Mission Designer

Santa Monica · On-site$100k – $115k

About this role

Summary 

We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in-class storytelling with action gameplay for an all-new open world IP built in Unreal Engine 5. As a Mission Designer, you will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team and be a hands-on contributor and implementer of story missions including critical path and side missions alongside single-player campaign features. 

Core Responsibilities 

  • Own implementation of engaging, diverse, innovative missions within a story-driven, open-world game. 
  • Work with the Lead Mission Designer to develop best practices and robust solutions for faster iteration across the team. 
  • Challenge the status quo and demonstrate understanding of where open-world mission design can change and where it’s already working. 
  • Build brand new, innovative game systems for missions that can help define core features across the rest of the game. 
  • Leverage the game's existing open-world systems and mechanics to create dynamic and unpredictable mission experiences that adapt to player choices and actions. 
  • Provide feedback to other mission designers to improve the quality of the design and storytelling. 
  • Create documentation to support missions, mission tools, and game features developed for missions. 
  • Ability to implement and design changes based on play testing data from both internal and external sources. 

Core Qualifications 

  • 1-2+ years of experience building mission content, ideally within an open-world game. 
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
  • Innovative thinker with creative problem-solving skills who can thrive in a collaborative team environment. 
  • High-quality portfolio showcasing previous scripting, encounter or mission design work in games. 
  • Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. 

 Plus If... 

  • Experience building game-wide systems or features. 
  • Experience with level design, blockout or world-building. 
  • Experience in UE4 or UE5. 
  • Experience working with co-development partners. 
  • Experience working on an open world title. 

Description  

  • Full time job with benefits  
  • Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA 
  • Office is located near downtown Santa Monica – near metro and freeways. 

The base pay range for this position is $100,000 to $115,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity. 

Company at a glance

Absurd Ventures is a storytelling-driven entertainment company creating original video games, live-action and animated film and television, audio fiction, books, comic books, and more. Absurd Ventures’ original properties include the sci-fi thriller universe “A Better Paradise”, the crime fiction universe “American Caper,” and the comedy satire universe “Absurdaverse”. The company has already launched a chart-topping A Better Paradise audio fiction series and a bestselling American Caper comic book series and will be debuting Absurdaverse animation projects in 2026. Founded by Dan Houser, Absurd Ventures is headquartered in Santa Monica, with additional studio offices in Marin, CA.

Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence.

Team Size51-200 employees
WorkspaceOn-site
IndustryEntertainment Providers
Location
Santa Monica, California, United States

Top Benefits

  • Paid time off
  • Sick time
  • Company holidays
  • Parental leave
  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Disability insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Bonus
  • Equity

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