Senior Game Designer

Rebellion; Oxford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Mental Health Support & EAP

Job summary

Rebellion seeks a Senior Game Designer to join our Oxford or Warwick studios and deliver high-quality features, design documents and prototype specifications for a brand-new IP. You will partner with the Lead Designer to guide the team and own core feature designs.

You will shape combat encounters, pacing and enemy composition, while supporting the design workflow across disciplines. Mentoring junior designers is a key part of the role.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge of creating game designs, documents and prototype specifications.
• Understanding of the video game development process, including working to deadlines, and prototyping and iterating appropriately.
• Hands-on experience of combat and/or encounter design, crafting a specific player experience.
• Experience with scripting or in-engine tools to implement gameplay.
• Knowledge of AI behaviours and weapon design.
• Knowledge of standard game development production pipelines.
• Willingness and ability to deliver high-quality results with minimal oversight.
• Experience mentoring individuals and teams to drive performance.
• Experience on shooter, sandbox, open-world or multiplayer titles is beneficial but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Create high-quality game features, design documents and prototype specifications that can be used throughout production.
• Build, script, debug and iterate on combat encounters in-engine from concept to production quality.
• Shape encounter pacing, enemy composition, spawning and difficulty for varied combat experiences.
• Playtest regularly and give feedback aligned with the game's creative vision.
• Identify upcoming issues and raise them to the lead during production.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to drive the design workflow.
• Mentor junior designers through practical feedback.

Job description

We want you to #JOINTHEREBELLION!

For 30 years we've been independently developing and publishing incredible video games at our multiple studios founded by Jason & Chris Kingsley, but Rebellion is more than just games. We have our own film studio, we create board games, publish books, and through 2000AD, publish comics and graphic novels such as the amazing Judge Dredd.

We are on the lookout for a Senior Game Designer to join a passionate and expanding design team developing a brand-new, unannounced IP, with an attitude and philosophy based on high levels of trust, autonomy and collaboration.

As a highly experienced member of the design team, your role is to deliver game features, design documents and prototype specifications to the highest possible quality and support the design team as required.

The Rebellion design team designs, creates and maintains games from concept to release. They work closely with the other specialist teams to implement fun and immersive gameplay utilising the game mechanics. You will work closely with the Lead Game Designer, supporting efforts in guiding individuals and teams to maintain and encourage the highest standard of game design, in conjunction with driving the core feature design and taking ownership of game features.

This exciting opportunity can be based out of either of our studios in Oxford or Warwick offering a creative and relaxed atmosphere where teamwork drives our success. We can provide a relocation package, including moving assistance, temporary accommodation, and full support to ensure a smooth transition to your new environment.

Responsibilities:

• Create high-quality game features, design documents and prototype specifications that can be used throughout the production process.
• Build, script, debug and iterate on combat encounters in-engine, taking them from initial concept through to production quality.
• Shape encounter pacing, enemy composition, spawning and difficulty to create varied combat experiences that support the game's creative vision.
• Regularly play the game in production and proactively give feedback to other members of the team on their work, whilst ensuring any feedback is in line with the creative vision of the game and the overall design set out by your lead.
• Use playtesting and feedback to evaluate your own work, identify issues and refine encounters against the intended player experience and game vision.
• Proactively identify and raise any upcoming issues on behalf of the team to your lead during production.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to drive the vision for these new production concepts and methods and support the overall design workflow.
• Mentor and support junior members of the game design team through practical feedback.

• Proven knowledge of creating game designs, documents, and prototype specifications and translating design ideas into gameplay.
• Expert understanding of the video game development process, including working to deadlines, and prototyping and iterating appropriately.
• Previous hands-on experience of combat and/or encounter design, with a focus on crafting a specific player experience.
• Practical experience implementing and troubleshooting gameplay using scripting or equivalent in-engine tools.
• Working knowledge of adjacent design areas such as AI behaviours and weapon design.
• Working knowledge of standard game development production pipelines.
• Willingness and ability to deliver high-quality results with minimal oversight.
• Experience and desire to focus and mentor individuals and teams to achieve a specific outcome to drive performance and solve problems creatively.
• Previous work experience on shooter, sandbox, open-world or multiplayer titles is beneficial but not essential.

We offer an extensive benefits package to our team including:

• 22 days holidays + Christmas closure (typically 4 days) & Bank holidays (increasing with service at 5 years - one day each year until you reach 31 days)
• Private Medical Insurance, healthcare cash plan, including dental and Vision
• Life Assurance, Income Protection & Critical Illness Cover
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Interest Free, Tax-Free loans
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• EAP a range of Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
• Plus loads more... including a wide range of discounts, freebies, and social events!

Right to Work Statement

This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must therefore be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

Life at Our Oxford HQ

Our riverside headquarters in Oxford places you a short walk away from the city centre. Renowned for its rich historical backdrop and esteemed educational institutions, Oxford offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, with its beautiful architecture and green space