AI Designer

Final Strike Games; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Stock options

Bonuses

Disability & life insurance

Retirement savings with matching

Flexible time off

Career development

Job summary

Final Strike Games, an independent studio, is seeking an AI Designer to craft engaging NPC behaviors and gameplay experiences in Unreal Engine 5. You’ll rapidly prototype, own AI features, and collaborate with engineers, artists, and producers to deliver fun, rewarding multiplayer experiences.

Ideal candidates communicate well, adapt quickly to new tools, and have a track record of shipping titles on PC or consoles.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of game design experience.
• Designed, developed, and shipped 2+ titles on PC or Console.
• Unreal Engine 4/5 knowledge and experience.
• Experience developing core UI components for a variety of game experiences.
• Excellent communicator who can take feedback and direction well and is willing to learn and teach others.
• Ability to present and discuss design thinking, game mechanics and goals to management.
• Strong ability to analyze and adapt work to improve it.
• Ability to adapt to new tools, technologies, and development methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Execute across all stages of development: from verbal ideas to paper sketches to feature documentation and in-game implementation.
• Rapidly iterate on playable prototypes in UE5.
• Own AI/NPC design features and drive them forward.
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams of engineering, art, and production.
• Implement assets in-engine and manage files through source control.
• Work with stakeholders to understand project goals, priorities, and vision.
• Experience implementing NPCs in UE with GAS, State Machines/Trees, and NavMesh.
• Write & maintain design documentation for owned features and processes.
• Frequently manage JIRA items for owned features.
• Participate in playtests to collect feedback and create action items for owned feature teams.
• Identify and fix design bugs.

Skills

Game design

Shipped titles

Unreal Engine

UI components

Communication

Design thinking

Adaptability

Tool proficiency

Tools

Blueprints

GAS

NavMesh

Job description

AI Designer

Department: Design

Employment Status: Full Time

Work Location: USA (Remote)

Overview

Final Strike Games is an independent game-development studio with a passion for creating world-class multiplayer, shooter, and live-service games in Unreal Engine. Our team values honesty, transparency, and respect for all, while working together to create industry-inspiring game experiences!

Final Strike Games is looking for a talented AI Designer to help create amazing gameplay and engaging AAA user experiences with in-game NPCs. The ideal candidate is skillful across several Design areas, can rapidly implement in Unreal Engine 5, iterate on ideas, and is a good communicator. This role will apply critical thinking and imagination to help make the game as fun and rewarding as it can be. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of meeting high expectations and hitting milestone deliverables.

This role will have the exciting opportunity to join in on new and exciting projects! Knowledge of Unreal Engine, the Gameplay Ability System, experience with AI, and multiplayer networking are ideal.

Responsibilities include but not limited to

• Execute across all stages of development: from verbal ideas to paper sketches to feature documentation and in-game implementation
• Rapidly iterate on playable prototypes in UE5
• Own AI/NPC design features and drive them forward
• Work closely with a cross-disciplinary team of engineering, art, and production
• Implement assets in-engine and manage files through source control

• Work with the stakeholders to understand project goals, priorities, and vision
• Experience implementing NPCs in UE previously and using supporting systems such as Blueprints, GAS, State Machines/Trees, and NavMesh
• Write & maintain design documentation and processes for owned features & work as needed
• Frequently manage JIRA items for owned features & work
• Participate in playtests to collect feedback and create action items for owned feature teams
• Identify and fix Design bugs

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of game design experience
• Designed, developed, and shipped 2+ titles on PC or Console
• Unreal Engine 4/5 knowledge and experience
• Experience developing core UI components for a variety of game experiences
• Excellent communicator who can take feedback and direction well and is willing to learn and teach others
• The ability to sell, present, and talk through your design thinking, game mechanics and overall design goals to all levels of management
• Strong ability to quickly analyze and adapt work to continuously improve it
• Ability to quickly adapt to new tools, technologies, and development methodologies

Compensation & Employee Benefits

When we find the right person, we try to make an offer that will excite you. In addition to competitive base salaries, we also offer robust employee benefits:

• Health & Wellbeing: We know wellness is multi-dimensional, just like our employees. FSG offers comprehensive health coverage for you and your whole family.
• Total Rewards: We want you to feel empowered in all of life’s circumstances. In addition to offering competitive salaries, we offer stock options, bonuses, disability and life insurance, and retirement savings with matching.
• Flexible Time Off: We know that being your best at work means the ability to be present outside of work. We offer generous paid time off in addition to studio closure periods.
• Growth: Our studio is filled with innovators and fearless explorers of the unknown. These values lend themselves to curiosity and a passion for learning, which is why we prioritize career advancement opportunities, training, and professional development.
• Connection: We believe in hiring the best people, and that great teams make great games. We create opportunities several times a year to come together as a studio to play and build lifelong connections.

Final Strike Games is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please let us know.