Department: Design
Location: United States
Compensation: $85,000 - $170,000 / year
Description
We're looking for a generalist Senior Designer. You love a great excel spreadsheet because it allows you to shoot the enemy more effectively. You're a special breed of designer, one who has worked in developing great shooter gameplay, but also someone who loves player progression and other RPG mechanics. You should have an inherent sense of game feel including what makes a weapon or an enemy feel great. You'll need to be able to create a sense of real attachment that has our players coming back night-after-night and dreading the time they have to log out. Action RPGs are your jam, and they're best enjoyed with friends.
Responsibilities
- Design and implement game systems using Unreal Engine, including gameplay mechanics, combat mechanics, player progression, and in-game economies.
- Develop weapon systems, including handling, recoil, firing rates, and damage models.
- Collaborate with other designers, artists, and engineers to create and iterate on game systems.
- Collaborate with level designers to create combat encounters that challenge and engage players.
- Develop and maintain design documentation for game systems.
- Balance and fine-tune game systems to ensure a fun and engaging player experience.
- Work with Community Manager to conduct playtests and gather feedback to identify areas for improvement.
- Work closely with animators and programmers to ensure smooth and responsive combat animations and behaviors.
- Stay current with industry trends and best practices in game design and Unreal Engine development.
- Other tasks as required by studio leadership.
Qualifications
Experience
- Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in game design, with a focus on systems design or shooter combat design. Preferably both.
- Proven experience with Unreal Engine (preferably Unreal Engine 5).
Required Skills
- Strong understanding of game design principles and player psychology.
- One shipped title of AAA quality or a breakout indy hit.
- Demonstrable expertise with Blueprint
- Worked with gameplay systems in a systems design or combat design capacity
- Experience with balancing game systems and economies.
Desired Skills
- Advanced knowledge of the Unreal Engine with at least three years of experience
- Strong understanding of shooter mechanics and player behavior.
- Knowledge of AI behavior and enemy design in shooter games.
- Experience with multiplayer shooter design and networked combat systems.
- Passion for shooter games and a deep understanding of various sub-genres.
- Experience in C++ specifically with Unreal Engine
- Worked closely with animation team in previous experience.
- Two shipped titles of AAA quality or breakout indy hits.
Benefits
- Work from home (anywhere in the US)!
- Flexible hours – 32 hour a week minimum / 50 hour maximum
- 3 weeks vacation each year, in addition to paid holidays and sick days
- Competitive healthcare plans including medical, dental, and vision
- Available Flexible Spending / Health Savings Accounts
- 401K with 100% matching up to 4% of your salary
- Employee stock options