Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer

Santa Monica·Posted 4mo ago

Summary  We are seeking a Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer to own the design and implementation of compelling 3 C’s gameplay. This person will work closely with design leadership, animators, engineers, and artists to deliver world-class moment-to-moment gameplay and player feel.  Core Responsibilities  <ul> <li>Own and drive implementation of all moment-to-moment player-feel gameplay in alignment with direction from a senior leadership team. </li> <li>Develop engaging combat mechanics, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, AI tactics, weapons, and camera systems. </li> <li>Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to prototype, iterate, and polish combat features from concept through ship. </li> <li>Author and maintain design documentation, ensuring clarity and alignment across departments. </li> <li>Analyze playtest data and player feedback to continuously refine and balance combat systems. </li> <li>Own combat encounters and pacing in collaboration with level and narrative design teams. </li> <li>Establish metrics and best practices for environment and encounter design to support optimal gameplay. </li> <li>Mentor junior designers and contribute to the evolution of team processes and best practices. </li> <li>Maintain high standards for quality, responsiveness, and fun across all combat elements. </li> </ul> Core Qualifications  <ul> <li>5+ years of experience in game design with at least 2 shipped titles, including one in a senior or lead role focused on combat. </li> <li>Deep understanding of player mechanics, animation-driven gameplay, enemy design, and AI behavior. </li> <li>High technical proficiency with Unreal Engine 5.0 and its suite of combat, AI, and animation systems tools. </li> <li>Strong prototyping skills with scripting languages or visual scripting systems (e.g., Blueprint, Lua, etc.). </li> <li>Excellent communication, collaboration, and documentation skills. </li> <li>Passion for creating satisfying, intuitive, and deep combat systems across various player archetypes. </li> </ul> Plus If...  <ul> <li>Experience designing melee combat systems, ranged combat, or hybrid mechanics. </li> <li>Background working on open-world or sandbox games. </li> <li>Experience planning player skill and progression systems. </li> <li>Knowledge of cinematic combat presentation and camera work. </li> <li>Experience working with motion capture and/or animation pipelines. </li> </ul> Description  <ul> <li>Full-time job with benefits. </li> <li>Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA. </li> <li>Office is located near downtown Santa Monica – near metro and freeway. </li> </ul> The base pay range for this position is $145,000 to $180,000 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 vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

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