Game Design Director - Emirati Cultural game

E-Line Media; Abu Dhabi; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

E-Line Media is looking for a Game Design Director to lead the development of a new video game inspired by Emirati culture. This role demands a blend of creative vision, strong leadership, and a commitment to cultural authenticity, working closely with Emirati talent and diverse teams to create a meaningful gaming experience.

Benefits

Competitive salaries with full medical benefits

Flexible remote work environment

Paid maternity/paternity leave

Matching 401(k)

Vacation and sick leave

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in game design, with 3 years in a lead role.
• Strong communication skills with a focus on collaboration.
• Experience in culturally inspired projects a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the game’s design direction.
• Build and mentor a distributed game design team.
• Translate Emirati culture into engaging gameplay.

Skills

Game design leadership

Cultural authenticity

Unreal Engine proficiency

Team building

Remote collaboration

Gameplay mechanics expertise

Education

8+ years in game design

Experience with original IP

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

About E-Line Media:

E-Line Media is a developer and publisher of video games with meaningful themes and authentic voices. Founded in 2008, the company's mission is to develop games that fire the imagination, catalyze curiosity, and provide gateways to new perspectives and interests.

The Company is a mission-driven, for-profit enterprise whose investors seek market-level financial returns and positive social impact. Its titles include the BAFTA and Peabody award-winning Never Alone , the Jackson-Wild-winning Beyond Blue , Gamestar Mechanic, and MinecraftEDU .

The Emirati Cultural Game will be a project similar to E-Line's Never Alone, which was developed inclusively with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC), a pioneering Alaska Native organization. Never Alone's goal was to share, celebrate, and extend Alaska Native culture with a global audience. The game is based on a story passed down for thousands of years, is in the Inupiaq language, and features 24 ‘cultural insight' mini-documentaries unlocked through gameplay, inviting players to connect deeply with Alaska Native heritage and tradition.

The game has resonated worldwide, reaching over 15 million players. It has been featured in thousands of articles, won numerous awards, and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Websites

• Never Alone website: http://neveralonegame.com
• Short New Yorker film about the 'inclusive development' process for Never Alone: https://www.newyorker.com/video/watch/the-new-yorker-presents-never-alone
• Powerful review of Never Alone by a Native American game critic: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-20-never-alone
• E-Line Media Website: https://elinemedia.com/

About the Project:

We are embarking on an exciting journey to create a video game inspired by Emirati culture featuring compelling gameplay and an authentic narrative. Our goal is to create an experience that resonates with both global and local players while honoring the cultural heritage and traditions of the UAE. We are bringing together experienced game developers alongside Emirati artists, storytellers, and cultural partners to create a commercially successful, engaging experience for audiences worldwide on PC and consoles.

About the Position:

We are seeking a Game Design Director to be the driving force behind the game’s design, ensuring an engaging, commercially successful, and culturally authentic experience. The ideal candidate is an experienced lead game designer with strong leadership skills who is comfortable working with globally distributed teams, mentoring talent, and being hands-on with Unreal Engine. Your expertise will be crucial in translating authentic cultural elements into engaging game systems and building a world that resonates with players on a global scale.

This role involves close collaboration with our Emirati Narrative Lead, who has a rich background in culturally-inspired live performances and storytelling. Together, you will translate narrative themes into compelling gameplay. The Game Design Director will also collaborate with other Emirati talent and external partners to ensure authentic integration of worldbuilding, player experience, and game mechanics throughout the project. A unique opportunity for someone based in the region or open to relocating or traveling to Abu Dhabi during development to immerse themselves in the local stories, landscapes, and traditions.

As our Game Design Director, you will be responsible for:

• Creative Game Design Leadership: Define and lead the game’s design direction, ensuring that every element of gameplay is fun and reflects the rich Emirati culture and narrative vision.
• Team Building & Mentorship: Build and mentor a distributed game design team from the ground up; serve as a partner to the Emirati Narrative Lead and other team members.
• Collaborative Design: Work closely with cross-disciplinary teams (including narrative, art, and cultural partners) across multiple locations to ensure cohesive and authentic game systems.
• Hands-on Design: Actively engage in game design tasks, leveraging your hands-on experience with the Unreal Engine to prototype, iterate, and refine gameplay mechanics. Provide clear documentation, feedback, and iterative design processes to guide the development team.
• Cultural Integration: Translate authentic aspects of Emirati history and culture into interactive game mechanics, advocating for cultural authenticity while ensuring accessibility and engagement for diverse audiences.
• IP & Project Management: Utilize previous IP experience to help shape and manage the game’s narrative and design assets. Work with production to scope and manage the design workload, maintaining project milestones.
• Iterative Development: Participate in playtesting and incorporate feedback to continually refine gameplay, ensuring a deeply engaging and polished interactive experience.

We’re looking for someone who has …

• 8+ years of experience in game design, with at least 3 years in a lead or director-level role.
• Willingness to be based in, or spend considerable time in Abu Dhabi during the development of the game.
• Previous experience working with IP or developing original IP or a portfolio that reflects innovative storytelling and design.
• Proficiency in Unreal Engine with a hands-on approach to game design and development.
• Experience leading distributed teams and remote collaboration across time zones.
• Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and mentor creative teams, particularly in collaborative, culturally diverse environments.
• Deep expertise in gameplay mechanics, systems design, and player experience.
• Strong communication skills, able to work across disciplines and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to travel and/or relocate to the UAE for key phases of development.

It’s a bonus if you …

• Experience working on culturally inspired games or projects that required authentic translation of cultural narratives into game mechanics.
• A passion for bridging traditional cultural narratives with modern interactive media.

• Background in life simulation, adventure and/or narrative-driven games.

Top Reasons to Work with Us

• Being part of an enthusiastic, diverse team that wants to make games with a positive impact.
• Co-create an authentic game experience in collaboration with our project partners.
• A positive, healthy remote work environment with flexible hours.
• We provide competitive salaries with full medical benefits and matching 401 (k), as well as paid paternity/maternity leave, vacation, holidays, and sick/wellness days.

E-Line Media values diverse perspectives and voices on our teams. We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.