Level Designer
Department: Design
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Eugene, OR
Compensation: $70,000 - $92,000 / year
Description
Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA action-adventure title set within a legendary franchise.
This role will design, build, and iterate on locations and points of interest that combine exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, and environmental storytelling. As part of a co-development team, the designer will collaborate closely with developers at Pipeworks and the project’s core development team while taking meaningful ownership of assigned spaces.
This is a full-time temporary role with the possibility of extension or conversion to regular full-time employment after six months. Our studio is based in Eugene, Oregon, and the role may be performed remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or in the office.
Day To Day
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with level design leadership to define the goals, intended player experience, and quality bar for assigned content.
- Design, block out, implement, and iterate on open-world locations and points of interest in Unreal Engine 5.
- Create readable and engaging gameplay spaces that support exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, pacing, challenge, and environmental storytelling.
- Use Blueprint and project-specific tools to implement objectives, triggers, encounter logic, scripted behaviors, state changes, and other interactive content.
- Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements to support intended player behaviors and challenge.
- Collaborate with design, engineering, art, production, QA, and partner teams to communicate design intent, resolve dependencies, and incorporate feedback.
- Participate in playtests and design reviews, identify problems with flow or player experience, and iterate based on findings.
- Create and maintain clear documentation, layout callouts, encounter notes, task updates, and acceptance criteria.
- Maintain organized content, naming conventions, source control practices, and general level hygiene.
- Identify risks, blockers, and dependencies early, and adapt effectively as project priorities or creative direction change.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Must Have Skills
- Professional experience designing and implementing gameplay spaces in Unreal Engine 5 or a comparable modern game engine.
- Practical experience using Blueprint or similar visual scripting tools to prototype and implement level-specific gameplay.
- Strong understanding of level design fundamentals, including spatial composition, navigation, gameplay flow, sightlines, traversal, pacing, readability, and player guidance.
- Experience creating encounters, puzzles, activities, or other interactive content within authored or open-world spaces.
- Ability to work with AI behaviors, gameplay objects, scripted events, triggers, and environmental content.
- Strong creative problem-solving skills and the ability to iterate within technical, production, and scope constraints.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across disciplines and with external development partners.
- Familiarity with source control and collaboration tools such as Perforce, Jira, and Confluence, or equivalent tools.
- Strong organization and attention to detail in a fast-paced, distributed development environment.
Nice-To-Have Skills
- Experience developing open-world action-adventure content or comparable systemic, exploration-driven gameplay spaces.
- Experience designing traversal challenges, environmental puzzles, or open-world activities.
- Experience working in a AAA full or co-development environment.
Education and Experience
- Level Designer I candidates should generally have two or more years of relevant professional experience. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to independently build and iterate on assigned level content while working with regular guidance from more experienced designers. Professional contribution to at least one shipped AA or AAA project is preferred.
- Level Designer II candidates should generally have five or more years of relevant professional experience and experience contributing to at least two shipped AA or AAA projects. Candidates should demonstrate substantial ownership of levels, locations, encounters, or other authored gameplay content, along with greater autonomy in planning, implementation, iteration, and problem-solving
- A portfolio demonstrating level layouts, playable spaces, blockouts, or shipped level-design work is preferred.
What We Can Offer You
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
- 18-20 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.
