Overview Pipeworks Studios is seeking a talented and experienced Design Manager to join our studio-wide management team. This role focuses on staff recruiting, employee development, mentorship, and management and is not tied to an individual project. As a Design Manager, you will guide, support, and grow a diverse team of game designers across all career stages and specialties, contributing directly to the long-term strength and creative excellence of the Design department.

Compensation: $113,000 - $137,000 / year

Department: Design

Location: Eugene, OR

Responsibilities

Day to Day: Serve as the direct manager for designers across multiple projects and disciplines, including system, level, UI/UX, and technical designers.

Support designers in their day-to-day work by providing mentorship, career guidance, feedback, and advocacy within project and studio leadership.

Conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews, and growth check-ins with staff designers.

Collaborate with the Design Director and Associate Design Director to align on department needs, hiring priorities, and team health.

Support portfolio-wide design initiatives, culture-building efforts, and best practices documentation.

Collaborate with production and project leads to support project staffing, onboarding, and designer assignments.

Contribute to studio-wide hiring, recruitment, and interview processes for design roles.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Must Haves

Deep understanding of multiple design disciplines (e.g., systems, level, narrative, UI/UX, combat, technical).

Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop designers at various stages of their careers.

Strong communication skills with the ability to advocate for staff, manage performance feedback, and build trusted relationships.

Experience collaborating with production, leadership, and cross-discipline teams.

Familiarity with design staffing strategies, portfolio building, and hiring practices.

Passion for supporting others and cultivating a strong, inclusive, and creative design culture.

Possible travel to sibling studios or clients, domestic and abroad, may be required.

Nice to haves

Previous experience in a department lead, discipline manager, or studio mentor role.

Interest in contributing to non-project creative initiatives (design training, playtesting, studio events, documentation).

Multi-genre/platform development experience across premium and live service

Education & Experience

10+ years of experience in professional game design

At least 3 shipped titles, ideally with experience in leadership roles on two or more

Comfortable managing distributed and remote teams across time zones

Benefits Flexible Working Environment

Almost all of our roles allow for your choice of work location. We're happy to support our team no matter how they prefer to work: remote, in office, or hybrid.

Medical, Dental, and Vision

401K with employer match

Employer Paid Life Insurance Policy

Generous Paid Time Off

20 Paid Company Holidays

Relocation Assistance

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Assistance Program

Fitness Club Discounts

Sports Team Sponsorship

Annual Company Events

Project Wrap Parties

A Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Pipeworks Studios recognizes the importance of creating an environment where all of our employees feel included and empowered to bring ideas to the table. We value each employee's unique experiences and perspectives and recognize that it is both the smart and right thing to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization.

By diversifying our workforce, increasing equity, and ensuring that our individual differences are valued, we are better able to deliver an experience that reflects, inspires, and connects with our audience... because games are for everyone!

Pipeworks provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

Go to Pipeworks.com to see some of our continued efforts and our latest Demographic Report.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in a job description. Our top priority is finding the best candidate for the job and if you are interested in the position, we would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

Computer Games

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