# Mission Design Lead \(Campaign\)

## Details

- **Company:** [Absurd Ventures](https://hitmarker.net/companies/absurd-ventures.md)
- **Location:** Santa Monica, California, USA
- **Contract type:** Full Time
- **Level:** Senior \(5+ years\)
- **Tags:** Game Design, Narrative Design, Project Management
- **Posted:** 2026-03-18
- **Apply:** [View and apply on Hitmarker](https://hitmarker.net/jobs/absurd-ventures-mission-design-lead-campaign-4786184)

## Description

**Summary**

As Mission Design Lead (Campaign), you will be the primary vision holder and a hands-on contributor for story missions and single-player campaigns. Lead a multi-disciplinary team to deliver critical path and side missions that combine best-in-class storytelling and action gameplay in an open world setting.

**Core Responsibilities**

- Drive the design and implementation of engaging, diverse, innovative missions within a story-driven, open-world game.
- Work closely with the narrative team to develop the flow of main story missions.
- Develop and execute the mission design vision and strategy, ensuring that missions align with the game's overall narrative, thematic, and player experience goals.
- Continuously seek opportunities to innovate and push the boundaries of mission design.
- Leverage the game's open-world systems and mechanics to create dynamic and unpredictable mission experiences that adapt to player choices and actions.
- Lead and mentor a team of mission designers, providing direction, feedback and support throughout the development process.
- Go beyond documentation and management to lead from the trenches, with hands-on contributions to the playable experience.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and iteration.

**Core Qualifications**

- 5 or more years of experience in mission design, ideally within an open-world game.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Innovative thinker with creative problem-solving skills who thrives in a collaborative team environment.
- Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design.

**Plus If...**

- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams
- Experience in UE4 or UE5
- Experience working with co-development partners

**Description**

- Full time job with benefits
- Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA
- Office is located near downtown Santa Monica – near metro and freeways

The base pay range for this position is $160,000 to $190,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including paid time off, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.