Senior/Principal Combat Designer

Pixel Movement; Gisborne; Remote; NZD 214,000 - 322,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Discretionary bonus

Healthcare stipend

Job summary

Pixel Movement is hiring a senior combat designer to shape third-person melee and traversal systems for its AAA open‑world action‑adventure, currently in early development.

You will lead design collaboration with engineering and animation, iterate with playtests and feedback, mentor juniors, and help deliver responsive, cinematic combat on next‑gen platforms.

Qualifications

• Senior/lead- or principal-level combat design experience in action games.
• Proven work on third-person combat systems in shipped titles.
• Expert Unreal Engine knowledge with hands-on combat implementation.
• Strong melee combat mechanics understanding including animation-driven gameplay.
• Traversal mechanics experience is a plus.
• Ability to iterate quickly using playtests and data feedback.
• Passion for action gameplay, player agency and memorable combat.

Responsibilities

• Design and refine third-person melee and traversal combat mechanics.
• Shape combat flow, pacing, and player interactions.
• Collaborate with engineering and animation to ensure responsive feel.
• Work with designers to integrate combat into the game world.
• Iterate encounters based on playtesting, data, and feedback.
• Mentor junior designers and foster technical excellence.

Skills

Combat design

Unreal Engine

Melee combat

Animation-driven gameplay

Traversal mechanics

Playtest iteration

Mentoring

Leadership

Job description

Studio: A stealth mode AAA developer/publisher. Renowned for creating exceptional gaming experiences, the studio is currently working on its first major title—a fully funded AAA project already several years into development, with several years remaining until release.

Location: Remote from the following locations: UK/Europe/MENA/East Coast

Project: AAA open‑world action-adventure co-op game to be released on all next-gen platforms.

Responsibilities:

• third-person melee and traversal-based combat mechanics.
• combat flow, pacing, and player interactions, ensuring satisfying moment-to-moment gameplay.
• Work closely with engineering and animation teams to ensure mechanics feel responsive and polished.
• Collaborate with designers to seamlessly integrate combat and traversal into the game world.
• Iterate combat encounters based on playtesting, data analysis, and team feedback.
• Mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of creativity and technical excellence.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Senior, Principal, or Lead-level experience in combat design for action games.
• Proven experience working on third-person combat systems in shipped titles.
• Expertise in Unreal Engine, with hands‑on experience implementing combat mechanics.
• Strong understanding of melee combat mechanics, including animation-driven gameplay and hit reactions.
• Experience with traversal mechanics is a significant plus.
• Ability to iterate quickly and refine mechanics based on feedback and playtesting.
• Passion for action-driven gameplay, player agency, and creating memorable combat experiences.

Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO
• Discretionary bonus
• Additional stipend for private medical healthcare and mobile expenses