At Notorious, we see ourselves not just as game developers but as world builders. And at the heart of world building is the level designer — the key member of the team who takes the first step in architecting a vision into reality through blockouts and environmental storytelling.

As a level designer at Notorious, you will turn visual development concepts into engaging and interactive spaces that players will explore for thousands of hours. Your role will be pivotal in transforming narrative beats and gameplay mechanics into compelling spaces that are not only aesthetically stunning but also intuitively navigable, fostering a seamless and deeply engaging player experience.

Since Notorious is still an early-stage startup, you'll have the unique opportunity to work on a small, tight-knit team of seasoned veterans, many of whom worked on the world-renowned MMO World of Warcraft. The ideal candidate is someone who not only has a passion for blocking out spaces but also for building scripted experiences like puzzles, traps, and quests in Unreal.

What project you'd be working on

We're currently building a new core fantasy RPG game for PC/Console using Unreal 5. Elements of this project include open worlds, core RPG fantasy theme, PvPvE, third-person action-based combat, player stories, and engaging systems. It's still very early and anything can change, which you can be a part of.

About Notorious

Notorious Studios is a venture-backed start-up founded by core developers from Blizzard Entertainment who worked on titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch.

We aspire to have a flatter organizational structure where everyone has a chance to lead. We have a culture of open and candid communication where the best idea wins. Sparks can fly, but we always attack ideas, not people.

As a startup, we're focused on minimizing wasted time and maximizing results. We have a hatred of bureaucracy and are focused on our mission of bringing underserved players new experiences that only a small, agile studio can accomplish.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and iterate on environmental aspects like landscapes, structures, and points of interest in Unreal Engine.

• Develop mock-ups, sketches, and design documentation to support your creative vision.

• Design, pitch, and then build player experiences embedded in the world at the blockout stage

• Work in tandem with artists to ensure visual fidelity and with programmers to make certain your designs are feasible and align with the game mechanics.

• Conduct playtests to collect user feedback and implement changes as needed to elevate gameplay.

Required Qualifications

• Expert-level Unreal Engine experience, including understanding of advanced features such as world partition, greybox modeling, and procedural content generation tools

• Experience developing levels for multiplayer/co-op titles and their associated technical constraints

• Proven experience identifying and defining pipelines, technologies, tools, and improvements

• 3+ years of experience as a Level Designer or at least one shipped AAA open-world title

• Passion for making and playing games, especially 3rd person RPG fantasy action games

• Comfortable working with hybrid (in-office) and full remote teams

• Strong self-management skills and comfort not needing a lot of hand-holding

• A level design test may be required

Ideally, you have (but not required):

• Experience doing level art (set dressing) as well as blockout  — rare, we know!

• Deep experience building level design for Player-vs-Player encounters

• Interesting and experience building enemy encounters, puzzles and unique gameplay

Benefits

• An office! We believe in the creative power of working in person. Our schedule is Tues-Thurs in-office, Monday, Friday WFH (optional)

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision

• Open paid-time-off policy with a minimum enforced by the company. We trust you to take time off when you need it

• Competitive salaries that value your experience and dedication

• Stock options in an early stage startup. We want you to be motivated to stick with us for the long haul

• Relocation assistance, and immigration where applicable