Lead Technical Designer (CAT)

Level

$100K — $130K *
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in technical design, systems design, or related engineering roles, including at least 2 years in a leadership or mentoring position.
  • Proven record of delivering complex technical design systems in shipped titles.
  • Experience in leading, coaching, or managing junior designers or engineers.
  • History of enhancing tools, workflows, and pipelines beyond basic usage.
  • Strong ability in rapid prototyping and iterative design in one or more game engines (Godot, Unreal, Unity).
  • Excellent communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of junior technical designers, fostering a culture of craft and continuous improvement.
  • Own the technical design vision for core systems and mechanics, ensuring quality across all experiences.
  • Advocate for technical design workflows and champion improvements as tools and pipelines evolve.
  • Collaborate with engineering and art leadership to refine tools and systems necessary for day-to-day operations.
  • Translate product and design goals into actionable technical solutions while maintaining creative integrity.
  • Drive rapid prototyping and iteration, modeling a feedback-oriented design process.
  • Work cross-functionally with Engineers, Artists, and Product leads to scope and prioritize complex feature development.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for mentorship and professional growth within a supportive team environment.
  • Involvement in shaping the technical design vision of a diverse product portfolio.
  • Collaborative work with cross-functional teams, fostering innovation and idea exchange.
  • Chance to drive improvements in tools and workflows, impacting the broader team’s efficiency.
  • Flexibility to operate in an evolving environment, enhancing adaptability and problem-solving skills.
Full Job Description
Lead Technical Designer

Level is looking for an experienced Lead Technical Designer to join our team and set the standard for design excellence across our product portfolio. You will own the technical design vision for core systems and mechanics across all platforms, lead and grow a team of junior designers, and serve as the internal advocate for technical design workflows as our tools and pipelines continue to mature. This is a high-ownership role for someone who loves mentorship as much as they love building.

What You Will Do:
  • Lead, mentor, and grow a team of junior technical designers - setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and fostering a culture of craft, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
  • Own the technical design vision for core systems and mechanics across our product portfolio, ensuring consistency, scalability, and quality across all experiences.
  • Serve as the primary advocate for technical design workflows - identifying gaps, championing improvements, and helping establish best practices as our tools and pipelines evolve.
  • Partner with engineering and art leadership to define and optimize the tools, systems, and pipelines your team relies on day-to-day.
  • Translate high-level product and design goals into actionable technical solutions, balancing creative integrity with performance and maintainability.
  • Drive rapid prototyping and iteration cycles, modeling a feedback-forward design process for your team.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineers, Artists, and Product leads to scope, prioritize, and deliver complex feature development.
  • Contribute to documentation, onboarding, and workflow standards that help the broader team move faster and more consistently over time.

What You Need:
  • 8+ years of experience in technical design, systems design, or related engineering roles with at least 2 years in a lead or senior mentorship capacity.
  • Demonstrated history of shipped titles with complex technical design systems and a clear problem-solving approach.
  • Experience leading, coaching, or formally managing junior designers or engineers.
  • A track record of improving tools, workflows, or pipelines - not just using them.
  • Strong proficiency in rapid prototyping and iterative design across one or more engines (Godot, Unreal, Unity).
  • Excellent communication skills across both technical and non-technical audiences, including leadership.
  • Comfort operating in an evolving environment where priorities shift and processes are still being defined.

Nice to Have:
  • Experience working across multiple smaller experiences or a modular content model.
  • Design theory knowledge rooted in human psychology, motivation, and learning science.
  • Familiarity with UI/UX, technical art, or other art-adjacent pipelines.
  • Background in or passion for education, instructional design, or accessibility-focused game development.

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