There’s a myth that design is not an entry-level position, that you have to work your way in from QA, programming, or art, and this myth is used to discourage a lot of aspiring designers from ever pursuing design in the first place. The truth is that there are lots of jobs available (though not nearly as many as there are students), with a mix of qualifications (specific tools or languages), from a wide variety of design roles (technical, systems, levels) and an even bigger variety of studios (AAA, mobile, etc.).
Since a whole lot of students graduate in May, I collected some entry-level design job postings from a variety of companies. By posting the jobs, I am not vouching for them or the companies. I am simply letting you know they exist. This list is not exhaustive, just what I pulled together over a couple of evenings. Browsing through them should give you a good idea of what to look for when you’re trying to find those entry-level jobs.
I expect the job postings to get outdated rather quickly but I won’t be updating this page. Jobs are listed in no particular order.
Associated Technical Designer – Blizzard Entertainment
http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/company/careers/posting.html?id=160007M
Level Designer – Ubisoft Montreal
https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/careers/search.aspx#sr-post-id=90167751&is-redirect=true
Game Designer (Scripter, Singleplayer) – Infinity Ward
https://activision.jibeapply.com/activision/jobs/GAM0000HQ/Woodland-Hills-California-Game-Designer-Scripter-SP-Infinity-Ward?lang=en-US
Assistant Level Designer – Sledgehammer Games
https://activision.jibeapply.com/activision/jobs/GAM0000JJ/Foster-City-California-Assistant-Level-Designer-Sledgehammer-Games?lang=en-US
Level Designer – King
https://apply.king.com/vacancy/level-designer-for-candy-crush-stockholm/1232/description/
Junior Game Designer – Raven
https://activision.jibeapply.com/activision/jobs/GAM0000IK/Middleton-Wisconsin-Junior-Game-Designer-Raven?lang=en-US
Associate Level Designer (Temp) – Sony Santa Monica
https://playstation.taleo.net/careersection/sceaexternal1/jobdetail.ftl?job=04082
Technical Designer (Temp) – Sony Santa Monica
https://playstation.taleo.net/careersection/sceaexternal1/jobdetail.ftl?job=04183
Level Designer (Contract) – Gearbox Studios
https://jobs-gearboxsoftware.icims.com/jobs/1142/level-design-cogs/job
Design Intern – Demiurge Studios
https://jobs.lever.co/demiurgestudios/7e67742d-acf4-4bc7-80f6-3a2ae2afad79
Associated Level Designer – Hi-Rez Studios
https://hirez.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk06w5r/
Quest Designer – Bethesda Game Studios
https://jobs.zenimax.com/requisitions/view/75
Level Designer – Bethesda Game Studios
https://jobs.zenimax.com/requisitions/view/942
Associate Level Designer – Wooga
https://boards.greenhouse.io/wooga/jobs/169128#.VwbyR6QrI2w
Design Intern – Arkane Studios
https://jobs.zenimax.com/requisitions/view/986
Junior Content Designer – Rumble
http://app.jobvite.com/CompanyJobs/Careers.aspx?k=Job&c=q7a9Vfw5&j=oPePZfwB
Game Designer – Ludia
http://www.ludia.com/en/careers/job-offers?id=91081597#.VwbxkqQrI2w
Development Support, Design – Rockstar San Diego
http://www.rockstargames.com/careers/position/977ce0dd/rockstar-san-diego
Gameplay Scripter – Rockstar Toronto (two openings)
http://www.rockstargames.com/careers/position/94983a9f/rockstar-toronto
http://www.rockstargames.com/careers/position/2604cebd/rockstar-toronto
Gameplay Scripter – Rockstar Leeds
http://www.rockstargames.com/careers/position/3a345895/rockstar-leeds
Design Intern – Tilting Point
http://www.tiltingpoint.com/jobs/ (scroll down for it)
VR Level Designer – Third Floor Inc.
http://www.gamejobhunter.com/job/15753/vr-level-designer-at-the-third-floor-inc/
Intern Game Designer – EA Mobile Firemonkeys
https://career4.successfactors.com/career?career_ns=job_listing&company=EA&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH&rcm_site_locale=en_US&career_job_req_id=90308&selected_lang=en_US&jobAlertController_jobAlertId=&jobAlertController_jobAlertName=&_s.crb=w4rWu8%2bJ4zR99%2bgXedJtmq%2bggsA%3d
Level Designer/Scripter Internship – EA DICE
https://career4.successfactors.com/career?career_ns=job_listing&company=EA&navBarLevel=JOB_SEARCH&rcm_site_locale=en_US&career_job_req_id=85922&selected_lang=en_US&jobAlertController_jobAlertId=&jobAlertController_jobAlertName=&_s.crb=w4rWu8%2bJ4zR99%2bgXedJtmq%2bggsA%3d
Design Implementer – Gunfire Games
http://gunfiregames.com/design-implementer
Junior Game Designer – Doubledown Interactive
http://doubledowninteractive.com/careers.php (job ID: 15166BR)
