Level Designer Resume Templates Inspired by Arc Raiders' New Maps

Struggling to show your map-design chops on a game dev resume? Here’s a 2026-ready template inspired by Arc Raiders’ new maps

Hiring managers and lead designers want concrete proof you can ship maps that play well at every scale — from tight skirmish arenas to sprawling, emergent battlegrounds. After Embark Studios confirmed Arc Raiders will ship multiple maps across a spectrum of sizes in 2026, the expectations for level designers’ resumes and portfolios changed: studios now expect clear evidence of size-range experience, rigorous playtesting, and measurable UX outcomes. If you’re applying for level design roles, this article shows exactly how to present map design, playtesting results, and size-range experience so your application stands out.

Why Arc Raiders’ 2026 map expansion matters for your resume

Arc Raiders’ design lead Virgil Watkins told GamesRadar that upcoming maps will vary from smaller-than-ever layouts to maps grander than current locations. That mirrors two hiring trends we saw in late 2025 and early 2026:

• Demand for scale versatility: teams want designers who can handle tight, looped arenas and expansive spaces with systemic interactions.
• Telemetry-driven design: live ops and analytics now guide map iteration; employers expect designers who use data to validate design choices.

Translate those trends into your resume and portfolio: demonstrate a viable range, show measurable impact from playtests, and surface UX thinking (flow, onboarding, sightlines, choke control). Below you’ll find resume templates, portfolio structure, playtesting evidence formats, ATS keywords, and a document checklist tailored to level designers aiming at studios like Embark and similar teams in 2026.

Top-level rules: what every game dev resume should show in 2026

1. Clarity of role: List exactly what you did on the map (layout, scripting, enemy placement, lighting, perf optimizations).
2. Scope and scale: For each map or project, state player count expectations, target match duration, and square-meter or node counts if available.
3. Metrics & outcomes: Use numbers from playtests and live telemetry — e.g., average match duration, spawn fairness delta, reduction in choke congestion.
4. Deliverables & assets: Link to playable builds, annotated videos, heatmaps, and Git commits or Perforce changelists.
5. Tools & tech: List engines, middleware, and tooling (Unreal/Unity, Houdini, Blender, Python scripts, telemetry SDKs).

Resume templates: three concise examples inspired by Arc Raiders’ size spectrum

1) Small-scale map specialist (4–8 minute encounters)

Use this template if you’ve built compact arenas or tight maps where flow, spawn design, and immediate readability matter.

• Level Designer — Project X (Indie Studio) — 2024–2025
• Designed 4 compact PvP arenas (4–8 min avg. playtime) focusing on sightlines and rapid rotations; reduced first-death spawn time by 21% in A/B tests.
• Created scripted spawn rotation system and 8 micro-cover placements using Unity ProBuilder; integrated navmesh optimizations to increase AI pathing consistency by 15%.
• Delivered annotated heatmap reports and 3 playtest videos; linked playable WebGL build and Git branch.

2) Mid-scale objective map designer (10–20 minute matches)

For capture/escort or objective-based designs with multi-phase goals.

• Level Designer — Team Bravo — 2023–2025
• Led layout and pacing for a 16-minute assault map (supports 6v6); implemented phase-based flow and objective gating to balance rotation paths.
• Ran 3 rounds of structured playtests (n=48) to iteratively reduce camping points; K/D variance decreased by 32% post-iteration.
• Produced a 6-page case study with annotated snapshots, player telemetry graphs, and a video that highlights pre/post changes.

3) Large-scale emergent map designer (open spaces, verticality)

For ambitious, grand maps like Arc Raiders’ upcoming large locales.

• Senior Level Designer — Studio Z — 2022–2025
• Architected a 3 km2 open-battle map emphasizing emergent traversal, layered objectives, and sightline control; supported 12–16 player sessions.
• Implemented procedural landmark pipelines (Houdini) for modular variety; reduced manual iteration time per map from 4 weeks to 10 days.
• Tracked player heatmaps across 1,500 matches; used telemetry to rebalance spawn and loot distribution improving match engagement by 18%.

How to present playtesting — show the science behind your design

Playtesting is where level design credibility is earned. Hiring leads want to see not only that you ran tests, but that you structured them and used results to guide changes. Present playtests the way UX researchers present studies.

Playtest report structure (one-page summary + attachments)

1. Objective: What question did the test answer? (E.g., reduce camp-friendly choke at east bridge)
2. Hypothesis: What did you expect to change and why?
3. Method: Participants, mode, match length, metrics captured (heatmap, deaths per area, time-to-first-combat, path-choice split).
4. Results: Key numbers and visualizations (before/after heatmaps, graphs for target metrics).
5. Action: What iterations you implemented and measurable impact.
6. Assets: Link to raw telemetry, annotated map images, video timestamps.

Example playtest result bullet for a resume or portfolio:

Reduced high-congestion peaks at North Bridge by 42% after adding two alternate traversal routes and changing spawn offsets. Based on telemetry from 240 matches and 5 structured playtest sessions (n=36).

Portfolio structure: order of pieces that hiring managers actually read

Organize your portfolio to surface the most relevant proof first. Think of it as a pitch deck for your map design skills.

1. Hero project (1): One high-quality case study with full deliverables — annotated map, playtest report, video walkthrough (3–5 min), links to builds and commits.
2. Size-range examples: At least three map examples covering small, mid, and large scales with a one-line summary of role and impact.
3. Playtesting pack: Downloadable PDF with three short, structured playtest reports and heatmaps.
4. Tools & pipeline: Short page demonstrating technical proficiency (procedural assets, plugins, scripts, CI/CD for builds).
5. Quick links: GitHub/Perforce changelists, Steam Workshop/Mod page, playable builds or demos.

Concrete portfolio items to include (what to attach)

• Annotated top-down maps (before/after iterations)
• Heatmaps with legends (player density, deaths, pickups)
• Short clip reels with timestamped notes (30–90s highlights)
• Playtest data CSVs and summary visualizations
• Links to live builds and required run instructions
• Changelist links or commits demonstrating iteration history

ATS-friendly keywords and phrasing for 2026

Many studios use automated filters. Include exact keywords they look for and weave them naturally into achievements.

• Level design, map design, gameplay scripting, encounter design
• Playtesting, user testing, UX, telemetry, analytics
• Unreal Engine, Unity, Blueprint, C#, Houdini, Blender
• Navmesh, pathfinding, spawn system, procedural generation
• Live ops, balance, match pacing, performance optimization

How to quantify map-scale experience — examples you can copy

Hiring leads prefer bullets with measurable scope. Replace vague claims with precise data points.

• Bad: "Worked on large maps." Good: "Designed a 3 km2 open map supporting 12–16 players; average session time 18–22 minutes; reduced server-side tick cost by 12% via LOD tuning."
• Bad: "Performed playtests." Good: "Ran 5 structured playtests (n=60) across 3 builds; used heatmaps and network logs to cut spawn overlap by 37%."
• Bad: "Improved flow." Good: "Implemented phase gating and mid-map shortcuts; increased objective capture rate by 27% and reduced mid-game stalemates by 45%."

UX and player onboarding: include these signals

Level design is UX for space. Make sure to call out how you solved player comprehension problems.

• Onboarding landmarks and visual language (how the player reads a space)
• Loop clarity: how to guide players from spawn to objectives
• Readability metrics: first-10-seconds orientation success rates from tests
• Accessibility considerations: sightline contrast, audio cues, single-handed control checks

Case study (short): From cramped arena to balanced skirmish — a before/after breakdown

Use this mini case study as a template for your portfolio hero piece.

1. Problem: New compact arena had high first-spawn deaths and campable corners.
2. Hypothesis: Repositioning spawns and adding two sightline-blocking props will reduce spawn camping and improve rotation options.
3. Intervention: Implemented spawn offset algorithm + two vaulted covers; added short alternate routes and audio cues for critical chokepoints.
4. Result: Playtest (n=36) showed 28% reduction in spawn camping incidents and 14% increase in average match duration. Heatmaps show redistributed player flow with fewer dead zones.
5. What to include in portfolio: top-down before/after maps, annotated screenshots, heatmaps, 90-second video, link to playable build.

Document & application checklist

Before you hit send, make sure you have everything hiring managers want in 2026.

• Tailored 1–2 page resume with role clarity and metrics
• Cover letter that references the studio’s maps and a quick note on a map you’d improve (avoid generic praise)
• Portfolio URL with hero case study and size-range examples
• Downloadable playtest PDF pack and raw telemetry links
• Links to playable builds or demo reels (hosted or embed)
• Links to Git/Perforce changelists or Mod pages
• Relevant certifications or courses (e.g., Unreal Certs, UX course)

Applying to studios like Embark — dos and don’ts

Studios dropping major map updates (like Arc Raiders in 2026) appreciate candidates who understand both legacy and future content.

• Do: Reference an existing Arc Raiders locale and propose one well-justified improvement or a new mini-map concept — include a small sketch and expected metrics.
• Do: Show how you measured impact and iterated (playtest + telemetry).
• Don’t: Send huge unstructured portfolios — lead with the hero case study.
• Don’t: Claim solo credit for team work — clearly state your role and collaborators.

Advanced strategies for 2026 — stand out with data pipelines and automation

Want to look like a senior hire? Show you can automate iteration and use live telemetry efficiently.

• Include short descriptions of any telemetry pipelines you built (e.g., ingestion scripts that convert match logs into heatmap-ready CSVs).
• Mention any procedural generation work that allowed rapid scale testing (Houdini procedural landmarks, parametric map modules).
• Showcase CI/CD or build automation for iterative playtest deployment to reduce turnaround time.

Final checklist: 5 action steps to update your resume & portfolio this week

1. Pick a hero project and create a 2–3 minute annotated video and a one-page playtest summary.
2. Add size-range bullets to your resume for at least three projects (small/mid/large).
3. Quantify at least two metrics per project (engagement, spawn fairness, perf gain).
4. Publish an interactive or downloadable packet with raw telemetry and heatmaps.
5. Tailor your cover letter to the studio’s map ambitions — reference specific maps and offer one concrete improvement idea.

Why this approach works in 2026

Studios are investing in both variety and live-ops telemetry. Arc Raiders’ new map strategy underscores a broader industry move: teams want designers who can ship across scales and validate design choices with data. When you present clear metrics, playtest rigor, and a size-range portfolio, you move from being a hopeful applicant to an evidence-based hire.

Closing — ready-made resume lines you can copy

Use these one-liners to update your resume quickly:

• Designed three compact 4–8 min PvP arenas; cut average time-to-first-combat by 18% through spawn scripting and sightline tweaks.
• Led layout and pacing for a 16-min objective map (6v6); decreased mid-game stalemates by 45% using phase-gating and alternate routes.
• Built a procedural landmark pipeline (Houdini) enabling 60% faster iteration for large-scale maps; reduced manual build time from 4 weeks to 10 days.
• Conducted 5 structured playtests (n=240 matches); used heatmaps and telemetry to reduce choke congestion by 42%.

Call to action

If you want a resume and portfolio review tailored to Arc Raiders–style roles, upload your one-page playtest summary and hero video to srakarijobs.com/portfolio-review. We’ll give you a prioritized checklist and one sample rewrite of a resume bullet — free for students and early-career designers through February 2026.

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