Level Designer (4-Month Contract)

About Blackbird Interactive

Blackbird Interactive is an innovative, independently owned game studio dedicated to nurturing top-tier talent in the gaming industry. Our team works on a broad spectrum of projects, including well-known intellectual properties and original titles spanning multiple genres. Operating as a remote-first organization, we emphasize flexible working arrangements. Currently, we seek candidates who are legally authorized to work and reside within Canada.

Role Overview

We are looking for a seasoned Level Designer to contribute to a co-operative horror exploration game. This position involves crafting engaging gameplay environments that build tension, reward curiosity, and promote teamwork through immersive world design and environmental storytelling.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with systems design, narrative, art, audio, engineering, and production teams to uphold and realize the creative vision, addressing any ambiguities during development.
• Operate within production timelines to develop level content swiftly and iteratively, reporting any risks or dependencies.
• Take ownership of levels from conception through implementation, iteration, and refinement, shaping layout, exploration, encounters, pacing, traversal, and environmental narrative.
• Design gameplay spaces that facilitate exploration, cooperative gameplay, navigation, and memorable horror moments.
• Collaborate closely with narrative designers to embed story elements, objectives, environmental storytelling, and scripted sequences within the levels.
• Create and script gameplay events, encounters, puzzles, and progression mechanics that support solo and cooperative modes.
• Conduct regular testing, debugging, and iteration to ensure smooth navigation, pacing, progression, player guidance, and co-op functionality.
• Receive and act on feedback constructively to enhance layout, encounters, exploration, pacing, tension, and immersion.
• Maintain knowledge of core gameplay systems and their interactions with level design to support exploration, teamwork, varied player strategies, and replayability.

Essential Requirements

• At least 5 years of game development experience with a focus on level design within exploration, action, horror, or cooperative game genres.
• Track record of shipping at least one title, particularly one involving exploration, environmental storytelling, or cooperative gameplay, with experience managing the full development cycle from implementation to polish.
• Ability to work autonomously on assigned tasks, manage feedback, and resolve implementation challenges in a fast-paced production setting.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams including designers, artists, engineers, audio specialists, and writers.
• Proficiency with level editors, scripting, gameplay logic, and hands-on experience building, debugging, and maintaining levels directly within game engines.
• Deep understanding of player guidance, pacing, environmental narrative, and the impact level design has on tension, exploration, and emotional engagement.

Additional Assets

• Strong interest in horror games, cooperative gameplay, and exploration-focused experiences.
• Experience crafting atmospheric environments that use pacing, lighting, sound, and storytelling to generate tension.
• Appreciation for emergent gameplay that fosters communication, teamwork, and player-driven problem solving.
• Inclination towards cinematic storytelling and scripted moments that augment immersion without limiting player freedom.
• Passion for polish, clarity, and player experience, with dedication to refining navigation, pacing, and emotional resonance.
• Curiosity about the interplay between level design, AI, audio, narrative, and gameplay mechanics in producing compelling horror experiences.

Additional Information

This contract position lasts for four months and is a fully remote opportunity. Candidates must reside within Canada and be legally authorized to work.