Level Designer

Pipeworks, Inc.; Eugene (OR); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

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

Job summary

Pipeworks Studios is seeking a Level Designer I or II, commensurate with experience, to develop open-world content for a high-profile AAA title. You will design, build, and iterate on locations and points of interest that combine exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, and environmental storytelling.

This full-time temporary role offers potential extension or conversion to regular full-time; remote, hybrid, or on-site work in Eugene, OR is possible.

Qualifications

• Design and implement gameplay spaces in Unreal Engine 5 or a comparable engine.
• Prototype with Blueprint to implement level gameplay.
• Understand level design fundamentals: space, navigation, pacing, readability, guidance.
• Create encounters, puzzles, activities in open-world spaces.
• Work with AI behaviors, scripted events, triggers, and environmental content.
• Strong problem-solving within technical, production, and scope constraints.
• Clear written and verbal communication across disciplines and partners.
• Familiar with Perforce, Jira, and Confluence or equivalent tools.
• Strong organization and attention to detail in a fast-paced, distributed environment.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with level design leadership to define goals, intended player experience, and quality bar for content.
• Design, block out, implement, and iterate open-world locations in Unreal Engine 5.
• Create readable gameplay spaces that support exploration, traversal, encounters, puzzles, pacing, and storytelling.
• Use Blueprint and project-specific tools to implement objectives, triggers, encounter logic, scripted behaviors, and state changes.
• Place, configure, and tune enemies, NPCs, gameplay objects, and environmental elements.
• Collaborate with design, engineering, art, production, QA, and partners to communicate design intent and incorporate feedback.
• Participate in playtests and design reviews, identify flow issues, 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 as priorities or direction change.

Skills

Unreal Engine 5

Blueprint scripting

Level design fundamentals

Encounters & puzzles

AI behaviors & triggers

Creative problem solving

Cross-disciplinary communication

Version control tools

Organization & attention to detail

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Perforce

Jira

Confluence

Job description

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.