Design Director for AAA Games

Housemarque; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Housemarque is seeking an experienced design leader to provide strategic leadership for our Design craft. You will shape how the design discipline grows, building the environment, structures and capabilities empowering designers to create genre-defining action experiences.

As a critical partner to Creative Directors and Game Directors, you will ensure our teams have the people, tools, processes and shared practices to bring ambitious visions to life, while growing and retaining top design talent

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading and developing design teams within AAA, PC/Console game development environments.
• Proven track record coaching senior designers and design leads, building high-performing teams.
• Deep understanding of game design principles and contributions to high-level design discussions across multiple disciplines.
• Knowledge of modern game development pipelines, tools, engines and production workflows.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the long-term strategy for Housemarque's Design craft, ensuring the discipline evolves alongside the ambitions of our games and studio.
• Lead, coach and develop Design Leads and other senior design talent, building strong leadership capability and succession across the craft.
• Own the growth and health of the Design organisation, including hiring, onboarding, performance, career development and retention.
• Establish and evolve shared design principles, best practices and quality standards, creating a common language that enables designers to collaborate and make confident decisions.
• Champion the tools, workflows and processes that enable designers to work effectively, removing unnecessary friction and continuously improving how the craft operates.
• Partner with Creative Directors, Game Directors and Design leadership to understand the needs of our games and ensure the Design craft is equipped to realise their creative ambitions.
• Collaborate with other craft leaders to strengthen cross-disciplinary ways of working and build a highly collaborative studio environment.
• Represent Design in studio-level planning, balancing talent and resources across teams, projects and development phases.

Skills

Design leadership

People management

AAA game development

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Game design principles

Job description

Housemarque is seeking an experienced design leader to provide strategic leadership for our Design craft. You will shape how the design discipline grows, building the environment, structures and capabilities empowering designers to create genre-defining action experiences.

As a critical partner to Creative Directors and Game Directors, you will ensure our teams have the people, tools, processes and shared practices to bring ambitious visions to life, while growing and retaining top design talent