Senior Combat Designer

Scopely; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Scopely is seeking a Senior Combat Designer for Star Trek Fleet Command. Base location options include Dublin or Barcelona with hybrid work, or remote from London, to shape long-term combat systems for a global live game.

You will mentor designers and collaborate with product, analytics and engineering to balance gameplay, pacing and monetisation while crafting scalable PvE, PvP and co-op experiences.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience designing combat and gameplay systems for live, F2P games (preferably MMO, 4X, or strategy genres).
• Strong ownership mindset – you can own a feature or content stream from vision to launch to iteration.
• Proven track record of delivering features that balance player fun, engagement, and monetisation.
• Comfort with KPI targets and using data to inform balance or tuning adjustments.
• Mastery of spreadsheets and confidence in balancing power curves, pacing, and resource flow.
• Experience working cross-functionally and navigating live production environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the design and balance of combat gameplay that support strategic player decisions across PvE, PvP, and co-op content.
• Build and refine novel gameplay experiences focused on officers, ship tech, ships, and hostile challenges.
• Create systemic combat experiences that foster meaningful player agency and long-term investment.
• Use tools (Excel, Google Sheets) to model combat challenge, economic loops and progression pacing.
• Collaborate with Experienced, driven and passionate Designers, Product Managers, Analysts, and Engineers to implement features which aim to advance the genre.
• Evaluate performance using data, player feedback, and your own playtest experience.
• Design for scale: plan for long-term content extensibility and system health.
• Mentor junior designers and help strengthen combat design across the organisation.

Skills

Combat design

Gameplay design

Data-driven balance

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

SQL

Job description

ES - Barcelona, Spain; GB - London, United Kingdom; IE - Dublin, Ireland

Scopely is looking for a Senior Combat Designer to join our Star Trek Fleet Command team, based in Dublin or Barcelona (hybrid) or remotely from London.

At Scopely, we care deeply about what we do and want to inspire play, every day – whether in our work environments alongside talented colleagues or through our deep connections with our communities of players. We are a global team of game lovers who are developing, publishing, and innovating in the mobile games industry, connecting millions of players around the world daily.

Star Trek Fleet Command is a standout success in the gaming industry. Launched in 2018, our in-house developed 4X MMO has continually evolved, earning its place as one of the top-grossing games on the market. Our next chapter is bold: we’re evolving the traditional 4X experience in STFC — and we need thrilling new combat experiences to power that next step.

What You Will Do

As a Senior Combat Designer on STFC, you’ll be a key contributor in shaping the long-term combat, gameplay, and player experiences that define how millions of players experience growth and mastery.

• Own the design and balance of combat gameplay that support strategic player decisions across PvE, PvP, and co-op content
• Build and refine novel gameplay experiences focused on officers, ship tech, ships, and hostile challenges
• Create systemic combat experiences that foster meaningful player agency and long-term investment
• Use tools (Excel, Google Sheets) to model combat challenge, economic loops and progression pacing
• Collaborate with Experienced, driven and passionate Designers, Product Managers, Analysts, and Engineers to implement features which aim to advance the genre
• Evaluate performance using data, player feedback, and your own playtest experience
• Design for scale: plan for long-term content extensibility and system health
• Mentor junior designers and help strengthen combat design across the organisation

What We're Looking For

• A deep passion for combat and gameplay design
• 6+ years of experience designing combat and gameplay systems for live, F2P games (preferably MMO, 4X, or strategy genres)
• Strong ownership mindset – you can own a feature or content stream from vision to launch to iteration
• A proven track record of delivering features that balance player fun, engagement, and monetisation
• Comfort with KPI targets and using data to inform balance or tuning adjustments
• Mastery of spreadsheets and confidence in balancing power curves, pacing, and resource flow
• Experience working cross-functionally and navigating live production environments
• A positive, thoughtful, and collaborative approach to game development

Bonus Points

• Experience mentoring or leading junior designers
• Familiarity with SQL, scripting, or simulation tools
• Character collection or squad RPG experiences
• Exposure to live ops systems, event design, or server lifecycle planning
• Love for Star Trek, sci-fi, or highly strategic social games
• Previous work on alliance or co-op gameplay in large-scale games

At Scopely, we create games for everyone - and want to ensure that the people behind our games reflect that! We are committed to creating a diverse, supportive work environment where everyone is treated with respect. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and welcome individuals from all backgrounds to join us & embrace the adventure!

Please ensure that the résumé/CV you attach is written in English.

About Scopely

Scopely is a leading video game and global interactive entertainment company, home to many of the world’s most beloved and enduring experiences, including two of the most successful mobile games of all-time “MONOPOLY GO!” and “Pokémon GO,” along with “Stumble Guys,” “Star Trek Fleet Command,” “MARVEL Strike Force,” “WWE Champions,” the Scrabble franchise, “Yahtzee With Buddies,” and many others. Across mobile, web, PC, and console, Scopely creates, develops, publishes, and live-operates one of the most diversified and award-winning portfolios in the games industry — bringing hundreds of millions of players together through a shared love of play.

Founded in 2011, Scopely is powered by its exceptional team — including thousands of world-class gamemakers around the globe, a distinctive tenet-driven culture, and its proprietary technology platform, Playgami. Together, these strengths have fueled Scopely’s position as the #1 mobile games company in the U.S. and #2 globally, generating more than $10 billion in lifetime revenue. Whether building global sensations like “MONOPOLY GO!” from the ground up, or expanding through strategic acquisitions, including the FoxNext, GSN, and Scopely Explore games businesses — Scopely consistently delivers experiences players love today and return to for years to come.

Recognized multiple times as one of the "100 Most Influential Companies in the World" by TIME magazine and one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" and “Best Workplaces for Innovators,” Scopely believes that video games can be a force for good — creating meaningful connections, vibrant communities, and making life better through play.

Scopely has global operations and partners across four continents in more than a dozen countries worldwide. For more information, visit: https://www.scopely.com/ .

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Employment at Scopely is based solely on a person's merit and qualifications. Scopely does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), or any other basis protected by law. We also consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.