Combat Game Designer (Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office)

Department: Design

Location: Eugene, OR

Compensation: $67,000 - $80,000 / year

Description

Join Pipeworks Studios as a Combat Designer, focused on shaping the combat and gameplay experience for an exciting AAA action-adventure project developed in Unreal Engine 5. In this systems-driven role, you’ll collaborate with the Level Design team to bring dynamic combat encounters, traversal flow, and narrative beats to life.

The ideal Combat Designer is a passionate and adaptable contributor with a strong focus on combat mechanics, encounter flow, and player-driven gameplay systems. While level layout and blockout skills are appreciated, this position emphasizes scripting, tuning, and systems support over pure environment design.

Based in the vibrant tech hub of Eugene, Oregon, with the flexibility of full remote work, this is your opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and contribute directly to a major new IP.

Day to Day

Responsibilities

• Block out and iterate on gameplay spaces that emphasize combat, traversal, and narrative flow within Unreal Engine 5.
• Script gameplay mechanics and events, bringing core traversal and combat interactions to life.
• Own individual gameplay beats, ensuring they deliver satisfying pacing, player engagement, and responsiveness.
• Collaborate closely with Lead Level Designers and cross-disciplinary partners to align combat systems with overall level goals.
• Rapidly prototype and iterate based on team feedback and ongoing playtesting.
• Communicate effectively across disciplines to troubleshoot, refine, and polish gameplay systems.
  
  
  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Must Haves

• Strong understanding of combat encounter design, player traversal, and gameplay pacing.
• Experience scripting gameplay mechanics and interactions (Blueprints or similar visual scripting tools).
• Familiarity with action-adventure or combat-focused gameplay design principles.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, and iteration skills, with an adaptive mindset.
• Experience with Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Familiarity with source control tools (e.g., Perforce) and task management systems (e.g., Jira, Confluence).

Nice to Have Skills

• Experience designing AI behavior or basic enemy attack patterns.
• Familiarity with early milestone phases such as first playable or vertical slice.
• Passion for action-adventure, ARPG, or character-driven games.
  

Education and Experience Required

• 1-3 years of relevant professional game design experience or strong academic/project-based equivalent
• Experience contributing to at least one internal project milestone or commercial game preferred.
  
  

Benefits

Flexible Working Environment
Almost all of our roles allow for your choice of work location. We're happy to support our team no matter how 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
• 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 Demographic Report.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in a job description. Our top priority is finding the best candidate for the job and if you are interested in the position, we would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications.