Description & Requirements

We are seeking a Lead AI Designer to join our veteran team at Respawn Entertainment. This is an opportunity to define, drive and own the vision for AI systems and behaviors and help craft the future of Apex Legends.

In this role, you will be responsible for shaping how AI enemies, allies, and the world itself react to players - delivering combat experiences that are intelligent, challenging, and immersive. As the bridge between design, animation, and engineering, you'll lead a small team of AI designers and collaborate closely with AI engineers, using the Source engine to take your ideas from paper to production and work directly in-engine with your team to help implement gameplay experiences and bring your vision to life.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define the creative and technical vision for AI design (enemy, ally, training and NPC behaviors) across all modes of Apex Legends
• Lead the cross-disciplinary AI team to execute that creative vision across all Apex gameplay experiences and modes
• Design and tune AI systems including perception, combat logic, navigation, coordination, and decision-making frameworks.
• Establish reusable AI archetypes, behavior trees, and encounter templates that support a range of combat scenarios.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of AI designers; provide clear goals, feedback, and support career development.
• Collaborate cross-discipline with engineering, animation, and level design to ensure AI systems integrate smoothly into the overall player experience.
• Own the quality of AI combat and systemic behaviors, ensuring they meet performance, difficulty, and fun targets.
• Collaborate with partner teams (User Research/Analytics/Playtests) to optimize the AI experience
• Work in a live game environment partnering with production to plan and manage a live service development schedule and release plan.

REQUIREMENTS

• 7+ years of professional game design experience, with at least 2 shipped AAA titles (preferably shooters or action games).
• Experience leading a team and executing the creative vision
• Live service development experience is an asset but not required
• Deep understanding of combat AI, behavior systems and group coordination in shooter gameplay.
• Proven experience designing AI for FPS or third-person shooters
• Experience with AI scripting tools, visual behavior trees, and debugging environments.
• Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills and a track record of collaborating effectively with engineering and animation teams.
• Passion for emergent gameplay, player agency, and creating AI that feels alive and reactive.
• Quality-first mentality. No ego, just a commitment to get to the best quality experience in-game.

Pay Transparency - North America

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

* British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$133,500 - $186,400 CAD

* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$153,700 - $233,600 USD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, 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 other incentive programs.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

Post To

External careers site, Internal careers site

LinkedInID

1040695