Are you an experienced Lead Level Designer with a passion for crafting exceptional player experiences and leading high-performing design teams?
Join an ambitious game development studio working on a brand-new IP, where you'll lead the level design discipline and play a critical role in shaping both the game's world and the team building it. This is an exciting opportunity for a proven design leader who thrives on mentoring talent, driving quality and collaborating across disciplines to deliver memorable gameplay experiences.
About the role
As Lead Level Designer, you will lead and support the level design team, ensuring levels deliver on gameplay, narrative and player experience goals. Working closely with the Creative Director, Game Design, Narrative Design and Production teams, you'll help define the direction of the game while overseeing the execution and quality of all level design content.
This role combines people leadership, project planning and hands-on design direction, making it ideal for an experienced level design leader looking to have a significant impact on a new IP.
What you'll do
- Lead, mentor and develop the level design team throughout the project lifecycle.
- Manage recruitment, performance management and career development within the discipline.
- Collaborate with design, narrative, art and production teams to deliver a cohesive player experience.
- Review and provide feedback on level layouts, gameplay flows and implementation.
- Ensure levels effectively support gameplay systems, narrative delivery and exploration.
- Champion player experience and advocate for the target audience throughout development.
- Drive playtesting initiatives and ensure feedback is incorporated into level improvements.
- Work closely with Production to support planning, scheduling and milestone delivery.
- Oversee the creation, maintenance and quality of level design documentation.
- Partner with project leadership to maintain alignment with the overall creative vision.
- Foster strong collaboration and communication across all development disciplines.
What we're looking for
Experience
- Experience as a Lead Level Designer on at least one shipped PC or console title.
- Experience managing and mentoring level designers.
- Credits on at least two shipped PC or console games.
- Proven experience leading the development of levels for first-person or third-person gameplay experiences.
- Experience collaborating closely with multidisciplinary development teams.
Skills
- Expert knowledge of level design principles, workflows and best practices.
- Strong understanding of gameplay pacing, player guidance and environmental storytelling.
- Experience leading teams and supporting career progression for designers.
- Strong knowledge of Unreal Engine 5, including Blueprint systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organisational and project planning skills.
- Ability to balance creative quality with production requirements.
- Passion for creating engaging and memorable player experiences.
Nice to have
- Experience designing non-linear levels.
- Experience creating player-driven exploration experiences with multiple solutions and approaches.
- Experience working on original IPs or early-stage game development.
Working style / behaviours
- Collaborative and supportive leader.
- Passionate about developing people and growing teams.
- Player-focused in decision making.
- Comfortable giving clear feedback and direction.
- Organised and proactive.
- Strong advocate for quality and continuous improvement.
- Effective communicator across all levels of a project team.
Why join?
- Help shape a brand-new IP from an early stage.
- Lead and grow a talented level design team.
- Work alongside experienced creative and development leaders.
- Have a direct impact on the game's direction and player experience.
- Join a supportive studio culture that values creativity, collaboration and innovation.
- Opportunity to influence both the game and the evolution of the level design discipline.
If you're a seasoned Lead Level Designer who enjoys mentoring others, defining player experiences and building innovative gameplay spaces, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now or email Joe McKernan - jm@skillsearch.com
