Game Designer II

IGT; Reno (NV); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IGT in Reno, NV is seeking a Game Designer for the Video Poker product line. You will guide the design vision from ideation through release, coordinating with Producers, Artists, Mathematicians, Developers, and Test Engineers to realize the designer’s vision.

Responsibilities include defining game mechanics, art direction, sounds, and mathematical gameplay aspects, plus supporting reskins and market adaptations.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the gaming industry and game design.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams to ship products.
• Passion for games, technology, and entertainment.
• Ability to communicate design direction to a cross-functional team.

Responsibilities

• Immerse in IGT and gaming industry environment and collaborate with team.
• Understand market requirements and bring new games to market.
• Develop and document design vision for game products for assigned markets.
• Support team with development of design vision for game products.
• Facilitate development and delivery of game projects from concept to release.
• Motivate cross-functional teams to deliver on designer’s vision and meet specs.
• Identify solutions to development challenges and resolve conflicts.
• Prioritize cross-functional requests based on impact to development.
• Review outcomes and identify improvements for future projects.

Skills

Gaming industry knowledge

Game design experience

Cross-functional coordination

Communication to cross-functional team

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Associate degree

Job description

IGT , where innovation meets entertainment on a global scale! From the casino floor to your mobile screen, we deliver thrilling, responsible, and unforgettable gaming experiences—powered by world‑class content, strong technical and commercial capabilities and nurtured by a culture of collaboration, accountability, and ownership.
Whether it’s spinning reels, placing bets, or enabling secure payments, we turn innovation into impact through disciplined execution and long‑term value creation. With a team of over 6,000 employees across 30+ countries and products delivered in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide, we operate at scale while staying closely connected to customers we serve. If you’re ready to bring your talent to a team shaping the future of entertainment, your next big move starts here - www.igt.com .
IGT is looking for a Game Designer for the Video Poker product line, which includes poker, keno, blackjack, slots, and roulette games. Game Designers are responsible for developing the design vision for game development projects including oversight of the game development process and team to assure the Designer’s vision is realized. This role is a central point of cross-functional game contributors including Producers, Graphic Artists, Mathematicians, Developers, Technical Artists, Test Engineers, and 3rd party contractors. Responsibilities include oversight and decision making with respect to the mechanics of the game, directionality of art, sounds, and themes, and mathematical aspects of how the game plays among others. Game Designers facilitate development in two ways: creation of new games from design ideation through release as a final product and/or existing game adaptation termed reskins or conversions for release in markets with different rules and nuances. Designers typically work on multiple game development projects at once.
This is a hybrid role based in Reno, Nevada. Candidates must reside in or relocate to Reno.

Essential Functions

• Immerse in IGT and gaming industry environment by playing games, reviewing internally available information, and interacting with employees involved in the game development process.
• Understand market requirements in the Video Poker context and bring new games to that market space.
• Develop and document design vision for game products to assigned market(s) with mentor oversight.
• Support team members with development of design vision for game products to assigned market(s).
• Facilitate development and delivery of game projects to assigned market(s) from initial concept to release.
• Engage with and motivate cross-functional project team to deliver on designer’s vision while ensuring product specifications are met.
• Identify solutions to game development challenges and conflicting expectations of cross-functional team members.
• Serve as liaison for cross-functional team requests including prioritizing requests based on impact to game development process.
• Review delivered results against initial vision to identify areas of improvement for successive game development projects.

Skills Development

Business & Role

• Continuously learning designer roles & responsibilities through active field engagement and asking questions of mentor.
• Learn the game development process and tasks of moderately complex game development projects including involved cross-functional area by shadowing teams and engagement in cross-functional meetings.

Soft Skills

• Understand team members’ points of view and incorporate those into your approach to team communication.
• Develop working understanding of key factors that determine prioritization of project assignments, game development initiatives, & tasks of cross-functional game development team.
• Adapt by learning from past challenges and constructive feedback to improve game production process.

Industry & Market

• Expand target market(s) research for products at home and/or global studios and evidence understanding of market segmentation and product requirements.
• Engage with the game development team to identify gaming market influences on IGT product lines.
• Develop understanding of gaming regulatory requirements.

Studio Requirements

• Nevada, US: Requirement to obtain gaming card & be 21+ years of age.

Education And Experience

• Knowledge of the gaming industry.
• Previous game design experience.
• Previous experience coordinating multiple cross-functional teams to create end-user products from ideation to release.
• Passion and energy for games, technology, and entertainment.
• Conversational ability to interact with technical game contributors supported by basic understanding of mathematics, engineering, and art principles.
• Ability to communicate ideas and direction to a cross-functional game development team.
• Collaborative approach to quick solutions with test engineers on production issues.
• Ability to accept constructive criticism and feedback to incorporate into the game development process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree.
• 1-4 years’ experience in game design or multimedia design.
• Previous experience in a technical discipline (e.g., art, math, or engineering).
• Previous experience coordinating multiple cross-functional teams to create end-user products from ideation to release.
• Working knowledge of designer roles & responsibilities at IGT.
• Working knowledge of IGT game development process and tasks of cross-functional game development contributors.
• Awareness of market segmentation in gaming industry and gaming regulatory requirements.

IGT is committed to sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the global customers and communities we serve and to fostering an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and engaged. IGT is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We thank all applicants for their for applying; however, only those selected to interview will be contacted.
Base pay is one component of IGT’s total rewards program. Depending on the role, employees may be eligible for bonus or commission opportunities. IGT also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include a 401(k) savings plan with company contributions, medical, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and other wellness programs, subject to eligibility requirements.
IGT is the global leader in gaming. For more information, please visit www.igt.com .