Senior Staff Game Designer (Combat)

Senior Staff Game Designer (Combat)

Sony Bend Studio, renowned creator of Days Gone, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Syphon Filter, is seeking outstanding talent to join our passionate and creative team in crafting our next high-profile AAA title.

We are currently seeking a Senior Staff Game Designer who can craft combat systems and mechanics to an exceptional level of quality, particularly with the design and implementation of enemies. This role demands deep expertise in combat design and a commitment to delivering fun, engaging experiences for our players while upholding the vision of the game and the values of our studio.

Responsibilities:

• Own combat mechanics through all phases of development-ideation, proof-of-concept, prototyping, development, iteration, finalization, and post-launch support.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams-such as AI, enemies, core gameplay, controls, weapons, and world-to execute on tasks and priorities.

• Align combat design with project pillars and communicate that vision to stakeholders across the team and organization.

• Create and maintain documentation of combat systems, mechanics, and other related features.

• Deliver outcomes that exemplify AAA quality and help others achieve exceptional results.

• Mentor designers and share knowledge. Define and encourage best practices.

• Consult with User Experience Research (UXR) and inform tests to validate models and hypotheses for the combat player experience. Review UXR outcomes and advise product owners on next steps for further iteration.

• Serve in leadership roles as needed-e.g., leading a cross-functional agile team or managing a small group of direct reports.

• Maintain complete, accurate, and up-to-date task reporting in Jira. Advise product owners on combat priorities for sprint and project backlogs.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of senior experience in video game combat design with a proven track record of successful games.

• In-depth knowledge of current trends, innovations, and competitive approaches in combat design.

• Fluency working in game engines such as Unreal, Unity, or proprietary engines.

• Knowledgeable in a broad range of areas relevant to combat design, such as level layout, AI behavior, ability design, encounter composition, camera & controls, user interface, animation, and pacing.

• A player-centered approach to design. Empathy for gamers and a deep understanding of player motivations, needs, and psychology.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills. Able to clearly explain complex game principles, strategies, and solutions to a diverse audience of stakeholders.

• Highly collaborative. An advocate for inclusive, accessible design and fostering diverse talent within the team.

• Growth mindset. Driven by curiosity and a genuine commitment to learning.

• Experience with common game development tools such as version control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git, Subversion) and project management software (e.g., Jira)

• Ability to break down, prioritize, and manage tasks across sprints, milestones, and development phases in an agile environment.

• Strong time management and prioritization skills. Ability to handle competing priorities from hands-on development to team leadership and coordination.

Bonus Qualifications:

• College degree or equivalent.

• Experience working in multiple game engines.

• Familiarity with agile and scrum methodologies as they pertain to game development.

• Knowledge of mathematics relevant to game development (vectors, geometry, calculus and Newtonian physics).

• Fluency in C++ or related languages.

• Strong error checking and debugging skills.

• Experience leading a team and/or managing direct reports.

We are building a design culture that values trust, inclusivity, collaboration, innovation, growth mindset, and sustainability. If you have the skills we are looking for and are passionate about creating incredible experiences for both our players and the people on your team, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and portfolio.