Level Designer in Altrincham

About us

ForthStar is a unique games company based in Manchester, UK, on a mission to make big free-to-play hits. Established in 2023 by Playdemic Founders, Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby, and a team of exceptionally talented industry veterans, ForthStar's core belief is that the best games are made by highly accomplished teams with freedom for creative innovation. Our mission is clear: to make great games that millions of people love to play every day for years. We take pride in our commitment to building exceptional, mass-appeal games with highly engaging core mechanics that captivate our players and become essential daily entertainment. We believe in excellence and creative thinking and have a culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and the continuous pursuit of better. We support each other to make ForthStar not just a workplace, but an inspirational space for creativity and professional growth. We are driven by our commitment to the service of our players and to each other. AI is a core part of how we work at ForthStar, not a bolt-on. It’s an opportunity to embrace the tech to scale your expertise and move at a pace that traditional workflows can’t match. We look for people who lead these tools thoughtfully, using them as a genuine force multiplier for their craft.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Level Designer to join us as a key contributor at ForthStar. In this role, you will design and own gameplay-first levels that feel great to play — from first grey-box through to final tuning. We’re looking for a designer who can take full responsibility for the player experience and deliver levels that are clear, engaging, and satisfying. If you’re a mid-level designer passionate about creating highly engaging games that become essential daily entertainment, we’d love to hear from you!

What You'll Do

• End-to-End Ownership: Take ownership of levels, managing the design process from initial concept and layout through to final balancing and polish.
• Gameplay Integration: Translate abstract game visions and mechanics into concrete, playable 3D spaces that challenge and delight players.
• Rapid Prototyping: Build robust level blockouts (grey-boxing) in Unity to test flow, sightlines, and encounter pacing early in the production cycle.
• Technical Implementation: Set up and manage level logic, triggers, and scriptable elements, working closely with Coders to ensure technical execution matches your design intent.
• Iterative Refinement: Actively participate in playtests, analysing feedback and data to iterate on layouts, difficulty curves, and player signposting.
• Cross-Discipline Collaboration: Partner with the Art team to ensure level geometry supports high-end aesthetics while maintaining strict performance and collision standards.
• Performance Maintenance: Ensure levels remain optimised and performant throughout the development pipeline, troubleshooting issues as they arise.
• Workflow Contribution: Contribute to the refinement of internal design tools and methodologies to help improve the efficiency of the level design team.
• Milestone Management: Manage your own tasks and timeline effectively, working with Production to ensure levels are delivered on schedule and within scope.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills

• Professional Portfolio: A proven showcase of shipped work (or high-quality personal projects) demonstrating a strong grasp of spatial design, player flow, and 3D composition.
• Unity Proficiency: Solid professional experience using Unity, specifically with level-building toolsets such as Prefabs, ProBuilder, or Terrain tools.
• Design Fundamentals: A strong understanding of core game design principles, including player psychology, difficulty scaling, and environmental storytelling.
• Grey-boxing Skills: Ability to rapidly conceptualise 3D environments using primitive geometry to prove out gameplay before involving the art team.
• Critical Thinking: The ability to objectively analyse your own work, accept constructive feedback, and provide meaningful input during peer reviews.
• Collaborative Mindset: Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to solving problems within a fast-paced team environment.

Bonus Skills

• Environmental Art Interest: An eye for lighting, composition, and basic set dressing to help bridge the gap between design and final art.
• Technical Literacy: Experience implementing basic VFX triggers, animation events, or simple C# scripting within Unity.
• Competitive Design: Experience designing maps or encounters for competitive, PvP, or multiplayer titles.
• Mobile Experience: An understanding of the specific UX constraints and technical optimisations required for mobile platforms.
• Gaming Passion: A genuine interest in deconstructing modern mobile games and staying current with industry trends.

Working at ForthStar

This position is based on-site at our high-spec studio in Altrincham, Manchester. We operate on a four-day workweek and prioritise working from the studio during these days to enhance collaboration and productivity. Being in the studio allows for spontaneous teamwork, face-to-face interactions, and the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the energy that drives our mission.

Requirements

All applicants must be UK-based and legally eligible to work in the UK.

Recruitment Process

We are committed to hiring only the most talented individuals to fulfil our mission: to make great games that millions of people love to play every day for years. We conduct a fair and objective screening and interview process for all candidates. Our hiring decisions are based on how well each person's skills, experience and traits align with the job requirements and values of ForthStar.

Diversity

As an equal opportunities employer, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team. We believe that our company should reflect the diversity of our audiences and the wider society we engage with.