Senior/Lead Gameplay Designer

Summary

We are seeking a Senior/Lead Gameplay Designer to be a vision holder and hands-on contributor for combat, character, controls, and camera design in an open world action-adventure game. The person in this role will lead a team of multi-disciplinary specialists to deliver best-in-class combat and third person action across multiple game modes.

Core Responsibilities

• Drive the design and implementation of all moment-to-moment player-feel gameplay in alignment with direction from a senior leadership team.
• Establish a gameplay vision that serves the player fantasies and creative direction, then evangelize that vision to the broader team.
• Work closely with animation, engineering, and other disciplines to create world class enemy design and player progression systems.
• Rally designers, engineers, animators, artists, and external co-dev partners to deliver playable progress at regular intervals as part of a rapid iterative process.
• Incorporate feedback from peers, play-tests, and senior leadership to refine and pivot as the game demands.
• Go beyond documentation and management to lead from the trenches, with hands-on contributions to the playable experience.
• Establish metrics and best practices for environment and encounter design to support optimal gameplay.

Core Qualifications

• 5 or more years of experience in combat design for an action game.
• Experience developing both melee and shooting action mechanics.
• Sensitivity to animation systems and how they relate to combat and action gameplay design.
• Awareness of casual gamers' needs and ability to reduce barriers to entry with accessible moment-to-moment gameplay.
• High attention to detail with the ability to communicate and directly implement precision refinements that take an experience from good to great.
• High confidence and comfort in the technical, aesthetic, and design aspects of gameplay and player-feel.
• Recent experience with direct implementation in the form of visual scripting, animation, or other individual contributions to action gameplay.
• Experience developing non-combat forms of action gameplay (driving, mounts, climbing, traversal, platforming, etc.)
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams is a plus.
• Multiplayer combat design experience is a plus.
• Experience in UE4 or UE5 is a plus.
• Experience working with co-development partners is a plus.

Description

• Full-time job with benefits.
• Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.
• Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeway.

The base pay range for this position is $125,000 to $165,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including paid time off, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.