay ecosystem.
Establish goals, priorities, and execution plans for the Modes team, ensuring alignment with franchise objectives and seasonal content strategies.
Guide game mode development from early ideation and prototyping through production, launch, and post-launch support.
Review, evaluate, and provide direction on game mode concepts, features, and gameplay systems to ensure they meet quality, engagement, and business objectives.
Champion player-focused design decisions informed by qualitative feedback, gameplay expertise, and live service performance data.
Collaborate with Engineering and Technical Design leadership to evolve tools, workflows, and technical capabilities that improve team efficiency and scalability.
Drive design excellence by establishing and advocating for best practices in design process, documentation, playtesting, feature scoping, and production planning.
Lead cross-functional design reviews and facilitate alignment on complex design and development challenges.
Partner with Production to identify risks, manage scope, and make informed tradeoff decisions throughout development.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Design organization.
Play the game regularly, maintain deep knowledge of the Apex player experience, and proactively provide feedback on all aspects of the product.
Help shape the future of Apex Legends by contributing to franchise-level planning, strategic initiatives, and long-term product vision.
What We're Looking For
10+ years of professional game design experience, including significant experience developing multiplayer games.
5+ years of leadership experience managing designers, design leads, or multidisciplinary design teams.
Experience leading game mode development or major gameplay initiatives for a live service title.
Deep expertise in multiplayer FPS design, player motivation, progression systems, and competitive gameplay.
Proven ability to establish vision, align stakeholders, and lead large-scale initiatives across multiple disciplines.
Strong understanding of live service development, content planning, and operating games through multiple seasons of post-launch support.
Experience building and scaling high-performing teams through mentorship, coaching, and talent development.
Strong communication, presentation, and organizational leadership skills.
Experience balancing player experience, technical constraints, production realities, and business objectives.
Proficiency with scripting, prototyping, or technical design workflows sufficient to effectively partner with technical teams and evaluate implementation approaches.
Passion for creating exceptional player experiences and collaborating with diverse perspectives.
Bonus Qualifications
Shipped multiple AAA multiplayer titles, including at least one live service game.
Experience leading game mode strategy for a competitive multiplayer FPS.
Expertise in player retention, engagement, and live service content ecosystems.
Experience managing managers or leading larger design organizations.
Familiarity with analytics-driven design methodologies and experimentation frameworks.
Deep knowledge of Apex Legends, its player community, and the factors that contribute to its success.
Strong perspective on the future of multiplayer game modes and a track record of turning vision into shipped player experiences.
Pay Transparency - North America
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
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Find JobsMid Level Design Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
- AEVA1
- USAA1
- Merck1
- nanit1
- MOMENT1
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software4
- Retail2
- Insurance2
- Electronics & Hardware2
- Construction & Real Estate2
Mid Level Design Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a mid level design director job?
Position yourself around ownership, not just execution. Highlight projects where you made directional decisions, led a creative workstream, or mentored another designer. Tailor your portfolio to show systems thinking and brand consistency across deliverables, not just polished individual pieces. Hiring managers at this level want to see that you reduce ambiguity for a team, so frame your case studies around the problems you defined, not only the work you produced.
Which companies hire mid level design directors?
Companies hiring mid level design directors right now include AEVA, USAA, and Merck, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. At this level, hiring covers growth-stage startups building out their first design function and established brands expanding creative leadership below the VP tier.
Are there remote mid level design director jobs?
Yes, remote and hybrid options are common at this level. About 27% of mid level design director openings are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting strong employer demand for experienced designers who can lead creative work asynchronously and communicate direction clearly without daily in-person oversight.
How do I move up to a mid level design director role?
Moving from an entry-level design role into a mid level director position takes deliberate scope expansion. Focus on taking full ownership of discrete projects, volunteering to present creative rationale to stakeholders, and building fluency in design systems and brand strategy, not just craft. Measurable impact matters: document how your work affected campaign performance, product engagement, or team output. Employers use these signals to distinguish candidates ready to lead from those still executing under close direction.
Which industries hire the most mid level design directors?
Mid Level design director roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Retail, and Insurance, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. These sectors tend to drive hiring at this level because they maintain large enough creative functions to need dedicated directional leadership below the executive tier, while still moving fast enough to value designers who can own output independently.