Level Designer

Design

Location
Helsinki
Job Type
Contract
Salary
Day rate on application
Posted
19 days ago

Are you an experienced Level Designer with expertise in multiplayer combat spaces, extraction gameplay and third‑person action games?

This is an exciting contract opportunity to join a team developing a mobile third‑person extraction shooter, where you'll own the design and development of gameplay spaces from initial blockout through to production quality. You'll help define how players fight, loot, explore and extract in an experience where level design sits at the core of the gameplay loop.

About the role

You will be responsible for creating and refining environments that drive player experiences in a multiplayer extraction-based action game. Working closely with game designers, engineers and artists, you'll build spaces that support high-stakes encounters, meaningful risk-versus-reward decisions and varied approaches to combat, looting and extraction.

This is a hands-on, high-ownership role within a small and highly collaborative team. You'll establish clear gameplay intent, make confident design decisions and iterate rapidly based on playtesting, player behaviour and team feedback.

What you'll be doing

  • Design and own gameplay spaces from concept and blockout through to final implementation.
  • Create levels that support extraction-focused gameplay, including:
    • Loot routes and decision points.
    • Risk versus reward opportunities.
    • Vertical gameplay and traversal options.
    • Strategic approaches and escape routes.
    • Encounters between players and AI opponents.
  • Build layouts that encourage replayability, fairness and varied player experiences.
  • Design spaces optimised for third-person combat, touch controls and mobile readability.
  • Playtest frequently and iterate using gameplay feedback, observation and data.
  • Collaborate with combat and systems designers to achieve intended gameplay outcomes.
  • Work alongside engineering teams to ensure levels remain performant on mobile devices.
  • Partner with environment and concept artists to balance visual quality with gameplay clarity.

What we're looking for

Experience

  • 6+ years of professional level design experience.
  • Experience creating multiplayer or PvP-focused levels.
  • Proven ownership of levels throughout the production lifecycle.
  • Experience designing for third-person action or shooter games.
  • Portfolio demonstrating relevant level design work.

Skills

  • Strong understanding of multiplayer level design principles.
  • Ability to create layouts that drive specific player behaviours and gameplay outcomes.
  • Expertise in sightlines, encounter design, navigation and combat flow.
  • Understanding of mobile gameplay constraints including readability, controls and performance.
  • Comfortable working in ambiguous, early-stage development environments.
  • Strong communication and cross-disciplinary collaboration skills.
  • Ability to explain and defend design decisions while remaining open to feedback.
  • Iterative mindset with a willingness to test, fail, learn and improve.

Nice to Have

  • Experience designing extraction shooters or PvPvE experiences.
  • Experience working on mobile action games.
  • Experience supporting live-service titles.
  • Familiarity with data-informed iteration and playtest-driven development.
  • Experience working within small, autonomous development teams.

Working styles and behaviours

  • Ownership-driven and accountable.
  • Comfortable making decisions independently.
  • Highly collaborative across design, art and engineering.
  • Adaptable and resilient in fast-changing environments.
  • Passionate about multiplayer gameplay and player experience.
  • Focused on iteration and continuous improvement.

Why join?

  • Play a key role in shaping the core gameplay experience of a new multiplayer title.
  • Own meaningful areas of development from concept through production.
  • Work within a highly collaborative and creative team.
  • Have a direct impact on gameplay quality and player experience.
  • Join a project at a pivotal stage of development.

Location: Helsinki, Finland (On-site)
Employment type: Full-time Contract
Day rate: Up to €400 EUR per day

If you're a Level Designer who excels at creating engaging multiplayer spaces and understands how environments shape player behaviour, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now or email Joe McKernan - jm@skillsearch.com

Years of experience and salary levels are shown purely as a guide. We will only consider applications from candidates that can demonstrate the skills or experience required for the role.

Please be aware that while we would love to respond to every application we receive, due to high numbers we cannot guarantee this. We do however appreciate any time you invest into the application and will make sure to get in touch should anything in future more closely fit your skillset.

Reference: 16553

Apply for Level Designer

Reference: 16553

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Joe McKernan

Associate Director

Our Associate Director, Joe, joins Giles in heading up our Games and Interactive division, his passion springing from being blown away by the effects in Star Wars at a young age. His love hasn’t wavered and Joe always seems to bring out a new Star Wars t shirt every dress down we have! We are lucky to have him considering that he once got stuck half way up a mountain in Borneo so now he goes for flatter holidays – most recently driving across America in a Mustang.

Europe: +44 (0)1273 287 007

North America: +1 (437) 887 2477

jm@skillsearch.com

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