Senior Progression Designer

What the Tech, Bend?; Bend, Northern (OR, KY); On-site; USD 68,000 - 97,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Job summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment — Sony Bend Studio in Bend, OR is seeking a Senior Progression Designer (CONTRACT) to own progression systems, rewards, and economies for a high-profile AAA title. You will shape player motivation, engagement, and long-term satisfaction while partnering with cross-functional teams.

Requirements include 5+ years in progression or related design fields, strong data skills, and a collaborative mindset.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in video game progression design, systems design, economy design, or related fields.
• Strong knowledge of trends in game progression and reward design.
• Player-centered design with understanding of motivation and psychology.
• Strong data management, spreadsheet modeling, analysis, and visualization skills.
• Ability to translate goals into practical systems, tuning models, and docs.
• Strong collaboration and inclusive design mindset.
• Ability to break down and manage tasks across sprints and milestones.
• Scripting knowledge is a plus; comfortable with data tools and tuning pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Design, tune, and implement progression systems, rewards, and economies that fit the game's vision.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define tools, workflows, and processes for progression features.
• Create and maintain documentation for progression systems and related features.
• Communicate design goals, updates, and implementation details to team members.
• Partner with developers to create content, assets, features, and rewards that support progression.
• Work with UX researchers to test hypotheses, understand behavior, and improve player experience.
• Help implement changes to progression systems based on testing and data insights.

Skills

5+ years experience

Progression design

Data management

Documentation

Collaboration

Sprint planning

Scripting knowledge

Player motivation psychology

Job description

Senior Progression Designer (CONTRACT)
Company: Sony Interactive Entertainment — Sony Bend Studio
Location: Bend, OR, United States
Job ID: R-124544
Experience: 5+ years of experience in video game progression design, systems design, economy design, or related fields, with experience contributing to shipped games
Pay Range: $60–$60 USD (hourly)

Note: This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we’re part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

How You Will Contribute
Sony Bend Studio, renowned creator of Days Gone, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Syphon Filter, is seeking outstanding talent to join our passionate and creative team in crafting our next high-profile AAA title.

We are seeking a Senior Progression Designer to help shape and own the progression systems, rewards, and support economies for our next AAA title. In this role, you will contribute to player experiences that drive satisfaction, motivation, and long-term engagement.

What will you do

• Design, tune, and implement fun, meaningful progression systems, reward structures, and supporting economies that align with the game’s creative vision and player experience goals
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to define the tools, workflows, and processes needed to build, tune, and maintain progression features
• Create and maintain clear documentation for progression systems and related features, including design briefs, spreadsheets, tuning models, and data visualizations
• Communicate design goals, feature updates, and implementation details to team members and stakeholders
• Partner with developers in the design and creation of new content, assets, features, and rewards that support progression goals
• Work with User-Experience Research (UXR) to test design hypotheses, understand player behavior, and improve the overall player experience
• Help implement changes to progression systems based on testing, feedback, and data insights

Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in video game progression design, systems design, economy design, or related fields, with experience contributing to shipped games
• Strong knowledge of current trends, innovations, and competitive approaches in game progression and reward design
• A player-centered approach to design, with empathy for players and an understanding of player motivation, needs, and psychology
• Strong proficiency in data management, spreadsheet modeling, analysis, and visualization
• Ability to translate design goals into practical systems, tuning models, and implementation-ready documentation
• Strong collaboration skills, with a commitment to inclusive, accessible design and a positive team culture
• Ability to break down, prioritize, and manage tasks across sprints, milestones, and development phases
• Advanced knowledge of scripting languages and code is preferred, but not required. Comfort working in data tools, tuning pipelines, and implementation-facing workflows is important

Location, Compensation and Benefits

• Bend, OR, United States
• Estimated base pay range: $60–$60 USD (hourly)
• Eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Base pay may vary based on job-related factors including knowledge, skills, experience, and location

Senior Progression Designer (CONTRACT)
Company: Sony Interactive Entertainment — Sony Bend Studio
Location: Bend, OR, United States
Job ID: R-124544
Experience: 5+ years of experience in video game progression design, systems design, economy design, or related fields, with experience contributing to shipped games
Pay Range: $60–$60 USD (hourly)

Note: This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we’re part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

How You Will Contribute
Sony Bend Studio, renowned creator of Days Gone, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, and Syphon Filter, is seeking outstanding talent to join our passionate and creative team in crafting our next high-profile AAA title.

We are seeking a Senior Progression Designer to help shape and own the progression systems, rewards, and support economies for our next AAA title. In this role, you will contribute to player experiences that drive satisfaction, motivation, and long-term engagement.

What will you do

• Design, tune, and implement fun, meaningful progression systems, reward structures, and supporting economies that align with the game’s creative vision and player experience goals
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to define the tools, workflows, and processes needed to build, tune, and maintain progression features
• Create and maintain clear documentation for progression systems and related features, including design briefs, spreadsheets, tuning models, and data visualizations
• Communicate design goals, feature updates, and implementation details to team members and stakeholders
• Partner with developers in the design and creation of new content, assets, features, and rewards that support progression goals
• Work with User-Experience Research (UXR) to test design hypotheses, understand player behavior, and improve the overall player experience
• Help implement changes to progression systems based on testing, feedback, and data insights

Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in video game progression design, systems design, economy design, or related fields, with experience contributing to shipped games
• Strong knowledge of current trends, innovations, and competitive approaches in game progression and reward design
• A player-centered approach to design, with empathy for players and an understanding of player motivation, needs, and psychology
• Strong proficiency in data management, spreadsheet modeling, analysis, and visualization
• Ability to translate design goals into practical systems, tuning models, and implementation-ready documentation
• Strong collaboration skills, with a commitment to inclusive, accessible design and a positive team culture
• Ability to break down, prioritize, and manage tasks across sprints, milestones, and development phases
• Advanced knowledge of scripting languages and code is preferred, but not required. Comfort working in data tools, tuning pipelines, and implementation-facing workflows is important

Location, Compensation and Benefits

• Bend, OR, United States
• Estimated base pay range: $60–$60 USD (hourly)
• Eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Base pay may vary based on job-related factors including knowledge, skills, experience, and location