Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Naughty Dog$145K — $181K *
Consumer Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years in combat or technical design for games, focused on action-adventure or shooter genres.
  • Experience with at least one shipped title in a combat design role.
  • Strong coding abilities; Computer Science degree preferred.
  • Proficiency with game engines and scripting tools like Unreal Engine and Unity.
  • Effective communication skills with a knack for diagramming and sketching.
  • Deep understanding of modern character action and shooter games, along with industry trends.
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and its relationship with gameplay.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement enemy NPC archetypes from pitch to execution.
  • Collaborate with AI programmers to refine NPC technology and behaviors.
  • Work with animators to create unique enemy locomotion and abilities.
  • Prototype and balance gameplay mechanics with the Design team.
  • Maintain documentation outlining the vision for enemy archetypes.
  • Drive collaboration and communication across disciplines to meet project deadlines.
  • Conduct playtesting and feedback sessions to fine-tune combat systems.
  • Mentor junior designers to foster team growth.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment from the Santa Monica studio.
  • Opportunity to work on innovative and critically acclaimed games.
  • Supportive culture that values diversity and cultural experience.
  • Access to experienced professionals and mentors in the gaming industry.
Full Job Description
This is a hybrid/ onsite position.

What you will do:
  • Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes
  • Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors
  • Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable
  • Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems
  • Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you're owning
  • Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes
  • Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines
  • Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments
  • Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences
  • Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team

What skills you will use:
  • 5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games
  • At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred
  • Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required
  • Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)
  • Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the "let's try it" mentality
  • Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching
  • Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends
  • Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat
  • A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful
  • Strong leadership and mentoring skills


The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.

$145,100-$181,400 USD

About Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog, LLC is an American video game developer that was founded in 1984. The company is based in Santa Monica, California and is known for developing critically acclaimed video games such as the Uncharted and The Last of Us series.
Learn more about Naughty Dog
Size
300 employees
Industry

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