Associate Content Designer (Contract)

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide.

ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine.

We are looking for a Contract Associate Content Designer to help define and implement high-quality gameplay content and systems in our upcoming title, Guild Wars 3. This is an entry-level role where you’ll be asked to work collaboratively with multiple disciplines, bring a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn to the team, and implement open world content in Guild Wars 3.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Grow – Bring a growth mindset to work every day and focus on the path, not the destination or the ups and downs

• Ask – Be vocal about asking for help, getting advice, and looking for sources of information. Don’t suffer in silence!

• Timebox – Don’t spend more time than you need, implement quickly, get feedback, and iterate. Don’t aim for perfection, aim for iteration cycles.

• Collaborate – Partner with Level Design, Technical Design, Narrative, Art, and Engineering to deliver cohesive and quality player-facing content.

• Plan – Work with Content Leads to support development timelines and goals for content completion.

• Implement - Use Unreal Engine 5 tools and scripting systems to build and iterate on gameplay experiences.

• Document – Work with Technical Designers and other Designers to fully document tools, pipelines, and content plans.

• Listen - Participate in playtests and incorporate feedback to improve pacing, clarity, and player engagement.

• Polish - Iterate content based on player feedback, internal playtests, and design reviews to ensure gameplay moments are polished, intuitive, and aligned with the player experience.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Game Design, or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

• 1 year of experience in developing games in some capacity, whether as a student, a personal project, or some other setting

• Familiarity with implementing gameplay content using Unreal Engine 5

• Good understanding of narrative, encounter design, and mission flow

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills when working in a hybrid environment

• Well developed practices for learning new technical skills

• Experience playing MMOs and Open World games, with Guild Wars 1 and 2 being especially meaningful

• Familiarity with game development practices and pipelines

This is a 1+ year contract.

We are currently prioritizing candidates who are local to the Bellevue, WA area and open to occasional onsite collaboration.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 24th by 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed.

Pay Range: $33.54 – $46.95 per hour

This is an hourly contract role with overtime pay when applicable. While we share the full range for transparency, typical offers fall between the minimum and midpoint.

The role is benefits-eligible through our third-party employer, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and flexible/dependent care accounts.

Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.