Senior Game Designer

Overview

Instrument is seeking a Senior Game Designer (Contract) for a confidential project exploring a new kind of narrative, text-driven interactive experience. This role is at the intersection of game systems, immersive visual design, and emerging technology.

Company: Instrument

Location: Charleston, WV (Remote)

Type: Temporary

Pay: $61 - $78/hr

Posted: 16 hours ago

• Create immersive, “in-world” interfaces that feel native to the narrative.
• Design and document complex gameplay loops that support narrative progression, player choice, and state-based outcomes.
• Shape how players receive information through visual, textual, and sensory cues.
• Help define and curate guidelines for AI-generated assets.
• Work closely with creative, design, and technical partners.

• 5–8+ years of experience in game design, interactive narrative, or systems-driven visual design
• Strong understanding of diegetic UI and immersive interface design
• Proven experience designing complex systems, loops, and progression models
• Exceptional visual sensibility paired with clear systems thinking
• Comfort working with ambiguity and helping define new frameworks from scratch
• Ability to document thinking clearly for cross-functional teams
• Major Plus: TTRPG literacy (D&D, narrative tabletop systems, or similar)

• The expected pay range for this role is $61-$78 per hour (on a W2), but will depend on the level in which you are engaged
• Our company has three regional pay bands that it adheres to depending on your location, referenced as US 1, US 2, and US 3.
• US 3 is base pay. Examples of cities in US 3:
  Portland, Houston, and Miami.
• US 2 pay is 7.5% higher than US 3 to meet market rates. Examples:
  Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle.
• US 1 pay is 15% higher than US 3 to meet market rates. Examples:
  Brooklyn, San Francisco.
• If you are curious which region you are in, please apply and get connected with our recruiting team!

• Flexible, Hybrid Work Environment
• Great Compensation with Annual Reviews (Learn more about our Pay Philosophy)
• 401(k) Matching with Immediate Vesting
• Robust Medical, Vision, and Accident Insurance
• Generous Paid Holidays and unlimited PTO
• Sabbaticals
• Monthly Wellbeing Stipend
• Career Management and Leadership Training