Senior Encounter Designer — Remote, Epic Combat Architect

HellaGoodAudio; Edmonton, Kelowna; Hybrid; CAD 97,000 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement savings contributions

Flex Benefit program

3 weeks vacation + studio breaks

Job summary

Arcanaut Studios in Canada is seeking a Senior Encounter Designer to shape the end-to-end combat experience, from enemy AI behavior to narrative triggers. You will orchestrate the intersection of level geometry, player progression, and storytelling to craft high-stakes, tactical encounters.

As a senior designer, you will collaborate across disciplines to define mission pacing, boss encounters, and player-driven outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in game design, specifically combat/encounter design on at least one shipped AAA action adventure or RPG title.
• Hands-on experience scripting complex game logic using scripting tools and Unreal Engine 5.
• Deep understanding of RPG mechanics: attributes, itemization, cooldown economies, crowd-control states, and progression scaling.
• Excellent spatial awareness for 3D environment layouts, sightlines, and player movement.
• Strong verbal and written communication to clearly document complex mechanics.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and script combat spaces and enemy placements using internal tools and UE5, implementing triggers for enemy waves and AI behaviors.
• Design and balance creatures with distinct combat identities and readable telegraphs.
• Collaborate with level designers and gameplay designers to ensure layouts offer strategic positioning and readable telegraphing.
• Establish macro-pacing of missions and hubs, balancing high-intensity combat with exploration and narrative moments.
• Create layered combat scenarios that reward diverse playstyles.
• Build gray-box encounter spaces to rapidly test combat recipes and enemy group synergies.

Skills

Encounter design

Scripting / game logic

Game design principles

Story integration

Documentation

Unreal Engine 5

Tools

Unreal Engine 5

Job description

Arcanaut Studios in Canada is seeking a Senior Encounter Designer to shape the end-to-end combat experience, from enemy AI behavior to narrative triggers. You will orchestrate the intersection of level geometry, player progression, and storytelling to craft high-stakes, tactical encounters.

As a senior designer, you will collaborate across disciplines to define mission pacing, boss encounters, and player-driven outcomes.