Senior Technical Designer

PlayStation; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Wellness program

Employee discounts

Job summary

Naughty Dog in Santa Monica is seeking a Technical Designer to prototype, implement, and own gameplay sequences, AI behaviors, and related systems in a hybrid/onsite role. You will collaborate across animation, programming, and art to deliver compelling interactive experiences.

Candidates should have 5+ years in technical design for games, 2+ shipped titles, strong programming in C++/C#/Lua, and a deep understanding of narrative-driven gameplay.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry experience in technical design for games.
• 2+ shipped games.
• Significant programming ability; CS degree preferred.
• Deep understanding of narrative principles and how to convey emotion through gameplay.

Responsibilities

• Prototype, implement, and own gameplay sequences, AI behaviors, and other mechanics and systems.
• Collaborate with animation, programming, and art to deliver assets and code support.
• Foster team cohesion and advise design leadership on communication and conflicts.
• Work with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers and directors informed.

Skills

Technical Design

Shipped titles

Programming

Narrative gameplay

3D math

C++/C#/Lua

Tooling improvements

Communication & teamwork

Self-starter

Education

Computer Science degree preferred

Tools

C++

C#

Lua

Job description

This is a hybrid/ onsite position.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we’d love to find talented individuals to join us.

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

What you will do:

• Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrativesequences, interactive objects, AI behaviors, and other mechanics andsystems.
• Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments toeffectively produce the assets and code support required for the areasyou’re owning.
• Fostering team cohesion, advising design leadership regardingcommunication breakdowns and personality conflicts.
• Working with minimal supervision while keeping lead designers anddirectors well-informed.

What skills you will use:

• 5+ years of industry experience in Technical Design for games
• 2+ shipped games
• Significant programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree preferred)
• Deep understanding of narrative principles and how to convey emotion through gameplay
• Expertise in 3D math
• Fluent in C++, C#, Lua, or other text-based scripting language
• Ability to identify and act on opportunities for improvements to tools and workflows that can help the team be more efficient
• Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills

Bonus Skills:

• Experience developing third-person action games
• Experience with the following areas of design
  • Behavior Trees
  • Narrative Gameplay Sequences
  • Encounter Design

At SIE, 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 base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package.

$145,100 — $181,400 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

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