Junior Puzzle Designer

About the Role

• Contract role focused on designing engaging, intuitive puzzles for digital games and interactive experiences.
• Remote position.

Key Responsibilities

• Brainstorming and prototyping puzzle concepts.
• Refining puzzle mechanics.
• Balancing difficulty curves to support player learning and enjoyment.
• Collaborating with designers, writers, and developers to integrate puzzles into broader game systems, narrative, and level design.
• Documenting design decisions.
• Playtesting puzzles.
• Gathering feedback.
• Iterating on designs to improve clarity, accessibility, and overall player experience.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ability to design clear, logical puzzles and interactive challenges, including experience with puzzle flow, difficulty tuning, and player onboarding.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the capacity to break complex ideas into smaller, testable components.
• Experience with game design fundamentals, such as mechanics, systems design, level design, and playtesting practices.
• Comfort with digital tools for design and documentation (e.g., game engines, level editors, diagramming tools, and collaborative platforms).
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain design decisions and respond to feedback constructively.
• Collaborative mindset, openness to iteration, and ability to work independently in a remote environment and meet deadlines.
• Interest in experimental, interdisciplinary projects that connect games with areas like art, science, and interactive media.
• Prior experience in puzzle design, game jams, modding, or personal game projects is highly beneficial.
• Formal education in game design, interactive media, or a related field is a plus but not required.

Contract details, including duration and hours, will be discussed during the hiring process.