Level Designer

Black Ember Games, an all-new development team within Xsolla, is looking for a Level Designer to join our Design team building an asymmetrical multiplayer FPS using Unreal Engine 5. Our small internal team operates with an indie mindset, fueled by our passion for games. We're a diverse, lively group dedicated to exploring new ideas within genres we love to play. We enjoy a hybrid work model, collaborating in our central Berlin and Novi Sad offices. Full remote is a possibility. As a Level Designer, you will work first hand in creating levels that are functional, support the gameplay intentions, capture the imagination of the players and tell interesting and meaningful stories. As a team with an indie mindset, we are not adherent to a stringent hierarchy and set of processes… if you know a better way to do something, bring that to the table, discuss, and set a new direction with design leadership.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively with all departments, raising design risks early and providing actionable feedback throughout development.
• Design, prototype, and implement competitive multiplayer maps for first-person shooter gameplay in Unreal Engine 5.
• Create compelling, balanced, and readable gameplay spaces that promote fair, tactical, and engaging encounters.
• Define and iterate on level flow, chokepoints, sightlines, spawn logic, and cover placement to support diverse playstyles and weapon ranges.
• Block out and iterate on level geometry using UE5 tools such as, UE Modelling Tools, World Partition, Blueprints, and Data Layers to ensure fluid movement and strong spatial readability.
• Collaborate closely with all other disciplines to bring maps from concept to polished, playable experiences.
• Implement and script level ingredients, objectives, and interactive elements (e.g., capture zones, respawn systems, dynamic elements) using Blueprints.
• Conduct regular playtests, gather feedback from internal and external players, and iterate rapidly to refine balance, flow, and player engagement.
• Contribute to design documentation to ensure clarity and consistency across the design team.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of professional level design experience in the video game industry, using Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Proven ability to design, build, and iterate on game levels from blockout to final polish.
• Deep understanding of first-person shooter mechanics, including weapon ranges, line-of-sight design, player movement, cover systems, and spawn logic.
• Strong knowledge of competitive balance, flow, timing, and readability principles in PvP map design.
• Experience with metrics-based design and data-informed iteration.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine 5.
• Experience with source control systems (Perforce) and collaborative workflows.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills — able to interpret gameplay goals and translate them into compelling level experiences.
• Fluent English communication (written and verbal).

Preferred

• Experience designing for multiple FPS, TPS or action adventure titles.
• Understanding of AI pathing and bot navigation for testing and balancing PvP environments.
• Knowledge of lighting and material optimization for visibility and performance in competitive shooters.
• Understanding of optimization for multiplayer environments, including collision, lighting, and performance profiling.
• Familiarity with multiplayer shooter level design principles (readability, fairness, learnability).
• Passion for multiplayer shooters and a strong grasp of current genre standards (e.g., Counter-Strike, Rainbow 6 Siege, or Valorant).

At Xsolla, we are passionate about providing a conducive environment for our team to thrive personally and professionally. Our Benefits Program caters to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our full-time employees. Understanding the detrimental effects of burnout, we offer unlimited Flexible Time Off and 28 paid holidays each year. Personal and professional development is a cornerstone of our ethos at Xsolla. Each employee has a personalized career roadmap, developed in partnership with their manager, aligning individual and company goals. We support this growth through in-house training, independent study, conference attendance, and higher education opportunities.

About company

Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the video game industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in Berlin, Seoul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, and cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Twitch, Roblox, Ubisoft, Epic Games, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, Pearl Abyss, NCSoft, and more. By submitting the following job application form, you consent to Xsolla processing your data for career-related inquiries and potential employment opportunities. We process your data in accordance with this Xsolla Privacy Notice for Job Applicants. Please direct any inquiries regarding GDPR or CCPA to careers@xsolla.com