Join Pipeworks Studios and make your mark on the gaming industry as a Lead Level Designer for an exciting, recently announced Unreal-based AAA project. You’ll be leading level block-outs to define key action and narrative beats through a solo, first-person, stealth, action-adventure title. Based in the vibrant tech hub of Eugene, Oregon, with the flexibility of full remote work, this role is your chance to literally set the stage for a world-wide audience to experience the thrills and chills you devise in collaboration with world-class developers. Immerse yourself in a role that blends deep game experience with creative problem-solving, all while enjoying competitive benefits and being part of a dynamic, innovation-driven community.
The ideal Level Game Designer II is a deeply experienced industry professional that may function as a direct contributor and/or lead on a project. This role includes mentoring junior designers, working independently, and collaborating with stakeholders and clients across disciplines with a focus on in-engine world and level design and implementation within the Unreal 5 engine.
Responsibilities
- Act as project, system, or content lead or high-level contributor to collaboratively create, communicate, and manage tasks for yourself and the project team
- Drive level design via block-outs defining flow through interest, action, and narrative
- Contribute to level design at all stages (gym, white box, playable, final)
- Collaborate with engineers and other staff to ensure the successful implementation of game mechanics and features within levels
- Communicate with external stakeholders, including clients, per project requirements
- Help identify ways to grow the creativity and efficiency of the design team
- Occasional travel, per project requirements
Must Haves
- Extensive and demonstrable Unreal level design experience
- Strong leadership and collaboration skills
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience in managing complicated projects
- Current/up-to-date experience with source control solutions
- Familiarity w/ Jira, Confluence, or equivalent task tracking and collaborative environments
- Communicate effectively with all levels of staff, both written and verbal
- Show exceptional deductive reasoning skills
- Work with and lead teams, including taking direction and inspiring others
- Assist in solving problems in resourceful ways
- Organize and communicate complex systems and data with an attention to detail
- Work well in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Be flexible to changing priorities
- Ability to lead teams and 3rd parties remotely
Nice-To-Have Skills
- FPS and/or 3rd person action experience
- Shipped games on multiple platforms
Education & Experience Required
- 5+ years relevant work experience in Game Design
- 1-2+ commercial titles shipped as lead or key contributor
- Unreal 5 Experience
A Flexible Working Environment
Almost all of our roles allow for your choice of work location. We're happy to support our team no matter where they prefer to work: remote, in office, or hybrid.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- 401K with employer match
- Employer Paid Life Insurance Policy
- Generous Paid Time Off
- 20 Paid Company Holidays
- Relocation
- Paid Parental Leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Fitness Club Discounts
- Sports Team Sponsorship
- Annual Company Events
- Project Wrap Parties
A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Pipeworks Studios recognizes the importance of creating an environment where all of our employees feel included and empowered to bring ideas to the the table. We value each employee's unique experiences and perspectives and recognize that it is both the smart and right thing to foster diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization.
By diversifying our workforce, increasing equity, and ensuring that our individual differences are valued, we are better able to deliver an experience that reflects, inspires, and connects with our audience... because games are for everyone!
Pipeworks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
Go to Pipeworks.com to see some of our continued efforts and our latest Diversity Report.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in a job description. Our top priority is finding the best candidate for the job and if you are interested in the position, we would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications above.
While you may not know us, you certainly know our clients: Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Electronic Arts, and many more. Since 1999, Pipeworks has been helping define what’s next in real-world interactions by creating innovative, best-selling, cross-platform live games for top-tier publishers and properties.
We believe that games have the ability to transform the world outside the realm of traditional consumer games and that our people are the catalyst for making this vision a reality. In the center of our universe lies our people, players, and a deep-rooted passion for games that has created several multi-million dollar best-sellers, compelling original concepts, and a disruptive imagination that continues to explore how games can transform industries outside our own. We are seeking exceptionally talented and entrepreneurial game creators as we lead into the future of digital entertainment.
What products, ideas, dreams, and change will you help us create?