Senior Level Designer for Open-World Games

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary bonus

Health insurance

PTO and flexible holidays

Remote work stipend (home office)

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Level Designer for a remote-first role in the game development space. You will shape player experiences by designing and implementing levels in open-world environments, from concept to polish, across platforms.

The ideal candidate has a strong portfolio, deep knowledge of level design, and proficiency with Unreal Engine or Unity. Join a distributed team of artists and engineers to build immersive worlds while enjoying fully remote collaboration.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in level design for video games.
• Open-world level design portfolio required.
• Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity level tooling.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and iterate levels for open-world environments.
• Create gameplay layouts, progression paths, and encounter designs.
• Collaborate with artists, programmers, and designers to ensure performance and aesthetics.
• Implement gameplay events and puzzles within levels.
• Document designs and stay current with industry trends.

Skills

Open-world design

Level editing

Blueprint/C# scripting

Blockouts

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design or related

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a globally renowned game development studio, is actively seeking a talented Senior Level Designer to join their remote-first team. This position offers the exciting opportunity to shape the player experience by designing and implementing engaging and memorable levels within open-world environments. You will be responsible for the end-to-end creation of game spaces, from conceptualization and blockout to asset integration and polish, ensuring a seamless and immersive player journey. The ideal candidate possesses a deep understanding of level design principles, a strong artistic eye, and extensive experience with modern game engines and design tools. You will collaborate closely with a distributed team of artists, programmers, and designers to bring vast, interactive worlds to life. This role is fully remote, allowing you to contribute your expertise from anywhere while being an integral part of our innovative studio culture. Join us and help build the next generation of immersive open-world adventures.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and iterate on compelling levels and game spaces for open-world environments using industry-standard tools.
• Create gameplay layouts, player progression paths, and encounter designs that are fun, challenging, and rewarding.
• Collaborate closely with environment artists, technical artists, and programmers to ensure levels are visually appealing, performant, and functionally sound.
• Translate narrative and gameplay requirements into tangible level designs.
• Implement and script gameplay events, puzzles, and interactive elements within the levels.
• Optimize level layouts and asset usage for performance across various platforms.
• Conduct playtesting sessions and gather feedback to iteratively improve level designs.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation for level designs and implementation details.
• Stay current with industry trends in level design and open-world game development.

Requirements

• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in level design for video games, with a strong portfolio showcasing work on open-world titles.
• Proficiency in using game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, including their level editing tools.
• Strong understanding of 3D space, composition, pacing, player guidance, and environmental storytelling.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Blueprint, C#) for implementing gameplay events is highly desirable.
• Ability to create detailed blockouts and iterate based on feedback.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with experience working effectively in a remote team environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and flexible holiday policies.
• Fully remote work arrangement with a dedicated home office stipend.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending virtual conferences.
• A collaborative and inclusive company culture that values remote contributions.
• Work on cutting-edge, large-scale open-world game projects.
• Regular virtual team-building activities and social events.