Principal Encounter Designer — Open-World StarCraft

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 221,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and vacation

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in Irvine, CA is seeking a Principal Encounter Designer to define and champion the player combat experience for the STARCRAFT project. You will lead design across combat systems, pacing, and encounters, partnering with leaders to align goals and deliver compelling gameplay.

The role offers a hybrid work week with on-site and remote days, a focus on mentorship, and opportunities to influence core gameplay across platforms including PC and consoles.

Qualifications

• 13+ years of experience in combat or gameplay design.
• Experience shipping complex combat features on large teams.
• Proven ability to influence design decisions through expertise and collaboration.
• Experience PC/Xbox/PlayStation development and cross-functional partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Define and champion the player combat experience and encounter philosophy.
• Lead end-to-end combat design, balancing, pacing, and player mastery.
• Prototype and iterate on combat systems, enemies, and encounters.
• Establish design frameworks and best practices for scalable development.
• Implement encounters that challenge players and support multiple playstyles.
• Use telemetry and playtests to identify improvements in combat feel and engagement.
• Mentor designers and provide constructive design reviews.
• Partner with leadership to align priorities with broader game goals.
• Maintain high standards of quality, accessibility, and player experience.

Skills

Combat design

Gameplay systems design

Prototyping & iteration

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentorship

Player motivation & retention

Tools

Unreal Engine

Job description

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. in Irvine, CA is seeking a Principal Encounter Designer to define and champion the player combat experience for the STARCRAFT project. You will lead design across combat systems, pacing, and encounters, partnering with leaders to align goals and deliver compelling gameplay.

The role offers a hybrid work week with on-site and remote days, a focus on mentorship, and opportunities to influence core gameplay across platforms including PC and consoles.