Senior Game Designer Jobs
Senior Game Designer jobs are open across AAA studios, indie developers, mobile publishers, and edtech companies, from mid-level to principal and creative director, with specializations in systems design, level design, and narrative design. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game "Poppy Playtime". This franchise is one of the hottest new properties in gaming, and our team is naturally expanding as our ambition expands. To give a taste of our brand's popularity, more than 100 billion YouTube views of Poppy Playtime related content have occurred since the game's launch 4 years ago.
Role Overview
We are looking for a Senior AI Game Designer with experience crafting systemic NPC's for combat and experiential moments. This role is ideal for someone who has worked on narrative or survival-horror titles as well as action/adventure games.
You will own designing and implementing AI that will be used in systemic combat encounters as well as narratively driven sequences. You will be collaborating with technical animators and engineers regularly to ensure that your creations can be used as intended in the game.
This is a highly hands-on role that blends documentation, technical implementation in Unreal, and collaboration with other disciplines.
This role reports to the lead designer and you will frequently be collaborating with the game director and team leadership.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design of AI including documenting, implementing and balancing
- Create behavior graphs for different types of AI
- Work with animators and tech anim to create compelling movement and behavior for your creations.
- Collaborate with AI engineers on enemy behavior and perception systems
- Prototype behavior in blueprint as needed
- Create and maintain design documentation on confluence
- Break features into actionable Jira tasks and partner with Production on scope and estimates
- Proactively seek feedback from the team and iterate on features
- Work closely with the level design team to help them integrate AI properly
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years professional game design experience with at least one shipped title having worked on systemic AI directly
- Direct experience designing behavior graphs
- Knowledge of Unreal Engine or equivalent visual scripting language
- Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on mechanics
- Experience documenting designs clearly and collaborating through Jira/Confluence
- Proven ability to own features from concept through ship
- Excellent cross-discipline communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a horror title
- Programming understanding
- A flair for spectacle and cinematic experiences
- Experience with console or PC premium titles
What Success Looks Like
- You are autonomously driving AI creation by interacting with animators and engineers to move things forward
- The systemic AI do not break immersion and add to the atmosphere
- Players describe the encounters as interesting, clever and challenging
- You set clear goals for yourself and present frequent updates where you update on where things are and where things are going in a way that builds confidence
Salary Range
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Final compensation within the applicable
salary range will be determined based on factors such as the applicant's experience,
qualifications, and work location.
San Francisco, CA; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; & DC
Metropolitan Areas: $155,000–$177,000 USD annually
Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; & Miami, FL
Metropolitan Areas: $147,000-163,000 USD annually
All Other U.S. Locations: $135,000–$150,000 USD annually
Benefits
Mob Entertainment offers the following benefits to all eligible U.S.-based full-time employees:
profit sharing; medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching; FSA/HSA; paid time off;
sick time; holidays; and parental leave
#LI-Remote
Mob Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and complies with all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, military service, or any other protected class under applicable state or local law. Mob Entertainment also considers all qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with Fair Chance laws as well as any other applicable state and local laws.
Mob Entertainment is a startup multimedia studio that is best known for our hit indie horror game "Poppy Playtime". This franchise is one of the hottest new properties in gaming, and our team is naturally expanding as our ambition expands. To give a taste of our brand's popularity, more than 100 billion YouTube views of Poppy Playtime related content have occurred since the game's launch 4 years ago.
Role Overview
We are looking for a Senior AI Game Designer with experience crafting systemic NPC's for combat and experiential moments. This role is ideal for someone who has worked on narrative or survival-horror titles as well as action/adventure games.
You will own designing and implementing AI that will be used in systemic combat encounters as well as narratively driven sequences. You will be collaborating with technical animators and engineers regularly to ensure that your creations can be used as intended in the game.
This is a highly hands-on role that blends documentation, technical implementation in Unreal, and collaboration with other disciplines.
This role reports to the lead designer and you will frequently be collaborating with the game director and team leadership.
Responsibilities
- Lead the design of AI including documenting, implementing and balancing
- Create behavior graphs for different types of AI
- Work with animators and tech anim to create compelling movement and behavior for your creations.
- Collaborate with AI engineers on enemy behavior and perception systems
- Prototype behavior in blueprint as needed
- Create and maintain design documentation on confluence
- Break features into actionable Jira tasks and partner with Production on scope and estimates
- Proactively seek feedback from the team and iterate on features
- Work closely with the level design team to help them integrate AI properly
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years professional game design experience with at least one shipped title having worked on systemic AI directly
- Direct experience designing behavior graphs
- Knowledge of Unreal Engine or equivalent visual scripting language
- Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on mechanics
- Experience documenting designs clearly and collaborating through Jira/Confluence
- Proven ability to own features from concept through ship
- Excellent cross-discipline communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a horror title
- Programming understanding
- A flair for spectacle and cinematic experiences
- Experience with console or PC premium titles
What Success Looks Like
- You are autonomously driving AI creation by interacting with animators and engineers to move things forward
- The systemic AI do not break immersion and add to the atmosphere
- Players describe the encounters as interesting, clever and challenging
- You set clear goals for yourself and present frequent updates where you update on where things are and where things are going in a way that builds confidence
Salary Range
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Final compensation within the applicable
salary range will be determined based on factors such as the applicant's experience,
qualifications, and work location.
San Francisco, CA; New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Seattle, WA; Boston, MA; & DC
Metropolitan Areas: $155,000–$177,000 USD annually
Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; & Miami, FL
Metropolitan Areas: $147,000-163,000 USD annually
All Other U.S. Locations: $135,000–$150,000 USD annually
Benefits
Mob Entertainment offers the following benefits to all eligible U.S.-based full-time employees:
profit sharing; medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) matching; FSA/HSA; paid time off;
sick time; holidays; and parental leave
#LI-Remote
Mob Entertainment is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and complies with all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, military service, or any other protected class under applicable state or local law. Mob Entertainment also considers all qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with Fair Chance laws as well as any other applicable state and local laws.
Senior Game Designer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Senior Game Designer JobsSenior Game Designer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Riot Games10
- Epic Games3
- PlayStation3
- Electronic Arts3
- Akima2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software22
- Gaming & Esports5
- Media & Entertainment4
- Retail1
- Distribution & Wholesale1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior game designer jobs.
- 5 or more years of game design experience with at least one shipped title
- Deep proficiency in industry tools such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or proprietary engines
- Strong systems design skills including game economy, progression, and balance tuning
- Experience writing and maintaining detailed game design documents and feature specs
- Ability to lead cross-functional collaboration with engineers, artists, and producers
- Familiarity with playtesting methodologies and data-driven iteration on live games
Tips for Your Senior Game Designer Job Search
Tailor your resume to design pillars
List the specific design pillars you own, systems, economy, progression, combat, rather than generic credits. Hiring managers scan for ownership, so name the exact features you shipped and the platforms they shipped on.
Build a portfolio with annotated breakdowns
Show one or two deep case studies where you explain your design decisions, what you iterated on, and why. Studios hiring senior talent want to see your reasoning process, not just screenshots of finished levels or UI flows.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists senior game designer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by design discipline
Senior game designer roles vary widely between systems, narrative, and level design, and each requires a different portfolio focus. Search by discipline keyword to avoid spending time on roles that don't match your specialization or the tools you know.
Prepare a design challenge walkthrough
Many studios send a take-home design challenge or ask you to whiteboard a mechanic live. Practice talking through your design process out loud, including constraints you assumed, options you rejected, and how you would test your solution.
Negotiate scope before you negotiate salary
In offer conversations, clarify what you will own day one versus what is still in flux. Senior designers who push for role clarity before signing avoid the common trap of inheriting a project mid-crisis with no real authority to make changes.
Senior Game Designer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most senior game designers?
The companies hiring the most senior game designers right now include Riot Games, Epic Games, and PlayStation, with the largest share of openings in California, Washington, and Nevada, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Demand is concentrated at studios actively developing new titles or expanding live-service games.
How many senior game designer jobs are remote?
About 32% of senior game designer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting a broader shift in how studios staff experienced designers. Systems design and narrative design roles tend to offer the most remote flexibility, while level design and production-heavy positions are more often tied to a studio location.
How do you become a senior game designer?
You typically reach a senior game designer role by shipping multiple titles in a mid-level design position, building deep expertise in one or two design disciplines, and demonstrating that you can lead design decisions without heavy oversight. Contributing to post-launch live operations, mentoring junior designers, and maintaining a portfolio with annotated case studies all accelerate the path.
Can you get hired as a senior game designer with limited experience?
Getting hired at the senior level with limited shipped credits is difficult but not impossible if you can show design depth another way. A portfolio of detailed design documents, published mods, or documented independent projects that demonstrate systems thinking can substitute for traditional studio credits, especially at smaller studios or startups building their first title.
What does the senior game designer interview process look like?
Most studios run a multi-stage process that starts with a recruiter screen, followed by a portfolio review with the design lead, and then a design challenge, either a take-home brief or a live whiteboard session. Final rounds typically involve cross-functional conversations with engineers and producers and a discussion of how you handle design conflict, scope changes, and feedback from multiple stakeholders.
Where can I find and apply to senior game designer jobs?
You can find and apply to senior game designer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from studios and publishers across the United States. Find roles that match your discipline and experience level from the listings and apply directly to each one.
See All 49 Senior Game Designer Jobs
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