Game Designer, Level (Contingent)

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.  Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position. This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.  Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together. What you will do: Design the layouts for your levels, blocking out simplified geometry to create engaging environments  Develop level composition, architectural concepts, and create evocative shapes in collaboration with the art department  Create scenarios, place game objects, and implement level progression using game editor tools  Produce and maintain documentation that establishes the core concepts of your level  Drive communication and collaboration for spaces you design as well as other parts of the game, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines  Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments  Coordinate extensive playtesting, reviews, and iteration  Additional Responsibilities may be assigned as needed  What skills you will use:  3+ years of industry experience in Level Design experience for games  Experience blocking out environments for games using 3D software packages such as Maya, Unreal Editor or otherwise, that exemplify understanding of level design fundamentals  Experience using a game editor such as Unreal Editor and scripting/programming using a language such as C#, Lua, Python, Visual Scripting  Excitement for learning and growing as a designer. Keen to develop new skills.  Proficient and effective communication skills  Welcomes criticism and has experience collaborating as part of a team, innovating without losing sight of the gameplay vision  Understanding the single player gaming landscape  Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends  Problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude.  As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complet...