Tabletop Game Designer - Invent, Playtest & Launch

Goliath; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance

FSA/HSA plans

Paid time off

Creative industry rewards

Job summary

Goliath is seeking a highly creative Game Designer to invent and develop tabletop games across preschool to licensed categories. You will own concepts from idea to prototype, test gameplay, refine mechanics, write rules, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

The ideal candidate brings a portfolio of published games or prototypes, strong writing and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects with changing priorities.

Qualifications

• Professional experience in board game development, game design, product development, toy development, or a closely related creative field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop a game from an early-stage idea through prototyping, playtesting, iteration, and final documentation.
• Strong understanding of gameplay mechanics, player psychology, pacing, balance, accessibility, and age-appropriate design.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to explain gameplay clearly and concisely.
• Experience planning, conducting, and documenting structured playtests.
• Ability to turn qualitative consumer observations into specific, actionable improvements.
• Excellent organizational and project-management abilities, including the capacity to manage several projects with shifting timelines and priorities.
• Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and move projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable giving, receiving, evaluating, and incorporating constructive feedback.
• A portfolio of published games, prototypes, instructions, or other relevant game-development work.

Responsibilities

• Invent and develop original games across multiple categories using ideas from internal teams, inventors, licensors, external partners, consumer insights, and emerging trends.
• Turn early-stage ideas into engaging, accessible, and commercially viable prototypes.
• Manage multiple projects from concept through weekly iteration, documentation, final development, and production handoff.
• Plan and facilitate playtesting with internal teams and target consumers, translating feedback and observed behavior into actionable improvements.
• Write clear, engaging, audience-appropriate instructions and develop instruction-manual layouts informed by consumer testing.
• Present concepts, prototypes, playtest findings, and recommendations; incorporate stakeholder feedback while protecting the integrity of the game experience.
• Develop gameplay talking points and confidently demonstrate games for internal teams, licensors, and other partners.
• Plan and lead structured team brainstorms, providing creative direction and documentation to move the strongest ideas into development.
• Research social, cultural, entertainment, toy, and gaming trends; evaluate current, historical, and competitive games to identify innovations and market opportunities.
• Attend trade shows, conventions, inventor events, and industry gatherings to find inspiration, research products, and identify potential inventors and partners.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of current and historical board games, gameplay mechanics, formats, materials, components, and construction innovations.

Job description

Goliath is seeking a highly creative Game Designer to invent and develop tabletop games across preschool to licensed categories. You will own concepts from idea to prototype, test gameplay, refine mechanics, write rules, and collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

The ideal candidate brings a portfolio of published games or prototypes, strong writing and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects with changing priorities.