Senior Game Designer – Systems & Mechanics Maestro

Placements24; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Annual bonus

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in systems and mechanics for an on-site role in Queenstown, NZ. You will shape core player interactions, progression, and emergent gameplay, collaborating with programmers, artists, and producers to deliver standout titles.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience, a strong portfolio in systems design, and proficiency with design docs (Confluence/Google Docs) as well as scripting (Lua/C#).

Qualifications

• Extensive professional experience as a Game Designer focused on systems and mechanics.
• Strong portfolio showcasing systems design for console/PC titles.
• Experience prototyping mechanics using scripting languages (Lua, C#) or in-engine tools.
• Deep understanding of game balance, player progression, and reward loops.
• Experience with Agile development environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems, mechanics, and player progression.
• Develop detailed design specifications for features, ensuring clarity and feasibility.
• Prototype and playtest mechanics to evaluate fun factor, balance, and player experience.
• Collaborate with programmers to implement and refine game systems, providing clear technical direction.
• Work with artists and narrative designers to ensure mechanics align with the overall game vision.
• Balance game economies, combat systems, and other complex mechanics for engagement.
• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify design trends.
• Mentor junior designers and share knowledge within the team.
• Participate in playtests and gather feedback from stakeholders.
• Champion the player experience throughout development.

Skills

Systems design

Game balance

Analytical thinking

Communication & collaboration

Agile development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's degree in Psychology

Tools

Confluence

Google Docs

Lua

C#

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in systems and mechanics for an on-site role in Queenstown, NZ. You will shape core player interactions, progression, and emergent gameplay, collaborating with programmers, artists, and producers to deliver standout titles.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience, a strong portfolio in systems design, and proficiency with design docs (Confluence/Google Docs) as well as scripting (Lua/C#).