Lead Designer, Gameplay

Warner Bros. Entertainment; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 108,000 - 201,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Lead Designer for their Online Multiplayer RPG. In this pivotal role, you will shape the gameplay experience, collaborating with diverse teams to create engaging mechanics that captivate players. Your expertise in game design and player behavior will be essential as you develop innovative features and ensure balanced gameplay. Join a vibrant studio that values creativity and collaboration, and contribute to the legacy of beloved gaming franchises. If you're passionate about crafting unforgettable experiences in gaming, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Employee Wellness Program

Life and Disability Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan

Paid Holidays

Sick Time

Vacation

Annual Bonuses

Short- and Long-term Incentives

Qualifications

• 7+ years in game design, with 3-5+ years leading core gameplay systems.
• Proven experience in designing engaging gameplay for multiplayer games.
• Strong collaboration skills across engineering, product, and design.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of core gameplay loops for various game modes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance player experience.
• Define and document gameplay vision aligned with creative direction.

Skills

Game Design

Collaboration Skills

Analytical Skills

Gameplay Prototyping

Player Behavior Understanding

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Game Design or Related Field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Avalanche is a Warner Bros. Games studio located in downtown Salt Lake City nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. We’ve been in the video game business since 1995, creating interactive experiences for fans of the world’s largest franchises. Join the team behind the blockbuster open world, action RPG Hogwarts Legacy as we create what’s next!

The Job

As a Lead Designer, Gameplay for our Online Multiplayer RPG, you will spearhead the design and implementation for shaping the moment-to-moment gameplay experience in various game modes and activities. You will collaborate closely with the Game and Design Directors to oversee and implement creative, innovative, and engaging mechanics that drive the core gameplay of the players. The role demands a deep understanding of player behavior, hands-on design skills, and the ability to collaborate across departments, including art, engineering, product, and narrative.

Your Role Accountabilities...

Design Leadership:

• Lead the development of core gameplay loops across a variety of activities, including combat, non-combat, action, strategic, or other types of gameplay.
• Create sticky gameplay that keeps players coming back due to intrinsic value and desire for mastery.
• Create, prototype, and iterate on innovative gameplay features that harmonize across various meta game systems, activity models, social features, etc.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Collaborate closely with design, product, narrative, engineering, and art disciplines to ensure gameplay complements and enhances the player experience.
• Work with product managers and analysts to ensure that gameplay aligns with overall project goals and player behavior insights.
• Partner with UX/UI designers to create intuitive, player-friendly interfaces for gameplay that work across multiple platforms and input models.

Balance and Tuning:

• Ensure gameplay is balanced, fair, and well harmonized with the game activities and progression systems.
• Lead and implement tuning and balancing processes, utilizing player feedback and data to improve gameplay experiences.

Vision and Documentation:

• Define and document the vision for gameplay and ensure it aligns with the overall creative and design direction of the game.
• Lead the creation of high-quality design documentation, including gameplay designs, flowcharts, and user stories.

Mentorship and Team Leadership:

• Mentor and manage senior to junior designers to provide guidance to other design team members.
• Promote a collaborative, creative, and innovative design culture within the team.

Qualifications & Essentials...

• 7+ years of experience in game design, with at least 3-5+ years leading or owning major core gameplay systems in multiplayer games.
• Deep understanding of core gameplay designs and philosophies.
• Proven experience in designing minute-to-minute gameplay that can last hundreds of hours.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills across departments, including engineering, product, art, design, and production.
• Ability to conceptualize, prototype, and implement high quality gameplay.
• Proficiency with game design software (e.g., Unreal Engine).
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret player data and adjust designs accordingly.
• Management experience working with AAA quality design cross functional teams.

Nice to Haves...

• Experience with implementing data informed game design and a passion for using metrics to enhance player experience.
• Experience with scripting languages or a technical background is a plus.
• Deep knowledge of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in game design.
• A passion for online multiplayer RPGs.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $108,150.00 - $200,850.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time, and vacation.