Design Director

the hive; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 111,000; Full time

Job summary

Flix Interactive Ltd in Kuala Lumpur is seeking a Design Director to set the design direction for our KL studio and lead our design teams across AA and AAA title projects. You will partner with co-development and internal teams, guiding mechanics, level design, systems, and player experience, while mentoring senior designers and guiding recruitment.

This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on work, requiring a strong track record in shipped titles and excellent communication with

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in game design, with a director/senior lead role and shipped AA/AAA titles.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, including mentoring leaders.
• Deep understanding of game design principles: mechanics, level design, systems, player experience.
• Excellent communication to partners and stakeholders.
• Analytical, problem-solving, data-driven decisions, adapt to project needs.
• Genuine passion for gaming and diverse genres.

Responsibilities

• Set and own the design vision and strategy across co-development & internal projects, aligning with partners’ creative direction.
• Provide senior guidance on game mechanics, level design, systems, and player experience.
• Establish design pillars, documentation, and processes for clarity and high standards across the studio.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire design leads and senior designers, fostering innovation and learning.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and career development for the design team.
• Act as the senior design contact for co-development partners and publishers, aligning on creative direction, scope, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with producers, artists, engineers, and studio leadership to keep development cohesive.
• Hands-on involvement as needed to maintain craft and quality.
• Review the design process from concept to final implementation, ensuring quality, deadlines, and budgets.
• Champion regular playtests and data-driven design evaluations to improve gameplay and player experience.
• Support pitches and bids to prospective partners and publishers.
• Represent Flix Interactive at industry events, conferences, and panels.

Skills

Leadership & mentoring

Game design expertise

Co-development experience

Shipped AA/AAA titles

Communication skills

Data-driven decisions

Player experience focus

Job description

Design Director – Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Full-Time / Office-based

Please note: This role will be office-based full-time in Kuala Lumpur.

Role:

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Design Director to set the design direction for our KL studio and lead our design teams in crafting engaging, immersive, and memorable gameplay experiences across AA and AAA titles. You will be part of a well-established British co-development studio starting up a new presence in Kuala Lumpur to ensure our projects align with the creative vision, meet player expectations, and achieve a high standard of quality. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong design background, a collaborative mindset, and exceptional leadership abilities.

Responsibilities:

• Set and own the design vision and strategy across co-development & internal projects, aligning with our partners’ creative direction.
• Provide senior guidance on game mechanics, level design, systems, and player experience.
• Establish design pillars, documentation, and processes that ensure clarity, consistency, and high standards across the studio.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire design leads and senior designers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and career development for the design team.
• Act as the senior design contact for co-development partners and publishers, ensuring alignment on creative direction, scope, and deliverables.
• Collaborate with producers, artists, engineers, and studio leadership to keep development cohesive.
• Expertise in your discipline and craft with the desire to be hands-on as often as is required.
• Review the design process across all projects, from concept to final implementation, ensuring quality, deadlines, and budgets are met.
• Champion regular playtests and data-driven design evaluations to improve gameplay and player experience.
• Support pitches and bids to prospective partners and publishers.
• Represent Flix Interactive at industry events, conferences, and panels.

Essential:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in game design, with a proven track record in a director, head, or senior lead role, including shipped AA or AAA titles, and preferably experience in co-development.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a demonstrated ability to mentor and develop talent, including other leaders.
• Deep understanding of game design principles, including mechanics, level design, systems design, and player experience.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with internal teams, external partners, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions and adapt to changing project needs.
• A genuine passion for gaming and a deep understanding of various genres and player expectations.

Desirable:

• Experience in pitch deck creation and presenting to partners, publishers, or executives.

Why Flix?

Flix offers a friendly, nurturing work environment with the opportunity to build games as part of an extremely talented, ambitious studio. Our team is made up of welcoming, passionate, active gamers who support one another in all aspects of development.

We offer:

• The opportunity to join a friendly, nurturing work environment and build games as part of an extremely talented, ambitious studio.
• Work on market-leading titles and IP with globally reputable studios and publisher partners.
• Being part of a sustainably growing game developer studio as we consciously expand our team and projects on a case-by-case basis.
• Learning within an independent studio across a wide range of projects and opportunities both internal and external.

Flix Interactive Ltd is an equal opportunities employer committed to inclusion and diversity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership status. We also encourage applications from underrepresented groups in the gaming industry.

We are unable to accept candidates requiring visa sponsorship for this opportunity at this time.