Senior/Principal Level Designer (Unreal Engine)

“This expedition, at least, promises success.” – The Ancestor

Red Hook are the creators of the Darkest Dungeon series, which has grown from crowdfunded beginnings to become gaming’s most iconic strategy gothic horror franchise. Darkest Dungeon and Darkest Dungeon II have combined to sell many millions of copies. Red Hook continues to function as an independent studio under its parent company, Behaviour Interactive, with a mandate to continue creating bold titles featuring significant innovation. We strive to maintain a workplace founded upon creativity, respect, transparency, and accountability.

Reporting to the Design Manager, you are crucially responsible for helping lead the creation of best-in-class levels for a new, ambitious project. Working closely with the Design Director and team members from other disciplines (environment art, combat design, and more), you’ll use a hands-on approach to guide modular level design. You will create spaces that fuel the cooperation, tension, challenge, risk/reward, and discovery that lies at the heart of our next title.

Why Join Us?

• Clear Vision & Leadership - Work with experienced leaders who know where the project is going and how to get there. Red Hook is led by the original Darkest Dungeon creators.
• Collaborative Culture - Join a team that respects and elevates each other’s craft, knowing that only through our collective efforts can we achieve success.
• Agency - With the game’s vision clearly defined, our designers are trusted with real creative ownership—working without micromanagement and empowered to shape a game the entire team will be proud of.
• Stability - Red Hook is careful about hiring and firing, seeking to avoid boom and bust cycles. We’re in this for the long game.
• Beautiful Vancouver - Live and work in one of the most desirable cities in the world. Relocation assistance available.

Responsibilities

• Champion the creation of exceptional levels which will serve as a stage for thrilling combat, exploration, and treasure hunting
• Direct the level’s macro structure and moment-to-moment flow, crafting the rhythm of exploration, challenge, and discovery across the entire experience
• Help define the modular level creation strategy, blending hand-crafted moments with procedural assembly techniques that maximize output for a small team
• Collaborate across disciplines to establish best practices, workflows, and modular building blocks that facilitate flexible development without compromising quality of the end product

Qualifications

• 10+ years in level design, with at least two significant shipped titles
• Extensive expertise in Unreal Engine (non-negotiable), UE5 preferred
• Proven track record of creating high-quality, varied, and replayable experiences
• Highly attuned to pacing, player emotion, and interactive elements—shaping engaging, tense, and memorable moments
• Experienced in crafting engaging level designs that foster dynamic player teamwork and interaction
• Self-motivated and organized
• Collaborative and friendly–your ability to get along with other team members while still pushing for high quality end product is crucial to success

Red Hook Studios is an inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace. We encourage candidates of all identities and backgrounds to apply.