Principal Designer

Frontier Developments; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Hybrid work model (3 days in-studio)

Job summary

Frontier Developments in Cambridge is seeking a Principal Game Designer to join our Design team in a key leadership role. You will lead design on major features, mentor designers at all levels, and set the benchmark for design excellence across the studio.

Working with the Game Director, you will drive the overall vision, deliver engaging player experiences, and collaborate closely with production and other disciplines to align development and scheduling.

Qualifications

• Commercial game design experience in a senior role.
• Experience delivering major game features.
• Experience leading and motivating teams.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of design for major feature areas or lead design across a project.
• Work with the Game Director to deliver on the game's vision.
• Provide line-management for design team members, developing their careers.
• Managing project risks, and identifying blockers and inefficiencies.
• Driving quality using playtests, player feedback, QA reporting, and your own insights.
• Designing game features, creating in-game content and balancing game systems.
• Collaborating closely with other development disciplines to build understanding and gain alignment.
• Managing game design documentation & communication across the team.
• Working with Production to ensure effective feature prioritisation and work scheduling.

Skills

Senior game design

Team leadership

Player psychology

Presentation skills

UX/UI knowledge

Communication

Design theories

Job description

Frontier is an independent video game developer and publisher, crafting immersive gaming experiences with fun gameplay and unparalleled artistic quality. Renowned for its iconic creative management simulation games, Frontier captivates players worldwide with immersive and authentic game worlds. The modern studio is located in the vibrant technology hub of Cambridge (UK). The talented team at Frontier are dedicated to nurturing our existing portfolio and delivering our exciting future roadmap.

This role is offered on a full in-studio basis or a hybrid basis (minimum 3 days per week in the studio). We can provide a comprehensive relocation support package as part of any offer, should you need to relocate.

WHAT'S THE ROLE?

Frontier is seeking a Principal Game Designer to join our Design team in a key leadership role. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the creative direction of our games while leading and developing a team of talented game designers. Working as either the lead designer on a project or a strategic partner to project leadership, you will drive the overall game vision and ensure it is realised through engaging, innovative and high-quality player experiences.

As a Principal Designer, you will combine hands-on design expertise with people leadership, overseeing major feature areas, mentoring designers at all levels, and setting the benchmark for design excellence across the studio. Your ability to inspire teams, make strong creative decisions and deliver outstanding game experiences will be central to the success of our projects.

What You'll Be Doing

• Taking ownership of design for major feature areas, or where required leading design across the entire project.
• Working with the Game Director to deliver on the game's vision.
• Providing line-management for design team members, developing their careers, and making the most of their capabilities.
• Managing project risks, and identifying blockers and inefficiencies.
• Driving quality using playtests, player feedback, QA reporting, and your own insights.
• Designing game features, creating in-game content and balancing game systems.
• Collaborating closely with other development disciplines to build understanding and gain alignment throughout development.
• Managing game design documentation & communication across the team.
• Working with Production to ensure effective feature prioritisation and work scheduling.

What You’ll Bring

• Deep game knowledge across a range of genres, especially management and simulation games.
• Commercial game design experience in a senior role.
• Experience of designing and delivering major game features.
• Experience of managing and motivating teams.
• Strong understanding of player psychology.
• Excellent presentation skills, and experience in presenting your ideas to stakeholders both within and outside the project.
• Knowledge of a variety of game design theories and methods.
• Ability to clearly communicate your ideas across a variety of media.

BONUS IF YOU HAVE

• Experience working on management games.
• Knowledge of UX/UI design principles.
• Experience of supporting and growing live games.

What We Can Offer You

You will work with talented and passionate people to support, develop or publish our sophisticated and enduring games, in a creative, collaborative and inclusive environment. We love what we do, and we work hard to provide outstanding experiences for our players.

Wellbeing is a big focus at Frontier, and we are continually evolving how we can support our people. We encourage a healthy work/life balance and provide a range of wellbeing activities, initiatives and sessions to support both mental and physical health.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes a success-based annual bonus, share option schemes, life assurance, private family healthcare, flexitime working hours, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, in-house subsidised catering, support with relocation, a Cycle to Work scheme, free bike servicing, and social activities and events.

We strive to create an environment where everyone can fully demonstrate their capability and potential. If you therefore need any reasonable adjustments to support you during the recruitment process, please speak to your Talent Acquisition representative.

For queries, please email: [email protected]