Design Director

Cloud Imperium Games; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Cloud Imperium Games in Manchester seeks a Design Director to lead the design vision for Star Citizen and Squadron 42. You will shape high-level direction, drive innovative experiences, and collaborate with game teams to ensure cohesive, high-quality player experiences across the project.

You will architect content workflows, mentor a senior design team, and align with production to deliver on ambitious creative goals in a dynamic, crowdfunded environment.

Qualifications

• A proven background in a Design Leadership position and shipped AAA content.
• Capability to build and grow a highly effective creative team through all stages of development.
• Experience in identifying technical and developmental risks and obstacles, creating innovative solutions to overcome them while promoting new and innovative ways of working.
• Ability to create and optimize design pipelines and workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Design Vision for Star Citizen and Squadron 42 in the Manchester studio; collaborate with Game and Creative direction to provide inspiration and high-level direction for new experiences.
• Architect content to standards and reliable workflows within existing game systems; ensure content integrates with established themes, settings, narrative framework and gameplay systems.
• Hire, mentor and manage senior members of the Design Team, helping them refine skills and progress their careers.
• Guide the team through priority changes and gameplay iteration, updating goals and maintaining focus and morale.
• Collaborate with sound, artists, UI/UX and engineers to ensure a great player experience; work with production to align schedules with business and project needs.

Job description

DesignDirector

We are a crowdfunded company and have a dedicated and enthusiastic community of backers who are helping us create the “Best Damn Space Sim Ever”. We want to build the best we can deliver and we believe wholeheartedly in the value of exceptional diverse talent.

Cloud ImperiumGamesis looking for a talentedDesign DirectortoberesponsibleforleadingtheDesign VisionforStar Citizenand/orSquadron 42in ourManchesterstudio.

Founded in 2012, Cloud Imperium Games createscutting-edgevideogames that defy expectations.We’recurrently developing Star Citizen, a record breaking multiplayer online space sim, and Squadron 42, cinematic single-player adventure set in the same universe. Join us as we break boundaries and make videogame history.

For more information about life at Cloud Imperium Games, check this out - https://youtu.be/cXjp7SRBpIA

About the role:

This role requires a dedicated and dynamic individual who can excel as a creative designer,content architectandmotivational team leader.As a creative, the Design Directorcollaborates with Game and Creative directiontoprovide both inspiration andhigh-leveldirectionfor newexperiences thatcomplementtheestablished themes, settings, narrativeframeworkand gameplay systemsof the project.As an architect, the design Director ensures that content is builtto standardsand workstodefinereliableworkflows within theframework ofexistinggame systems. As a team leader the Design Directorbuilds and curates a professional cohort thattakes initiative, drives innovation,communicatesclearlyand executes development withcare anddistinction.

Whatdoes aDesign Directorat CIGdo?

• Work alongside theother directors and the Senior Game Directortomaintainthehigh standardsofDesignneeds for Star Citizen and Squadron 42.
• Developnew approachestoDesignthat push theboundariesof the Star Citizen universe.
• Hire,mentorand manageseniormembers of theDesignTeam, helping them to refine their skills,move along their career pathsand bu8ild up the teams under them.
• Guide theteamthroughprioritychangesandgameplay iteration,updating goals andmaintainingfocus and team morale.
• Collaborate withother departments including sound,artists,UI/UXand engineersto ensure a greatplayerexperience
• Work directly with production to ensure that schedules and plans meet businessand project needs.

What do we expect from ourDesignDirector?

• A provenbackgroundina DesignLeadershippositionand shipped AAA content.
• Capability to build and grow a highly effective creative team through all stages of development.
• Experience inidentifyingtechnical and developmental risks and obstacles,creating innovative solutions to overcome them while promoting new and innovative ways of working.
• Ability to create andoptimizedesignpipelines and workflows.

Diversity Statement

CIG is a global company, staunchly committed to cultivating a culture and workplace that celebrates all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives. Together, we are creating a space where authentic recognition, appreciation, and understanding of the importance of diversity is fostered by everyone. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strive to build a team thatrepresentsallwalks of life, and we want every employee to bring all the things that make them unique to the work environment. The universe is as vast and varied as the people in it, andit’sour differences that make it special.

Fraud Statement

We are aware of people receiving job offers that fraudulently allege to be from CIG. These types of fraud can be carried out through false websites, fake email addresses claiming to be from our company, or social media. We do not ask for your personal info like bank account numbers, identification numbers, etc through social media or chat-based apps, nor do we request or send money for the purchase of business equipment.

If you suspect fraud, please report it to your local authorities, as well as reaching out to us atinfo[@]cloudimperiumgames.com with any information you may have.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!