Systems Designer - Raven - Middleton, WI

DEMONWARE (CANADA) , INC.; Town of Middleton (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Raven Software in Middleton, WI seeks a Systems Designer to invent, pitch, and tune player-centric game systems across ambitious FPS titles. You will independently implement high-level direction, craft design docs, and balance mechanics while mentoring junior designers.

The role emphasizes collaboration with diverse teams, research into design objectives, and strong communication in a fast-paced studio environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in the games industry as a systems designer.
• Proven experience with programming/scripting languages.
• Comprehensive knowledge of FPS games space.
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Designers, Engineers, Artists, Producers, and Animators to deliver game systems.

Skills

Systems thinking

Prototyping

Communication

Mentoring

Tools

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Miro

Photoshop

Illustrator

Job description

Systems Designer - Raven - Middleton, WI

Your mission as a Systems Designer is to invent, pitch, implement, and tune player-first experiences that will be enjoyed by millions of gamers across the globe. You are a self-sufficient, fire and forget teammate who takes ownership of tasks, proactively and independently solves challenges, and delivers high quality work in a timely manner. You must thrive in a fast-paced and often ambiguous environment. An agile and flexible attitude is also vital since this position actively partners with a variety of internal and external collaborators. Excellent and persuasive communication skills are a must. Above all, we are seeking an innovative and dedicated teammate to help tell our story.

What you bring to the table

The video game industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will 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 and relationships with industry partners. Therefore, this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Designers, Engineers, Artists, Producers, and Animators to deliver world-class game systems.
• Research subject matter relating to the design objective to ensure an authentic experience.
• Be a proactive self-starter that can independently implement high-level direction.
• Clearly and effectively pitch designs and features using multimedia tools.
• Create and maintain design documents and systems specifications for games with an eye toward systems design and then provide verbal and written assessments of the same.
• Champion and advocate for the player experience.
• Mentor fellow Designers.
• Use scripting tools to create, iterate, and balance game mechanics and systems.
• Play builds of games in-progress and provide concise and prioritized feedback to both internal teams and external partners.
• Collaborate with other teams to ensure systems are understood and applied.
• Possess a comprehensive understanding of the design process spanning all facets of the game.

Minimum Requirements

Experience

• 5+ years in the games industry working in a system design capacity.
• Proven implementation experience with programming/scripting languages.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the FPS games space.

Knowledge & Skills

• Broad understanding of game systems ranging from moment-to-moment game feel to outer loop progression.
• Expertise writing high and low-level documentation (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Miro, etc.).

Key Attributes

• Passionate and egoless attitude that welcomes feedback and enjoys working in a collaborative, iterative, and agile process.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• A love of gaming with a broad range of experience across genres.

Extra Points

Experience

• Experience with visual software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).
• Prior experience working on FPS campaigns.

Knowledge & Skills.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of story driven campaign experiences.

Your Platform

Founded in 1990 by brothers Brian and Steve Raffel in Middleton, Wisconsin, Raven Software began as a small studio focused on crafting fantasy and role-playing games. Since then, our award-winning portfolio has grown to include beloved titles such as Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and - for the past 15 years - major contributions to the critically acclaimed Call of Duty franchise. As the lead developers behind Call of Duty: Warzone and the force behind the campaigns of the Black Ops series, most recently Black Ops 6, we have established ourselves as a key player in shaping the FPS genre and pushing the boundaries of what games can achieve.

Our motto, "Our Work Speaks For Us," symbolizes the dedication and passion that drives everything we do. We've built a team rooted in respect, collaboration, and a shared focus on what's best for the game. We prioritize ambition balanced with care, direct communication, and a culture free of egos. By fostering innovation and owning our mistakes, we continually push boundaries to create unforgettable games for our players.

As a studio located in Middleton - a suburb of Madison consistently ranked among the best places to live - we offer a thriving, supportive environment paired with exceptional quality of life.

As we grow and enter the next chapter of our journey, we're looking for talented individuals eager to pave new ground in our industry. If you're ready to work with a world-class team, we'd love to hear from you.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gami

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raven-software/