Full-Time Faculty: Game Art Department, Game Designer

Ringling College of Art and Design • Sarasota, FL

75d

About The Position

The Game Art Department is seeking a Game Designer to join our full-time faculty and contribute to the continued strength and evolution of the program. The successful candidate will bring professional experience in game design and development, with demonstrated ability to guide projects from concept through prototype to polished completion. Faculty will teach three courses (nine credits) per semester, ranging from introductory to advanced work in game design, level design, and interactive systems development. Instruction will cover ideation and prototyping, core mechanics design, systems balance, level design, player psychology, UX principles, iteration through playtesting, and design documentation, translating these principles into performant, playable experiences in Unreal Engine 5. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working across art, programming, and production disciplines, and will bring experience mentoring designers and leading teams. This full-time appointment with benefits carries the expectations for ongoing creative work or research in the field, as well as active participation with faculty, department and college services. The salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Ringling College faculty are expected to be on campus to teach in person and contribute to the broader academic community. The College maintains a supportive, collegial faculty and a robust support system dedicated to using the most current technology. The anticipated start date is August 2026.

Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Game Design, Interactive Media, or a related field; or a four‑year degree combined with significant professional experience and a record of shipped games or notable interactive products.
• At least three years of experience designing and developing digital games.
• A portfolio showcasing design thinking, iteration, and player-centric design.
• Ability to articulate core design principles: ideation, prototyping, systems balance, player psychology.
• Familiarity with at least one modern game engine (Unreal 4/5, Unity or equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to work across disciplines (art, programming, production) and communicate design concepts clearly.
• Strong interpersonal skills for mentoring students and collaborating with faculty.

Nice To Haves

• Five or more years in game design or related roles, including leadership or mentoring.
• Expertise with one or more areas of game design, e.g. narrative design, mechanics, level design, system design, or UX design.
• Ability to analyze player behavior and motivation and communicate these insights.
• Passionate interest in experimentation and prototyping game mechanics.
• Expert-level command of source control systems (e.g., Git, Perforce).
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and projects.
• Interest or experience in teaching XR and immersive experiences.
• Experience organizing game jams, industry partnerships or outreach activities.
• Record of scholarly or creative work in game design.

Responsibilities

• Teach three courses (nine credits) per semester in game design, level design, and interactive systems development.
• Guide projects from concept through prototype to polished completion.
• Cover ideation and prototyping, core mechanics design, systems balance, level design, player psychology, UX principles, iteration through playtesting, and design documentation.
• Translate design principles into performant, playable experiences in Unreal Engine 5.
• Mentor students and lead teams in game design projects.
• Engage in ongoing creative work or research in the field.
• Participate actively in faculty, department, and college services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Master's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees