Senior Mission Designer

Role overview

Design and deliver one or more complete missions for an open-world or linear third-person game, from early concept through implementation and polish. Working with a mission director and a multidisciplinary development team, you will combine level layout, combat, gameplay, and narrative into playable experiences. This is a six-month contract engagement, described as flexible and potentially remote.

Responsibilities

- Turn creative briefs into mission pitches, layouts, scripted sequences, and finished playable content, incorporating direction as it evolves. - Build and refine mission spaces, pacing, player flow, and encounters using 3D layout and game editing tools. - Coordinate with combat, writing, narrative, environment art, and gameplay programming to integrate their work into the mission. - Prototype gameplay mechanics and mission-specific sequences, and collaborate with programmers on implementation. - Gather feedback, iterate on design, resolve bugs, and keep assigned missions playable throughout production. - Improve player understanding, narrative clarity, tutorials, difficulty, and accessibility; document and communicate status, changes, and dependencies.

Requirements

- At least five years of professional game design experience, including a shipped title as a level or mission designer. - Experience taking mission or level content from initial concept through release. - Strong understanding of 3D blockout, composition, and player flow. - Proficiency with a modern game engine or comparable proprietary tools, including hands-on scripting and prototyping. - Experience with level editing tools and scripting, plus working knowledge of Maya or another major 3D modeling program. - Strong written, verbal, and visual communication skills for working across disciplines.

Nice to have

- Experience designing missions or levels for third-person games. - Familiarity with Adobe Illustrator or Unreal Engine Blueprint scripting. - Working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools.

Benefits and work setup

The engagement is a six-month contract and may be remote, with pay varying by location. The source gives an example hourly range of $70–$80 for Seattle. Medical, dental, and vision benefits are listed as available for this role.