Combat Director: Lead Mastery-Focused Encounter Design

Impact Theory; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Level Up Games in West Hollywood is seeking a senior Combat Director for a 3–4 month term to overhaul Kyzen's combat. You will diagnose readability, design a coherent attack framework, and craft per-mob patterns that feel fun and masterable for players, including kids.

This hands-on role requires shipping experience, Unreal Engine 5 expertise, and the ability to prototype and tune directly in-engine with close collaboration with engineering and animation teams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional game design with combat systems ownership.
• At least one shipped title where combat was a core pillar.
• Experience designing enemy attack patterns, telegraph design and frame timing.
• Deep Unreal Engine 5 experience including blueprints and gameplay ability systems.
• Ability to prototype, implement, and tune in-engine directly.
• Availability for the full duration and on-site work at West Hollywood.

Responsibilities

• Audit Kyzen's current combat and deliver a prioritized improvement plan.
• Establish combat design pillars and per-encounter standards.
• Prioritize the three-to-four month scope and define in-scope items.
• Live in UE5 animation systems and tune hit timings, VFX, and feedback.
• Prototype attacks with placeholders and refine specifications for animators.
• Own the feel: hitboxes, input buffering, and telegraphs.
• Deliver a final framework, mob specs, and a structured handoff.

Skills

7+ years game design

Combat systems ownership

Enemy attack pattern design

Unreal Engine 5

Prototype in-engine

Frame timing

Tools

UE5 Animation Blueprints

Animation Montages

Gameplay Ability System

Job description

Level Up Games in West Hollywood is seeking a senior Combat Director for a 3–4 month term to overhaul Kyzen's combat. You will diagnose readability, design a coherent attack framework, and craft per-mob patterns that feel fun and masterable for players, including kids.

This hands-on role requires shipping experience, Unreal Engine 5 expertise, and the ability to prototype and tune directly in-engine with close collaboration with engineering and animation teams.