Game Designer / Level Designer

Kaiko; Frankfurt (Oder); Hybrid; EUR 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work setup in Frankfurt (onsite

Health / dental insurance

Flexible working time

Job summary

Kaiko GmbH is seeking a Game / Level Designer to craft levels, missions and gameplay scenarios using our core mechanics. You will take ideas from concept through prototyping and whitebox to hand off levels to art, guiding pacing and player experience.

The role requires creative thinking and technical understanding, working with Game Direction, Design, Code, Art, and Tech Art. Hybrid work setup in Germany is offered with strong collaboration across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Mid to Senior level experience in Level Design and/or Game Design.
• At least one shipped game in a relevant role.
• Strong experience designing action-oriented gameplay and combat encounters.
• Proven ability to create engaging levels with clear pacing and player guidance.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and blockout workflows.
• Solid understanding of visual aesthetics, composition, flow and readability.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g. JavaScript, Lua or Python).
• Good technical understanding of game engines and design tools.
• Experience working through the full level production pipeline.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Ability to iterate quickly, present ideas clearly, and adapt based on feedback.
• Fluent in English.
• Valid work permit for Germany.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement levels, missions, and gameplay scenarios.
• Create whitebox/blockout levels for rapid prototyping and playtesting.
• Develop engaging combat encounters, traversal challenges, and puzzle setups.
• Translate gameplay features into varied and interesting player experiences.
• Ensure strong pacing, composition, player guidance, and flow throughout levels.
• Script gameplay events and sequences where needed.
• Work closely with Game Director and Game Design to align with overall vision and progression.
• Collaborate with Code, Tech Art, and Art to ensure feasibility and quality.
• Take ownership of levels through the full production pipeline (concept -> blockout -> art -> final).
• Review and provide feedback on art passes to ensure gameplay integrity is maintained.
• Ensure levels are optimized and technically sound within a proprietary engine.

Skills

Level design

Game design

Combat encounters

Prototyping / blockout

English

Communication

Iterative design

Full level production pipeline

Tools

Scripting languages (JavaScript, Lua, Python)

Job description

About the Role

As a Game / Level Designer, you will be responsible for designing and implementing levels, missions, and gameplay scenarios that fully leverage our core mechanics from traversal and puzzles to combat encounters.

You will take ideas from concept through prototyping and whitebox implementation, ensuring strong pacing, player guidance, and overall flow, before handing off levels to art and supporting them through production.

This role requires both creative design thinking and technical understanding, as you will work directly in our proprietary tools and collaborate closely with Game Direction, Design, Code, Art, and Tech Art.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement levels, missions, and gameplay scenarios
• Create whitebox/blockout levels for rapid prototyping and playtesting
• Develop engaging combat encounters, traversal challenges, and puzzle setups
• Translate gameplay features into varied and interesting player experiences
• Ensure strong pacing, composition, player guidance, and flow throughout levels
• Script gameplay events and sequences where needed
• Work closely with Game Director and Game Design to align with overall vision and progression
• Collaborate with Code, Tech Art, and Art to ensure feasibility and quality
• Take ownership of levels through the full production pipeline (concept -> blockout -> art -> final)
• Review and provide feedback on art passes to ensure gameplay integrity is maintained
• Ensure levels are optimized and technically sound within a proprietary engine

Requirements

• Mid to Senior level experience in Level Design and/or Game Design
• At least one shipped game in a relevant role
• Strong experience designing action-oriented gameplay and combat encounters
• Proven ability to create engaging levels with clear pacing and player guidance
• Experience with rapid prototyping and blockout workflows
• Solid understanding of visual aesthetics, composition, flow and readability
• Experience with scripting languages (for example Java Script, Lua or Python)
• Good technical understanding of game engines and design tools
• Experience working through the full level production pipeline
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines
• Ability to iterate quickly, present ideas clearly, and adapt based on feedback
• Fluent in English
• Valid work permit for Germany

Nice to Have

• Experience working on top-down games
• Background in action-adventure or combat-driven titles
• Experience working with proprietary engines or custom tools
• Experience mentoring or guiding other designers

What We Offer

• An exciting position with challenges and opportunities to fully express your creativity
• An energetic and cheerful team
• Extensive room for personal and professional development
• The opportunity to positively influence workflows and contribute to the studios overall success
• A collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment
• Hybrid work setup in Frankfurt, Germany (at least 3 days onsite)
• Full health / dental insurance (as legally required by German state)
• Flexible working time

On KAIKO GmbH

With over 30 years of game development experience, the founders still work hands on in the development of our titles.

We have a friendly work environment, work sane hours and allow everybody to leave their mark in our products.

As a company we always strive for competence and reliability and keep ourselves from corporate bullshit or buzzwording.

In 2021 we joined the THQ Nordic Group to work with their talented people and amazing franchises.