Principal Game Designer

Zynga; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 123,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Sick days

Parental leave

Wellbeing programs

Maven family planning

Commuter benefits

Fitness reimbursements

Job summary

Zynga is seeking an experienced Principal Systems Designer to lead and contribute to content and system design for a new mobile game. You will craft features, write UX stories, and own the design across disciplines.

With 6+ years in design, you balance math, pacing, and player insights, shipping at least two titles. You will mentor teams, prototype gameplay, and advocate best practices studio-wide.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal communication across teams.
• Expertise in math, levels and formulas within game environments.
• Extensive knowledge of games and strategies.
• Solid understanding of game balancing and pacing.
• Ability to translate consumer insights and market data into design solutions.
• Passionate gamer with shipped titles.

Responsibilities

• Create or adapt game features and large scale systems to work with the game.
• Write user experience stories and design documentation for new features and systems.
• Own, drive, and collaborate with other disciplines for system development.
• Work closely with other disciplines to design and prototype new gameplay and systems.
• Create flexible sheets and models to balance sophisticated systems.
• Design and balance content for new systems.
• Create and improve tools to make the design pipeline faster and more efficient for the team.
• Be the advocate of good design practices across the studio.
• Pitch new ideas to the team and lead brainstorming sessions.
• Analyze real-time feedback and metrics, and adjust game designs while balancing live game state.
• Stay up-to-date with game design literature and methodologies.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Interpersonal communication

Math, levels & formulas

Games knowledge & strategies

Game balancing & pacing

Consumer insights & market data

Passionate gamer

2+ shipped games

Job description

Zynga is looking for an experienced Principal Systems Designer to work on one of our new mobile games. This role leads and participates in direct design and creative input on content and system design in the game.

What You'll Do:

• Create or adapt game features and large scale systems to work with the game
• Write user experience stories and design documentation for new features and systems
• Own, drive, and collaborate with other disciplines for system development
• Work closely with other disciplines to design and prototype new gameplay and systems
• Create flexible sheets and models to balance sophisticated systems
• Design and balance content for new systems
• Create and improve tools to make the design pipeline faster and more efficient for the team
• Be the advocate of good design practices across the studio
• Pitch new ideas to the team/ lead brainstorming sessions
• Analyze real-time feedback and metrics, and adjust game designs accordingly while maintaining live game balance
• Remain up-to-date with Game Design literature and standard methodologies to be an evangelist for the craft of Game Design

What You Bring:

• At least 6 years' relevant experience
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Expert with math, levels, and formulas in game environment
• Possesses an extensive knowledge of games and strategies
• Solid knowledge of game balancing and pacing
• Translates direct consumer insights, market data, and analysis into creative design solutions
• Passionate gamer
• 2+ shipped games

What We Offer You:

• The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $123,200 and $182,360 per Year
• Medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days)
• Up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year
• Paid parental and compassionate leave
• Wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support
• Family planning support through Maven
• Commuter benefits
• Reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. At least 6 years' relevant experience, Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, Expert with math, levels, and formulas in game environment, Extensive knowledge of games and strategies, Solid knowledge of game balancing and pacing, Ability to translate consumer insights and market data into creative design solutions, Passionate gamer, 2+ shipped games