Open-World Gameplay Environment Designer

Sunblink; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Part time

Job summary

Sunblink is seeking a mid-to-lead level designer for a ~30 hour/week contract. The role blends aesthetic and gameplay focus to quickly graybox open worlds and prototype dense interactions, keeping visual design at the forefront.

You will design large-scale spaces, define layouts, implement POIs, and prototype in-engine to validate ideas early. Collaboration across art, design, and engineering is essential.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to design large-scale, non-linear spaces with a portfolio
• Strong understanding of player navigation and signaling without heavy UI
• Hands-on prototyping in modern engines (Unreal/Unity) and scripting
• Familiarity with visual scripting (Blueprints) and at least one scripting language
• Experience designing POIs, encounters, or activities within a cohesive world
• Understanding of gameplay systems design including traversal, AI, exploration

Responsibilities

• Design and prototype open-world environments end to end from blockout to gameplay-ready spaces
• Define layout of large spaces: sightlines, landmarks, traversal routes, choke points
• Design and implement pathing systems supporting multiple playstyles
• Conceive and iterate POIs with purpose, rewards and journey role
• Build interactive environmental gameplay: traversal mechanics, puzzles, hazards
• Prototype in-engine using scripting/visual scripting or code
• Present design intent clearly to leads and cross-discipline partners

Skills

Open-world design

Layout design

Gameplay prototyping

Blueprints

Scripting languages

POIs and encounters

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Portfolio evidence of large-scale spaces

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Terrain tools

Blockout tools

Job description

Sunblink is seeking a mid-to-lead level designer for a ~30 hour/week contract. The role blends aesthetic and gameplay focus to quickly graybox open worlds and prototype dense interactions, keeping visual design at the forefront.

You will design large-scale spaces, define layouts, implement POIs, and prototype in-engine to validate ideas early. Collaboration across art, design, and engineering is essential.