Senior Game Designer - Sandbox

Cliffhanger Games is a newly formed Seattle Studio focusing on blockbuster action-adventure games and pioneering next-generation emergent storytelling beginning with Marvel's Black Panther. Join us to pursue your passion to build unique, groundbreaking, and inclusive games that will empower players to create incredible stories of heroic adventure. Become a foundational part of an ambitious, respectful, and diverse team as we are looking for a Senior Game Designer - Sandbox to join our team.

Reporting to the Design Manager, the Senior Game Designer - Sandbox will be instrumental in designing and populating encounters, systems, and gameplay within a dynamic and evolving open world. Drawing upon a deep understanding of technical design principles and a passion for creating immersive sandbox experiences, this role demands close collaboration with design teams, AI engineering, and technical art departments to bring our game world to life.

Responsibilities

• Sandbox Gameplay & AI Systems: Design, prototype, and implement events, encounters, and gameplay mechanics that contribute to a rich, dynamic sandbox. Work closely with Engineering to create engaging AI behaviors that enhance the open world experience, from enemy patrols to civilian crowds and wildlife.

• Cross-Team Collaboration: Work with other designers and writers to ensure that sandbox design elements support and enrich the broader narrative and gameplay objectives. Partner with technical artists to integrate visual and environmental elements seamlessly, ensuring a cohesive and immersive game world.

• Systemic Approach: Support the development of systems, mechanics, and templates for dynamic events that respond to player actions and contribute to a living, breathing game world. Propose practical design solutions that can scale.

• Mission Integration: Partner with other designers to integrate sandbox dynamics into more linear mission designs, facilitating seamless transitions between structured narrative moments and open world exploration.

Required Qualifications

• Unreal Expertise: Comfortable in Unreal Engine 5, with strong skills in Blueprint scripting and a solid understanding of environmental and AI system integration.

• Technical Design Experience: Extensive experience in technical and/or sandbox design for open world games, with a proven track record of creating engaging and dynamic environments that feel authentic and alive.

• Collaboration and Responsiveness: Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines to merge gameplay, narrative, and technical art into cohesive sandbox experiences.

• Understanding of Sandbox Design: Familiarity with the sandbox design problem space and what makes open world gameplay engaging and memorable for players.

• Creative Problem Solving: A creative and analytical designer, capable of conceptualizing and implementing innovative sandbox features that push the boundaries of open world gameplay while remaining authentic to the fictional setting.

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). BASE SALARY RANGES

• Washington (depending on location e.g. Seattle vs. Spokane)
  • $115,700 - $163,100 USD

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 equity.