Narrative Designer (Project Based Role)

Meow Wolf is seeking a Narrative Designer for a project-based role (7+ months) to develop story-driven quests across its interactive art exhibitions. The role involves high-level concepting, narrative design framework, and story beat creation for Questing across all Meow Wolf locations, collaborating with a game designer, and implementing the vision directly. This position is ideal for a seasoned developer with strong writing skills in video games, looking for exciting, innovative, and cutting-edge cross-media storytelling. The designer will integrate IP elements, define best practices, and write detailed design documentation.

Must Have

• Create, write, and implement story-driven quests.
• Integrate IP elements into questing.
• Define and maintain narrative design best practices.
• Write, test, iterate, and implement scripts & copy for quests.
• Write, update, and maintain detailed design documentation.
• Bachelor’s degree in English or Creative Writing or equivalent.
• 8+ years of game development experience, including a lead role.
• Experience as a writer/developer on a project with quests.
• Strong ability to create & write engaging characters.
• Familiarity with writing within existing IP constraints.

Good to Have

• Experience with AR, VR, or MR design.
• Familiarity with ARGs and next-gen storytelling systems.
• Ability to author strong content across various mediums.
• Passion for innovative storytelling across genres.
• Enjoy creative problem solving in a fast-paced environment.
• Preference for collaboration with large, cross-discipline teams.

Perks & Benefits

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests

Meow Wolf opens portals of possibility. Come as you are!

We are individuals who inspire creativity in people's lives through art and exploration, so that our combined imaginations can transform the world we live in. We create immersive and interactive experiences that transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration. Our Vision is to be the world’s leading creative company, reimagining the paradigm of art and storytelling, to make a positive difference in the world.

We share a strong commitment to Belonging through our values of:

• Collaborative Creativity: We believe the act of creating together amplifies possibilities.
• Provocative Playfulness: We celebrate the unexpected because it is the doorway to discovery.
• Outsiders Welcome: We are all outsiders at heart, and we create space for everyone to feel like they belong.
• Authentic Compassion: We are “kind punks” - supportive to each other and standing up for what we believe in.
• Audacious Courage: We have the courage to radically reinvent ourselves to push the boundaries of art.

If this all sounds like YOU, read on….

Job Description:

Project-Based Role: This is a project-based role with an anticipated duration of 7+ months.

Compensation: The salary for this position starts at $70,000. Compensation may vary based on location and experience.

Deadline: The deadline for submitting applications for this position is 1/15/2026. Meow Wolf reserves the right to extend this deadline if needed.

Meow Wolf is looking for a Narrative Designer to play an integral role in an ambitious new project that spans across all of our interactive art exhibitions. Your work will guide guests through the stories & characters of our exhibitions and elevate our original IP. The ideal candidate will collaborate heavily with a game designer to provide high-level concepting, narrative design framework, and story beats for Questing across all Meow Wolf locations, and then implement their vision directly.

This is an ideal role for a seasoned developer with proven writing chops in video games looking for something exciting, innovative, and on the cutting edge of what’s possible in cross-media storytelling.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with project leads & other developers to create, write, and implement a robust catalogue of story-driven quests across all Meow Wolf exhibitions
• Integrate IP elements from across Meow Wolf’s expanding portfolio of projects into Questing for a deep and compelling cross-media IP experience
• Define & maintain best practices for narrative design at Meow Wolf
• Help integrate narrative questing design into universal game & interactive systems across all exhibitions and related products
• Identify needs and parameters for narrative-focused features within the questing ecosystem
• Write, test, iterate on & implement scripts & copy for all quests
• Work with internal leadership to ensure quest content & dialogue meet the standards and priorities of Meow Wolf IP
• Work with the media team to develop any voiceover or media scripts for quests
• Write, update, and maintain detailed design documentation

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English or Creative Writing or equivalent relevant education & experience
• 8+ years of game development experience, including at least one shipped title in a Lead role
• Experience as a writer/developer on a project with quests or quest-like systems, preferably in a Lead or decision-making role
• Keen ability to partner and collaborate with key stakeholders across multiple teams & disciplines
• Strong ability to create & write exciting, memorable, and engaging characters
• Guest/player-focused mentality that aims for an exciting and frictionless Questing experience
• Familiarity with the constraints and requirements of writing within existing IP

• Experience with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), or mixed reality (MR) design, bridging physical and digital experiences is preferred.
• Familiarity with ARGs and other next-gen storytelling systems is preferred.
• Ability to author strong content across various mediums (games, screenwriting, prose etc.)
• Excitement and passion for innovative storytelling across a kaleidoscope of genres
• Enjoy creative problem solving in a fast-paced and collaborative environment
• Preference for collaboration with large, cross-discipline creative teams

Work Environment and Physical Demands

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed must be representative of the knowledge, skills, minimum education, training, licensure, experience, and/or ability required.

Work Environment:

This role is remote-friendly, with the flexibility to work from a home office or another suitable location that supports focused creative work and reliable connectivity. The Narrative Designer collaborates frequently with cross-disciplinary teams, including game designers, creative directors, engineers, and media developers, using digital communication tools such as video conferencing, Slack, Google Workspace, and project management platforms.

Work is typically performed in a professional, creative, and highly collaborative environment, requiring regular brainstorming sessions, documentation reviews, narrative development iterations, and meetings to align on story systems and quest design. Periodic, optional travel to Meow Wolf locations may be encouraged to experience exhibitions firsthand, participate in onsite workshops, or align teams around narrative direction.

The pace of work may fluctuate based on production schedules, with occasional need to adjust working hours to meet project milestones, conduct playtests, or coordinate with team members across time zones.

Physical Demands:

This role primarily involves sedentary, computer-based work, including extended periods of typing, writing, attending virtual meetings, reviewing scripts, and implementing narrative content within digital tools or game engines.

Physical requirements may include:

• Prolonged sitting or standing at a desk while performing writing, design, and documentation tasks
• Frequent use of standard office equipment such as a laptop, keyboard, mouse, webcam, or headphones
• Ability to visually review detailed documents, storyboards, and digital interfaces
• Occasional travel, which may involve navigating exhibition spaces, walking for extended periods, or standing during onsite reviews or playtests
• Occasional light lifting of up to 15 pounds (e.g., laptop bag, production materials)

The role requires clear verbal and written communication, creative problem-solving, and the ability to focus for sustained periods while developing story content and systems.

The employee will comply with company and OSHA standard workplace safety protocols. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position averaging 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm MT or 10am to 6pm MST – occasionally requiring flexibility to work during evenings or weekends based on business needs, as well as travel to off-site locations depending on the role and need.

Supervisor Responsibilities:

This position does not require supervisory responsibility.

Travel

This position will require some travel (10%-25%)

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IMPACT: Meow Wolf is committed to our DIY roots and grassroots community support principles. To document that commitment, we converted our legal designation into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation and have certified as a B Corporation. As a B Corp, we have a triple bottom line of supporting financial, social and environmental wellbeing in our community.

INCLUSION: Meow Wolf is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to ensuring all employees enjoy and thrive in a work environment where differences make us the vibrant, wonderful community we are! All employment decisions at Meow Wolf are based on business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, service in the military or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

BENEFITS:

The choices we make concerning our benefits during enrollment periods are among the most important we select for ourselves and our families. As part of the total compensation package for full-time employees, Meow Wolf offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes various options to meet individual healthcare and financial needs along with many perks.

• Medical Insurance options: PPO & HDHP*
• Dental and Vision Insurance*
• HSA, HRA, and FSA options*
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Company paid Life Insurance Policy and Disability Coverage(s)*
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Life Insurance Policies*
• Company Paid Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave for 12 weeks
• Discount off Meow Wolf Gift Shop Merch and Cafes
• Admission to Meow Wolf attractions for employees and guests

*Regular or Project Based Full-time positions