Senior Technical Designer, Combat | Unannounced Project - Irvine, CA

Blizzard Entertainment; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 82,240 - 152,160; Full time

Job summary

Blizzard Entertainment is seeking a Senior Technical Designer, Combat in Irvine, CA on a hybrid work arrangement. You will craft engaging combat encounters, enemy behaviors, and core gameplay systems for an unannounced project, guiding features from concept through to polish with cross-team collaboration.

You will leverage strong scripting skills, contribute to combat readability and pacing, and help shape tools and pipelines to support rapid iteration.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in technical/design related to combat or systems design.
• Experience contributing to at least one shipped game with ownership of gameplay systems or combat.
• Strong scripting experience for complex gameplay behaviors and prototypes.
• Experience with modern game engines and development tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement combat encounters, enemy behaviors, and related gameplay systems.
• Tune and iterate on combat mechanics, attacks, abilities, and enemy attributes.
• Develop tools and pipelines to enable efficient creation and iteration of combat content.
• Collaborate with engineering, art, design, and production teams to bring features from concept to polish.
• Work with level designers to ensure combat spaces support readability, pacing, and navigation.
• Prototype gameplay systems using scripting and technical design tooling.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows and game quality across the team.
• Create clear documentation communicating design intent and system functionality.
• Support evolution of combat design practices through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to compelling combat experiences that boost engagement and replay value.

Skills

8+ years experience

Shipped game

Scripting for gameplay

Engine proficiency

Tools

Unreal Engine Blueprint

Job description

Job Title

Senior Technical Designer, Combat | Unannounced Project - Irvine, CA

Team Name

Unannounced Project

Job Title

Senior Technical Designer, Combat | Unannounced Project - Irvine, CA

Requisition ID

R027700

Job Description

Your Mission

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations – only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.

We are looking for a Senior Technical Designer, Combat to help craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for designing and implementing engaging combat encounters, enemy behaviors, and gameplay systems that create clear, responsive, and satisfying experiences for players. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work from home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement combat encounters, enemy behaviors, and supporting gameplay systems.
• Create, tune, and iterate on combat mechanics, attacks, abilities, and enemy attributes that deliver engaging and responsive gameplay experiences.
• Develop and improve tools, workflows, and pipelines that enable efficient creation and iteration of combat encounters and gameplay systems.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, art, design, and production partners to bring gameplay features from concept through implementation and polish.
• Partner with level designers to ensure combat spaces support readability, pacing, navigation, and player understanding.
• Prototype gameplay systems and mechanics through scripting and technical design tools.
• Identify workflow, tooling, and pipeline opportunities that improve development efficiency and game quality.
• Create clear and actionable documentation that communicates design intent, implementation details, and system functionality.
• Support the continued evolution of combat design practices through feedback, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the creation of compelling combat experiences that reinforce player engagement and long-term gameplay satisfaction.

Minimum Requirements (Experience, Knowledge & Skills)

• 8+ years of experience in technical design, combat design, systems design, or a closely related game development discipline.
• Experience contributing to at least one shipped game, including ownership of gameplay systems, combat encounters, enemy behaviors, gameplay prototypes, or related features.
• Strong scripting experience for game development, with the ability to independently build complex gameplay behaviors, encounters, and prototypes.
• Experience implementing, tuning, and balancing combat systems, abilities, enemy behaviors, and progression mechanics.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within teams and foster productive partnerships across engineering, art, design, production, and other disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire colleagues through an enthusiastic approach to game development and a commitment to continuous improvement of core skills.
• Ability to take initiative and manage responsibilities independently, demonstrating strong ownership and accountability.
• Experience working with modern game engines and development tools.
• Strong understanding of combat readability, player feedback, pacing, encounter design, and gameplay iteration.
• Clear communication skills with the ability to convey technical and design concepts to a broad range of development partners.
• Experienced and knowledgeable player of a wide range of games, with the ability to apply that expertise to gameplay design and development decisions.
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic environment while navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.

Extra Points

• Proficiency with visual scripting tools such as Unreal Engine Blueprint.
• Strong understanding of combat systems, enemy behaviors, Combat AI, behavior trees, and encounter scripting.
• Demonstrated success designing combat systems for action-oriented games.
• Knowledge of implementing engaging melee and ranged enemy combat behaviors.
• Ability to mentor, support, and provide technical guidance to fellow designers.
• Shipped at least one game for PC, Xbox, and/or PlayStation platforms.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines throughout all phases of game development.
• Track record of creating tools or workflows that improve team efficiency and iteration speed.

Required Application Materials

• Resume.
• Portfolio demonstrating relevant gameplay, combat, technical design, or systems design work.
• Examples of shipped work and a clear description of your contributions to each project.

Your Platform

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we've been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We're on a quest to bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard secret recipe, but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us.

Our World

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards.

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment.

The videogame industry and our business are fast-paced and continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business needs.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that women and members of other underrepresented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact they often do. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply

Requirements

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $82,240.00 - $152,160.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.