Lead StarCraft Encounter Architect

BLIZZARD KOREA STUDIO LLC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work week

Relocation assistance

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, CA seeks a Principal Encounter Designer to own the player combat experience for the upcoming STARCRAFT project. You will define encounters, balance systems, and guide cross-team collaboration to create readable, challenging, and rewarding battles.

You will mentor designers, refine design frameworks, and help set the standard for combat excellence across the title while working in a hybrid on-site/off-site schedule.

Qualifications

• 13+ years of applicable experience demonstrating expertise in combat or gameplay design.
• Significant game design experience with a strong focus on combat design, gameplay systems, or related disciplines.
• Experience owning and shipping complex combat features on large-scale teams.
• Proven ability to influence gameplay direction and decision-making through expertise and communication.
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the connector between player combat, enemy combat, and level design disciplines.
• Build and champion end-to-end combat experiences balancing player abilities, enemy behaviors, and encounter design.
• Design, prototype, and iterate on combat systems, encounters, and moment-to-moment gameplay.
• Establish frameworks, guidelines and best practices for scalable encounter design.
• Implement encounters that challenge players, support multiple playstyles, and drive progression.
• Evaluate telemetry and playtest data to identify improvements in feel, pacing, and engagement.
• Provide mentorship and constructive feedback to designers across disciplines.
• Partner with leadership to align priorities and mitigate risks for combat initiatives.
• Champion high standards of quality, accessibility, usability, and player experience.

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, CA seeks a Principal Encounter Designer to own the player combat experience for the upcoming STARCRAFT project. You will define encounters, balance systems, and guide cross-team collaboration to create readable, challenging, and rewarding battles.

You will mentor designers, refine design frameworks, and help set the standard for combat excellence across the title while working in a hybrid on-site/off-site schedule.