Senior Combat Designer

Insomniac games is looking for its next Senior Combat Designer.  In this role you'll be responsible for helping produce high-quality experiences within our games. You should have at least 8+ years of design experience, largely focused on combat design. The Senior Combat Designer will act as a key coordinator and collaborator, working with design, engineering, art, and animation teams to create compelling player experiences that are expressed though the hero, the enemies they face, and the overall systems that govern combat. You will be responsible for developing designs for said combat and systems for an assigned project and implementing these designs in game. This includes taking designs through pitch, concept, implementation, bug fixing, balance, and polish phases.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops core game action systems such as player actions, hero powers, enemy factions and archetypes, and/or bot AI.
• Creates clear and concise, visually oriented design materials that explain mechanics, systems, and features.  
• Pitches and presents designs to the team and department heads. 
• Explores multiple potential solutions to a problem by creating rapid prototypes, evaluating from a player perspective, and iterating as needed.
• Develops and communicates combat and system designs through written documentation, visual design materials, and verbal presentations.
• Implements gameplay and game structure; works with Gameplay Programming team to deliver content that meet each disciplines goals and deadlines.
• Follows up with multiple departments on combat features and updates team as needed through various mediums.  
• Addresses bugs and gameplay issues to assure a stable and polished product. 
• Helps assess progress, quality, and user friendliness of project via methods such as usability testing, focus tests and in-house play tests.
• Provides constructive feedback on all aspects of product; finds opportunities to increase quality of product and advises on how information may be implemented or held for future products.
• Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Duties
The Senior Combat Designer will assist in mentoring and training other designers in basic level design tools including, but not limited to, Maya, proprietary level editing tools, and scripting. This also includes helping advance game design skills, including map-making, what makes a level fun and balancing and polishing game elements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced knowledge and experience with level editing tools and scripting (Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar editors).
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya or other major 3D modeling programs. Adobe Illustrator experience and UE4 Blueprint Visual scripting skills are a plus.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

• Thorough understanding of melee combat systems, enemy design and boss design.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including verbal and written skills are required.
• Must be able to both give and receive critical feedback regarding various aspects of the project.
• Some awareness of emerging trends that inform modern game design.
• Ability to analyze these mechanics and apply them to current game designs if appropriate.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please use the link below and apply. Thank you!