Senior Combat Designer (Enemies / Bosses)

Insomniac Games; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Insomniac Games in Oregon is seeking a Senior Combat Designer (Enemies/Bosses) for a 6-month contract through Yoh Enterprise Solutions. The designer will own the combat gameplay quality and on-time delivery for enemies, mini-bosses, and boss encounters, from pitches to polish.

You'll collaborate in a cross-disciplinary pod with combat and design leads, implement enemy AI, iterate on balance, document systems, and support mission design as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in game design with at least one shipped title as Combat Designer.
• Expertise across combat design craft and enemy/boss gameplay.
• Experience designing, prototyping, implementing and polishing enemy AI and bosses.
• Proficiency with modern engines (Unreal or proprietary); scripting and iteration.
• Strong written and verbal communication across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on implementation of enemy, mini-boss, and boss combat design.
• Iterate on Enemy AI and bosses using internal tools and scripting.
• Collaborate with Gameplay Programming, Animation and other pod members.
• Document gameplay systems and best practices for Enemy AI.
• Collect and act on feedback to improve balance and playability.
• Support Mission Designers and contribute to combat encounters.
• Coordinate with staff on game-wide combat issues.
• Uphold studio values and contribute creatively.

Skills

Combat design

Enemy AI

Boss encounters

Prototyping

Scripting

Unreal Engine

Blueprint scripting

Communication

Level editing tools

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Maya

UE4 Blueprint scripting

Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. This is a 6-month contract. Insomniac Games is looking for a Senior Combat Designer (Enemies/Bosses). In this role, the Senior Combat Designer (Enemies/Bosses) is accountable for the quality and on‑time delivery of combat gameplay, specifically focused on enemies, mini‑bosses, and bosses. Designer will be responsible for initial pitches, prototyping, implementation, iteration, polish and balance for AI enemies, smaller‑scale mini‑bosses, and larger boss encounters, as needed. Work will be done in a highly collaborative, cross‑disciplinary pod, under the direction and review of combat and design leads.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Hands‑on implementation work on initial design, prototyping, iteration, balance and polish of AI enemy combatants, mini‑boss characters, and large‑scale boss encounters.
• Directly implements and iterates on Enemy AI and bosses through proprietary internal tools and scripting systems.
• Works within a cross‑disciplinary pod. Collaborates directly with Gameplay Programming, Animation, and other pod members to best leverage skills and creativity across all departments.
• Writes and regularly updates clear gameplay system documentation detailing functionality and best practices for using Enemy AI across missions and levels.
• Gathers and prioritised feedback from multiple sources. Proactively implements changes and improvements in enemy / boss design to respond to issues around clarity, balance, and playability. Drives continual improvement on assigned combat work.
• Supports Mission Designers, as needed, through best practices, training, and model encounters. May also work on combat encounters directly within Missions.
• Coordinates with other combat design staff on game‑wide combat issues, including difficulty, balance, enemy differentiation, enemy introductions, etc.
• Contributes to a safe, supportive, and creative work environment that exemplifies our studio values.
• Other creative duties as needed.

Experience and Education

• Five or more years of professional game design experience, with at least one shipped title as a Combat Designer.
• Expertise in the current state of combat design craft across the games industry.
• Experience in designing, prototyping, implementing, and polishing enemy AI combatants and boss characters.
• High proficiency with modern game engines, such as Unreal or proprietary engines. Proven experience in scripting, prototyping, and iterating gameplay systems directly. Experience in 3D layout a plus.
• Strong skills in written, verbal, and visual communication across disciplines.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills

• Intermediate knowledge and experience with level editing tools and scripting (Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar editors).
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya or other major 3D modeling programs.
• Adobe Illustrator experience and UE4 Blueprint scripting skills are a plus.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Other Skills

• Individual must have very good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with team members and other developers.
• Strong communication skills including verbal and written skills are required.

At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location. Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job‑related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.

$70—$90 USD

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