Blackbird Interactive is looking for an experienced Senior Level Designer to help build and deliver high-quality gameplay spaces for an established science fiction universe. This role focuses on designing, implementing, and refining levels that support player-driven exploration, combat, and narrative within a large, open-ended experience.
You’ll work closely with design, engineering, art, and production to create levels that are cohesive, readable, and engaging, while integrating seamlessly with systems, encounters, and story content. The role involves collaborating with leadership to align level design with the broader creative vision, while owning content end-to-end, from early concept and layout through blockout, implementation, iteration, and polish. As a senior member of the team, you will also support, mentor, and help guide more junior designers. If you enjoy crafting memorable spaces, solving spatial gameplay challenges, and elevating team quality through experience and leadership, this role could be a great fit for you!
Responsibilities
Collaborate with systems design, quest design, art, engineering, and production to support and implement the established creative vision through level design
Design and own levels end-to-end, including concepting layouts, defining gameplay beats, pacing encounters, and guiding player flow
Create and iterate on 2D layouts and 3D blockouts, translating design intent into playable spaces
Implement levels directly using in-engine tools, scripting, and event systems to ensure functionality across a wide range of player behaviors
Work closely with other designers to integrate systems, AI, narrative, and encounters into cohesive gameplay experiences
Plan, implement, and refine combat encounters, traversal, and exploration within levels
Build and maintain level logic, scripting, and state-based events to support progression, pacing, and player interaction
Test, debug, and iterate on levels regularly, identifying gameplay, readability, and technical issues
Provide clear, constructive feedback on the work of other designers, helping maintain quality and consistency across the project
Mentor and support junior designers, helping them grow their skills, improve their work, and navigate development challenges
Anticipate dependencies and risks, working with production and cross-discipline partners to ensure smooth delivery
Requirements
A minimum of 8 years of experience contributing to game development, with a strong focus on level design within complex games
Experience shipping multiple titles, including at least one AAA project in a level design role
Proven ability to own level content from concept through final implementation and polish
Experience mentoring or supporting junior designers, including providing feedback and guidance on their work
Strong understanding of level design fundamentals, including layout, pacing, player guidance, combat design, and environmental storytelling
Comfort working independently on features, managing tasks, iterating on feedback, and solving design and implementation challenges in a dynamic production environment
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work closely across design, engineering, art, audio, and production
Familiarity with in-engine tools, scripting concepts, and state-driven systems, with confidence in implementing and debugging level content directly in-game
Pluses
A strong interest in hands-on level implementation, including scripting, encounter setup, and gameplay integration
Appreciation for systems-driven RPGs or open-world games, and how level design supports exploration, player choice, and emergent gameplay
Passion for science fiction worlds, especially those focused on scale, discovery, and environmental storytelling
Interest in readability, usability, and player guidance, and how UI, VFX, lighting, and audio reinforce level design
Enjoyment of refining spaces through iteration, playtesting, and polish to improve player experience
Curiosity about how level design, systems, and narrative come together to create cohesive, memorable gameplay experiences
Top Skills
What We Do
Blackbird Interactive (BBI) is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent studio - behind such games as Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and the upcoming Homeworld 3, Minecraft Legends, and Crossfire: Legion. Founded by Rob Cunningham, Yossarian King, and Aaron Kambeitz in 2010, the award-winning Vancouver studio boast its own internal CG cinematics department, led by the founder of Pixar Canada, and has also been involved in various game-adjacent projects over the years - such as Project Eagle with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other initiatives with the eatART Foundation and Sanctuary AI.
