Principal Game Designer

Playground Games; Royal Leamington Spa; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Playground Games in Royal Leamington Spa is seeking a Principal Game Designer to own key design areas, drive processes, and champion quality across the project. This permanent role supports a hybrid model with 3 days in studio and relocation assistance if needed.

You should bring senior/lead experience, excellent design skills, and the ability to mentor others while delivering high-quality systems for open-world RPG experiences.

Qualifications

• Full development cycle industry experience in game design positions - ideally on a high-profile published AAA title.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ability to design game systems and mechanics and align other disciplines around design intent.
• Demonstrable implementation experience using scripting tools or similar.
• A strong ability to identify and solve problems throughout all stages of development.
• Interest in collaborating within a team of diverse perspectives.
• An effective capability to be a highly reliable, autonomous member of the team.
• A demonstrable track record of quality in your previous work.
• Experience working on RPGs, open world games and/or Large scale single player titles is highly desirable.
• A genuine passion for games.
• Text-based scripting ability in C++, C# or similar is desired but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Use our custom, propriety engine and tools to implement systems and features to the highest standard and deliver on the vision of the project.
• Create and maintain high-quality feature and system designs.
• Work with a highly motivated, talented cross-discipline team.
• Mentor and coach more junior members of the team.

Skills

AAA title experience

Communication skills

Design systems

Scripting experience

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Autonomous work

Quality track record

RPG open world

Passion for games

C++/C# scripting

Job description

About The Role

As a Principal Game Designer, you will own and drive key areas of the design, contribute to the development of processes and pipelines and be a reliable, autonomous member of the team. You will act as a champion of quality across the game. You must be flexible, highly motivated, and approachable.

Our ideal candidate is an experienced Senior or Lead Designer who is passionate about their craft, skilled in all aspects of Game Design, demonstrates a willingness to be hands on and has the track record to prove it.

This is a permanent role based at our state-of-the-art facilities in Royal Leamington Spa. We have a hybrid work model in place with a minimum of 3 days a week in studio. Relocation assistance is available if required.

What You’ll Do

• Use our custom, propriety engine and tools to implement systems and features to the highest standard and deliver on the vision of the project.
• Create and maintain high-quality feature and system designs.
• Work with a highly motivated, talented cross-discipline team.
• Mentor and coach more junior members of the team.

What You’ll Bring

• Full development cycle industry experience in game design positions - ideally on a high-profile published AAA title
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong ability to design game systems and mechanics and align other disciplines around design intent
• Demonstrable implementation experience using scripting tools or similar
• A strong ability to identify and solve problems throughout all stages of development
• Interest in collaborating within a team of diverse perspectives
• An effective capability to be a highly reliable, autonomous member of the team
• A demonstrable track record of quality in your previous work
• Experience working on RPGs, open world games and/or Large scale single player titles is highly desirable
• A genuine passion for games
• Text-based scripting ability in C++, C# or similar is desired but not essential

This is a fantastic opportunity to make world‑class games with an established, talented, and collaborative team at one of the industry’s most exciting first‑party game studios.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Playground Games is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity and inclusion fuels creativity. We are dedicated to creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming working environment.

We strive to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices of our team members. It drives our innovation and connects us closer to our players. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion across age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

At Playground Games we recognise the importance of self‑development, career progression, well‑being and retention of our colleagues. We celebrate difference and welcome everyone to join us and to be themselves at work.

Reasonable Accommodation

If you require any reasonable accommodation to apply for this position, please contact us at [e-mail].