Lead Game Designer — Shape Vision, Lead a Creative Team

Placements24; Waukee (IA); On-site; USD 61,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Conference attendance

Collaborative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Game Designer to spearhead the design vision for new studio projects in Paarl. The role combines creative leadership with hands-on system design, prototyping, and cross-team collaboration to deliver engaging player experiences.

The ideal candidate has shipped titles and demonstrated leadership, with strong communication and a deep understanding of player engagement. This is a senior role offering relocation support and a collaborative studio culture in the Western Cape.

Qualifications

• Extensive game design experience with lead/senior roles and shipped titles.
• Strong ability to mentor and manage a design team.
• Proven skills in design documentation, prototyping, and system balancing.

Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overall game design vision and strategy for projects.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of game designers, providing direction.
• Oversee core gameplay mechanics, systems, level design, and narrative elements.
• Collaborate with art, programming, and production teams to meet design goals.
• Conduct market research and player analysis to inform design decisions.

Skills

Team leadership

Game design

Gameplay systems

Prototyping

Documentation

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Lead Game Designer to spearhead the design vision for new studio projects in Paarl. The role combines creative leadership with hands-on system design, prototyping, and cross-team collaboration to deliver engaging player experiences.

The ideal candidate has shipped titles and demonstrated leadership, with strong communication and a deep understanding of player engagement. This is a senior role offering relocation support and a collaborative studio culture in the Western Cape.