Senior Game Designer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

INTRODUCTION

Sneaky Sasquatch, one of Apple Arcade's most beloved original games, is a wholesome, open-world sandbox that has captured the hearts of millions of players across every age group. With a devoted fanbase and a universe full of untapped creative potential, Apple is building a team to carry Sneaky Sasquatch into its most ambitious and expansive chapter yet.

We are looking for a Game Designer who loves Sneaky Sasquatch deeply and is genuinely excited by the creative possibilities ahead. This is a rare opportunity to join Apple's newly formed first party games team and work directly alongside the original creators of Sneaky Sasquatch, helping to expand the world players already love while also laying the creative foundation for the future.

This is a hands-on, individual contributor role on a small, focused team with an indie spirit and the full backing of Apple. You will be a creative partner and multiplier, autonomous enough to develop and prototype ideas independently, and collaborative enough to bring those ideas to life together with a team of passionate, talented people who care deeply about making great games.

DESCRIPTION

As a Game Designer on the first party games team, you will help shape the creative future of one of Apple Arcade's most celebrated franchises. You will work in close partnership with the original creators of Sneaky Sasquatch to design and build systems and content that deepen the world players love, and to explore possible new game concepts that expand the Sneaky Sasquatch universe in fresh, unexpected directions.

Responsibilities

• Design systems-driven gameplay experiences, from interconnected mechanics and content frameworks to quests, activities, and world content, that create emergent stories and near-infinite replayability while capturing the humor, warmth, and charm that define Sneaky Sasquatch.

• Independently develop original gameplay concepts from early ideation through paper design, rapid prototyping, and playtesting, bringing sharp creative thinking and the initiative to move ideas forward.

• Collaborate as a trusted day-to-day creative partner with our third-party development studio, with international travel several times a year to work in person and build a close, ongoing creative relationship.

• Champion creative quality and consistency across all projects, acting as a steward of the creative vision that defines Sneaky Sasquatch.

• Prototype and test new gameplay ideas independently, from paper designs and in-engine experiments to standalone playable builds, validating concepts before committing to full development.

• Contribute to the creative culture of a team that is building something new and ambitious at Apple.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A love for games that are wholesome, charming, and endlessly surprising, and a genuine passion for the world of Sneaky Sasquatch, what it could become, and the hunger to help build its next chapter.

• A background in shipping games within genres that align with the Sneaky Sasquatch universe, including open-world, life simulation, cozy sandbox, or games celebrated for deep systems and player-driven storytelling, paired with a genuine love and deep understanding of what makes these games special.

• A passion for crafting activities, characters, and world moments that surprise and delight players, the kind of content that makes someone laugh, linger, and come back for more.

• Hands-on technical prototyping skills, including experience building playable prototypes in Unity or a comparable game engine.

• Strong opinions, loosely held and clearly articulated, about what makes games feel alive, surprising, and worth coming back to.

• A self-directed working style with the initiative to move ideas forward independently.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working closely with creative partners across internal teams and external studios.

• Comfortable working closely with external development partners or co-development studios, navigating creative alignment, providing constructive feedback, and maintaining a high quality bar and ensuring a consistent creative vision across teams.

• A proven appetite for pre-production and original concept development, building something from the ground up rather than expanding an existing template.

• Familiarity shipping on Apple platforms (iOS, tvOS, macOS, visionOS).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of professional game design experience, with a portfolio that demonstrates creative ownership and exceptional design instincts across shipped titles.

• A strong foundation in gameplay systems design, with an understanding of how activities, economies, and player progression work together to create a world that rewards curiosity and that players fall in love with.

• Confidence working hands-on in a game engine, navigating the editor and testing ideas independently as a natural part of your design process.

PAY & BENEFITS

At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $181,100 and $318,400, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.

Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about your EEO rights as an applicant.