Team Name:
StarCraft

Job Title:
Game Designer, Player Systems - StarCraft | Irvine, CA

Requisition ID:
R028142

Job Description:

We are seeking a Game Designer to shape the features and systems that will drive combat, moment-to-moment player experiences, and progression in this new game for Blizzard. In this role, you will design and refine player movement, weapons, abilities, and how they interact with progression systems that create long-term engagement. You have demonstrable knowledge and/or experience in player-focused gameplay design systems: movement, combat, power fantasy, progression, and systems. You are able to look at problems from the perspectives of all types of players--from the most casual to the most advanced--and help build features and designs that make Blizzard games enjoyable by all.

You are the type of designer who is driven by accessibility and simplicity in what you create, and you excel at working alongside other disciplines to create exhilarating moment-to-moment gameplay experiences for players. You are comfortable with iterative, feedback-driven workflow. You have a creative drive that seeks and implements input from the team and players. You can quickly adapt to changes in scope and priority and think about the user experience in everything you do.

Most importantly, you are a strong communicator, and you want to be a part of a focused, seasoned team that openly shares knowledge and experience.

This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience as a designer with a focus on gameplay.
• Demonstrable knowledge of moment-to-moment gameplay experiences: movement, weapons, abilities, combat, and how they come together for high-quality AAA gameplay loops.
• Understanding of progression systems that provide players with hundreds of hours of systematically driven content.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent grasp of standard mathematics, statistics, and probability as pertains to game design and game balance.
• Strong technical skills with experience with visual scripting languages and/or industry-standard toolsets (Unity, Unreal, etc.)
• Expertise with MS Office, specifically Excel.

Pluses

• Prior experience working on core moment-to-moment gameplay features or systems.
• Hands-on experience designing a feature or system from idea to completion.
• Analytical prowess at understanding how to make games "feel good" to players.
• Strong math skills.
• Experience working closely with UI/UX.
• Experience developing and/or playing games within the shooter genre.
• Prior work experience or education in other (non-design) disciplines: art, programming, production, or audio.
• Experience designing systems that run equally well on console and PC.

Required Application Materials

• Resume
• Portfolio demonstrating relevant design work, or shipped game contributions.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $30.47 - $56.35 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.