Lead Designer - FPS Gameplay & Systems (Unreal)

Sideinc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Multicultural environment

Leading game services provider

Clear progression opportunities

Job summary

Side is a global video game development and services provider seeking a Lead Designer to shape gameplay, systems, and level design on shipped titles. You will lead design across co-development projects, partnering with internal teams and external clients to deliver engaging experiences.

Based in the UK, you will mentor designers, drive FPS-focused features, and ensure high-quality design through iteration and collaboration with engineering, art, and production.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Lead Designer, Principal Designer, or Design Director on shipped commercial titles.
• Deep expertise with Unreal Engine and a strong understanding of gameplay, systems, and level design.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and working directly with clients or external development partners.
• Strong FPS design experience, with a track record of improving gameplay flow, combat encounters, progression, and player engagement.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and mentoring skills, with the ability to balance creative vision against production realities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design vision and execution across co-development projects, acting as the primary design partner for both internal teams and client stakeholders.
• Drive gameplay, systems, level, and technical design initiatives from concept through delivery.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, art, production, and QA teams to create engaging, high-quality player experiences.
• Provide creative leadership, mentorship, and feedback to designers across multiple disciplines.
• Prototype, validate, and iterate on gameplay features, progression systems, level layouts, and player engagement mechanics.
• Review and improve gameplay flow, combat encounters, boss experiences, and overall game balance, with a particular focus on FPS and action-oriented experiences.
• Identify design risks early, solve complex production challenges, and ensure design quality is maintained throughout development.

Skills

Lead Designer

Unreal Engine

Cross-functional leadership

FPS design

Client-facing communication

Job description

Side is a global video game development and services provider seeking a Lead Designer to shape gameplay, systems, and level design on shipped titles. You will lead design across co-development projects, partnering with internal teams and external clients to deliver engaging experiences.

Based in the UK, you will mentor designers, drive FPS-focused features, and ensure high-quality design through iteration and collaboration with engineering, art, and production.