Game Designer

31st Union; Burnaby; Hybrid; CAD 63,000 - 93,000; Full time

Job summary

Small Axe Studios in Burnaby, part of 2K’s growing sports lineup, seeks a thoughtful Systems Designer to shape gameplay foundations. You’ll design, balance, and implement systems that drive player freedom, progression, and engagement across core fantasy features.

You’ll partner with engineers, artists, and other designers to prototype and iterate, ensure integration with UI and content pipelines, and document your designs with clear specs and tuning guidelines.

Qualifications

• Experience in game design with a focus on systems design.
• Experience designing and tuning progression, stats, or in-game economies.
• Strong analytical thinking and collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.
• Passion for sports games and systemic gameplay.

Responsibilities

• Design core gameplay systems and balance progression, economy, rewards, and player stats.
• Prototype, implement, and iterate systemic features within the game.
• Collaborate with engineers, artists, and designers to integrate systems with gameplay, UI, and content pipelines.
• Create clear design specs and balance sheets; present in team reviews.

Skills

Systems design

Balancing

Analytics

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Unreal Blueprint

Unity

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 2023, Small Axe Studios is 2K’s newest stand-alone studio, built to push the boundaries of game development and bring 2K’s next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. Headquartered in Burnaby, we are assembling a world-class team of visionaries, builders, and passionate gamers who thrive on creative collaboration, technical excellence, and bold ideas. At Small Axe Studios, we believe big things start with sharp focus—and we’re crafting an exceptional, player-first experience from the ground up. If you’re ready to tackle unique challenges, leave your mark on a brand-new IP, and help shape the future of interactive sports entertainment, we want you on our team!

What We Need

Our studio is looking for a thoughtful and detail-oriented Systems Designer to help shape the foundation of our player experience. In this role, you’ll contribute to the design, balancing, and implementation of gameplay systems that bring depth, dynamism, and replayability to our game.
As part of the Core Fantasy team, you’ll work closely with senior systems designers, engineers, producers, and other stakeholders to bring systemic features to life that support player freedom, progression, and agency. This is an exciting opportunity to grow as a designer while contributing to a large-scale sports game with an ambitious and player-driven vision.
The Systems Designer will report to the Lead Designer (Core Fantasy) and collaborate regularly with feature teams across the studio.

What You’ll Do

• Design Core Gameplay Systems
• Support the development of game systems such as progression, economy, rewards, player stats, and game modes (Help balance gameplay loops, and related systemic mechanics)
• Work within an established vision to help translate high-level goals into clear, scalable systems
• Own discrete systems or subsystems, and take them from concept to implementation
• Balance and Tune for Engagement
• Help balance gameplay loops, player progression, in-game currencies, and related systemic mechanics
• Adjust tuning values based on feedback, metrics, and playtest results
• Analyze and model systemic outcomes to maintain a healthy gameplay economy
• Partner with Cross-Functional Teams
• Collaborate with engineers, artists, and other designers to prototype, implement, and iterate systems
• Contribute to scoping and feature planning discussions with producers and project leads
• Ensure systems integrate cleanly with other game areas such as gameplay, UI, and content pipelines
• Document and Communicate Design
• Create clear and comprehensive documentation for system logic, flows, and tuning guidelines
• Maintain design specs and balance sheets to support clarity and iteration
• Present your designs in team reviews and be open to feedback and collaboration
• Champion Systemic Play
• Contribute to the game’s player-driven and emergent storytelling through robust systems
• Help ensure the systems empower player expression, decision-making, and meaningful trade-offs
• Bring a player-first mindset to design discussions and problem solving

What Will Make You A Great Fit

• 3–5 years of experience in game design, with a focus on systems design
• Experience designing and tuning game systems such as progression, stats, or in‑game economies
• Solid understanding of balancing principles, player motivations, and systemic interaction
• Strong analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills
• Passion for sports games and/or systemic gameplay
• Comfortable working with spreadsheets and design tools for balance and documentation
  Positive, proactive attitude and willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment

Beneficial Qualifications

• Experience working on sports games or simulations
• Familiarity with live service design, balancing for long-term engagement, or seasonal models
• Experience with scripting or configuration in a game engine (e.g., Unreal Blueprint, Unity, proprietary tools)
• Exposure to telemetry-driven design and KPI-informed iteration

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between CAD $62,800 and CAD $92,920per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews, and when emailing, we only use 2K.com accounts.

#LI-Hybrid