Zynga logo
Monthly
€10,266 - €15,196
Posted August 7, 2026 · 0 days agoLast seen August 7, 2026Est. expiry September 11, 2026

Game Designer

Principal Game Designer
Austin, United States
Onsite · Game Design
Full-time · Senior
English
No People Management
6 years experience
How this salary compares
Salary Context: Game Designer

Hover or tap a row for full statistics (EUR / month on this chart).

Salary analysis

Compared with the selected benchmark ("All roles in Austin, United States"), this listing's salary midpoint is about 16% higher. The offer still falls within the benchmark range (€8,681–€13,311). The offer's range width is broadly in line with the benchmark. This benchmark is based on 2 comparable listings.

Monthly salary comparison for Game Designer
MarketLower bound (25th percentile)MedianUpper bound (75th percentile)
All roles in Austin, United States€8,681/per month€10,996/per month€13,311/per month
From job ad (Senior)€10,266/per month€12,731/per month€15,196/per month
About the role

Zynga is looking for an experienced Principal Systems Designer to work on one of our new mobile games. This role leads and participates in direct design and creative input on content and system design in the game. What You'll Do: - Create or adapt game features and large scale systems to work with the game - Write user experience stories and design documentation for new features and systems - Own, drive, and collaborate with other disciplines for system development - Work closely with other disciplines to design and prototype new gameplay and systems - Create flexible sheets and models to balance sophisticated systems - Design and balance content for new systems - Create and improve tools to make the design pipeline faster and more efficient for the team - Be the advocate of good design practices across the studio - Pitch new ideas to the team/ lead brainstorming sessions - Analyze real-time feedback and metrics, and adjust game designs accordingly while maintaining live game balance - Remain up-to-date with Game Design literature and standard methodologies to be an evangelist for the craft of Game Design What You Bring: - At least 6 years' relevant experience - Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills - Expert with math, levels, and formulas in game environment - Possesses an extensive knowledge of games and strategies - Solid knowledge of game balancing and pacing - Translates direct consumer insights, market data, and analysis into creative design solutions - Passionate gamer - 2+ shipped games What We Offer You: - The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $123,200 and $182,360 per Year. - Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage - 14 paid holidays per calendar year - Paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) - Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year - Paid parental and compassionate leave - Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support - Family planning support through Maven - Commuter benefits - Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

Job Details

Responsibilities

  • Create or adapt game features and large scale systems
  • Write user experience stories and design documentation
  • Collaborate with other disciplines for system development and prototyping
  • Create flexible sheets and models to balance sophisticated systems
  • Design and balance content for new systems
  • Improve design pipeline tools for team efficiency
  • Advocate for good design practices across the studio
  • Pitch new ideas and lead brainstorming sessions
  • Analyze real-time feedback and metrics to adjust game designs
  • Stay up-to-date with Game Design literature and methodologies

Requirements

  • At least 6 years' relevant experience
  • Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
  • Expert with math, levels, and formulas in game environment
  • Extensive knowledge of games and strategies
  • Solid knowledge of game balancing and pacing
  • Ability to translate consumer insights and market data into creative design solutions
  • Passionate gamer
  • 2+ shipped games

Skills & Technologies

Game BalancingSystem DesignUser Experience (UX) WritingMathematical ModelingData AnalysisPrototyping
Seen 14 hours agoContent Complete
Zynga logo
Zynga · 11 open roles
Top locations: Helsinki, Finland · 8 · Remote - Global · 3
View company
Most-hired roles
Software Engineer
2
Analytics Developer
1
Senior Economy Designer
1
Full-Stack Tools Developer
1
Game Animator
1
Role-level mix
Mid-Level (4)

Help us improve JobCrawls — sign in to sync saved jobs across devices, or send feedback anytime.