Lead Combat Designer

Epic Games; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 152,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading gaming company is seeking a Lead Combat Designer to oversee combat system development in collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams. This role involves designing and implementing core combat systems while leading a small team and ensuring cohesive gameplay. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of experience in game design, a focus on combat mechanics, and proficiency with Unreal Engine. This position offers competitive compensation and benefits in the vibrant setting of Vancouver.

Benefits

100% health benefits for employees and dependents

Robust mental well-being program

Retirement savings plan with employer match

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional game design experience focused on combat systems.
• 3+ years in a lead design role with team leadership experience.
• Experience shipping a game where combat design was a core gameplay pillar.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of core combat systems, including player abilities and combat pacing.
• Manage and mentor a team of combat designers.
• Collaborate with programming, art, animation, and other teams.

Skills

Combat design fundamentals

Collaboration and communication

Gameplay mechanics

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Overview

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?

At the core of Epic’s success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it’s building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we’re always innovating.

Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We’re constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.

What We Do

Put your design skills to work at a cutting-edge company that challenges the norm. From character and level design to competitive gameplay and system design, help shape the future of interactive entertainment at Epic.

What Youll Do

Epic is looking for a Lead Combat Designer to oversee the development of combat systems and mechanics in collaboration with internal stakeholders. In this role, you will work with multidisciplinary teams to design, develop, and implement combat mechanics while leading a small design team, delivering a strong foundation for moment-to-moment gameplay and contributing across various aspects of game design for our collaboration with Disney.

Responsibilities

• Lead the vision, design, and implementation of core combat systems, including player abilities, weapons, enemies, encounters, and combat pacing
• Manage and mentor a small team of combat and systems designers, providing clear direction, feedback, and support
• Collaborate closely with Programming, Art, Animation, Audio, UX, Narrative, and Production to ensure combat systems are cohesive, expressive, and polished
• Create and maintain clear, concise design documentation that communicates combat rules, systems, and tuning to cross-disciplinary teams
• Prototype, iterate, and refine combat mechanics through playtesting, data analysis, and player feedback
• Identify and solve complex combat design problems, balancing creativity, technical constraints, and production realities
• Communicate combat goals, progress, and trade-offs effectively to project leadership and stakeholders

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional game design experience, with a strong focus on combat systems and gameplay mechanics (including melee and ranged combat)
• 3+ years of experience in a senior or lead design role, with demonstrated team leadership and mentorship
• Experience shipping at least one game where combat design was a core gameplay pillar
• Deep understanding of combat design fundamentals such as responsiveness, readability, balance, enemy design, cooperative play, and player feedback
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with experience working across multiple disciplines
• Ability to think strategically at a high level while remaining hands-on with systems design and tuning
• Experience working with Unreal Engine or similar modern game engines

Benefits

EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE

We pay 100% for benefits for both employees and dependents and offer coverage for supplemental medical, dental, vision, critical illness, telemedicine, Life and AD&D, long term disability insurance as well as weekly indemnity (short term disability) and a retirement savings plan with a competitive employer match. In addition to the EAP (employee assistance program), we also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents.

Pay Transparency

The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position are detailed below. Each base pay range is relevant only for individuals who are residents of or will be expected to work within the specified locale. Compensation varies based on a variety of factors, which include (but aren’t limited to) things such as skills and competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. In addition to base pay, most employees are eligible to participate in Epic’s generous benefit plans and discretionary incentive programs (subject to the terms of those plans or programs).

British Columbia Base Pay Range $152,967 — $224,352 CAD

About Epic

Epic Games spans across 25 countries with 46 studios and 4,500+ employees globally. For over 25 years, we''ve been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic''s award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.

Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!

Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.