Adjunct Faculty - System Design Instructor (Evergreen)

Digipen; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 57,853 - 97,192; Part time

Job summary

DigiPen Institute of Technology is seeking an Adjunct Faculty – System Design Instructor in Redmond, Washington, to teach courses in the Design Department. This role requires a Bachelor’s degree and over 5 years of professional design experience, ideally with two or more shipped titles.

The instructor will teach System Design courses, provide feedback, and manage teaching assistants while fostering a supportive learning environment for diverse learners. The salary range is $5,184 – $8,709 per term, based on several factors. This is a part-time, temporary position.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional design experience, including 2+ shipped titles.
• Teaching experience with a diverse student body.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Teach System Design courses in accordance with departmental policies.
• Grade and provide feedback weekly via Moodle.
• Manage Student Teaching Assistants when required.

Skills

Interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to accommodate different learning styles

Professional design experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in any field or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree in Design, Psychology, Communications, or related field

Job description

Adjunct - Design Department (Evergreen), System Design Instructor

Location: Redmond, Washington. DigiPen Institute of Technology is a small college offering undergraduate degree programs in Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Audio and Music, and Digital Art and Animation, as well as Master’s degree programs in Computer Science and Digital Art.

Position: Adjunct Faculty – Department of Design

Reports to: Design Department Chair

The Department of Design at DigiPen Institute of Technology invites applicants for potential future positions of Adjunct Faculty – System Design Instructor to help teach the next generation of designers. The faculty are subject matter experts with decades of industry experience and bring hands‑on knowledge from mobile and console games, tabletop, user research, and beyond.

Design courses cover a range of sub‑disciplines, with most falling into one of six specialization tracks: systems design, level design, user experience design, narrative design, technical design, and user research.

Essential Functions/Duties

• Teach introductory and upper‑division courses in System Design in accordance with departmental policies and assigned class schedules (evening classes available).
• Focus on gameplay systems and user/player choice; help students simplify complex systems into understandable components and demonstrate how systems interact to encourage engaging experiences.
• Demonstrate design and analysis techniques.
• Grade, critique, and provide assignment feedback weekly via Moodle.
• Organize class activities, demos, and assignments.
• Relate assignments and tests to learning outcomes.
• Manage Student Teaching Assistants when required, supervising hours.
• Create and improve course materials.
• Offer weekly office hours.
• In‑person teaching in Redmond, WA; online classes as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any field or equivalent.
• 5+ years of professional design experience (e.g., 2+ shipped titles, published works, research projects).
• Lecture experience, including professional talks or panels at conventions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Evidence of teaching experience with a diverse student body.
• Ability to accommodate different learning styles and special needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Design, Psychology, Communications, Interactive Media, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience, including design lead positions.
• Shipped titles on different platforms and media.
• Instructor experience in a college setting or other teaching experience.

Salary Range

$5,184 – $8,709 per term, depending on credit hours, class size, and faculty rank.

Not benefits eligible.

Application Procedure

• Cover letter of interest, including link to digital portfolio if applicable.
• Current curriculum vitae / résumé.
• Academic transcripts of most recently attended institutions.
• Statement of teaching philosophy.
• Statement of experience maximizing quality and engagement across broad subjects and perspectives.

Upon accepting an offer, candidates will receive an invitation for a required background check, employment verification, and a 5‑panel drug screen as part of the hiring process.

Application Deadline

Application deadline: Complete application files will be accepted on a continuous basis and remain active for one year.

Additional Notes

• All Adjunct positions are part‑time, temporary assignments (for no more than one semester at a time), dependent upon student enrollment and instructional needs, and subject to budget consideration and approval. DigiPen Institute of Technology reserves the right to extend application deadlines and/or not to offer advertised positions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Equal opportunity is a priority of DigiPen Institute of Technology, as the institution is committed to fostering a positive learning environment for all. The Institute's intent is to hire the most qualified individuals for faculty and staff, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds of race and ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, veteran status, nationality, culture, religion, and physical abilities. We are committed to broadening our candidate pool to include more diverse individuals and ensuring fairness in hiring by avoiding bias and determining criteria to judge all candidates prior to posting each new position.