Remote US / Canada or in Orange County, CA
At Turtle Rock, we make the games we want to play. We're dedicated to providing a collaborative environment where our team members feel empowered with the creative freedom to contribute and grow. While we are based in Orange County, CA, we support flexible work arrangements ranging from in-studio, hybrid, to fully remote throughout North America. Join our award-winning game development team and help create our next hit title.
We are seeking a highly technical and collaborative Senior Sandbox Designer to join our team here at Turtle Rock Studios. The Senior Sandbox Designer plays a pivotal role in crafting engaging, systemic, and narrative-rich missions using Unreal Engine 5 and Blueprints, helping shape the moment-to-moment gameplay experiences that define our game. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in cross-disciplinary environments and brings both creative storytelling and strong technical execution to the table. This position will report to the Lead Sandbox Designer.
Responsibilities
- Craft missions that provide balanced gameplay with the player in mind, to ensure fun, engaging, and replayable gameplay experiences
- Handle creative and technical implementation of missions with a focus on reusable modular gameplay mechanics for efficiency across different types of mission content
- Collaborate closely with narrative, level design, AI, gameplay, and systems teams to deliver cohesive, immersive, and engaging scenarios, events, and missions
- Work with the production team to drive mission content through development phases from initial documentation to final deliverable
- Translate high-level narrative and gameplay goals into playable and repeatable mission content that reinforces the core pillars of the game
- Prototype complex mission logic, emergent gameplay systems, and scripted sequences using Blueprints and data-driven tools
- Use data and playtest feedback to iterate and balance missions for pacing, difficulty, and engagement
- Champion mission design best practices and mentor junior designers, fostering a collaborative and solution-focused environment
- Contribute to technical documentation, workflows, and tool improvements alongside engineering and design leadership
- Maintain consistent quality and tone across missions and ensure alignment with the overall vision
- Playtest with both the studio and the design team to review and develop missions
Requirements
- 5+ years of experience in game design with one or more shipped AAA titles on multiple platforms in a mission or level design role
- Demonstrated high proficiency in Unreal Engine 5, Blueprints, other mission-related tools, and the ability to learn and adapt quickly to in-house additions and modifications to the platform
- A strong portfolio that demonstrates mission design, experience in creating interesting and creative gameplay events with player choice
- Strong technical skills, including scripting logic, debugging, and performance optimization
- Experience collaborating closely with engineering to help design, build, and iterate on mission scripting tools and systems
- Familiarity with creating content that supports ongoing updates and player engagement
- Ability to take high-level creative direction and independently drive mission development from concept to completion
- Creativity and strong sense of pacing
- Experience balancing combat and puzzle within missions
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to express ideas, direction, concerns and questions in a clear, concise and professional manner
- Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment
Benefits
Some of the benefits and perks our employees get to enjoy, include:
- 100% Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage for you and your family
- Retirement Savings Plan Matching
- Career Improvement Plan
- Flexible Work Arrangements - In-House, Hybrid, and Remote
- Generous Time Off Policy
- Company Events - In-Person + Virtual Events
- Fully Stocked Kitchen + Sponsored Food Trucks
The estimated base pay range for this role is: $120,000 - $160,000 USD
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
