Technical Game Designer (Gameplay Bots)

Respawn Entertainment; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Respawn Entertainment is seeking a Game Designer to shape and iterate on in-game Bots for a Battle Royale. You will identify expected player behaviors, design updates to Bot systems, and balance performance with engaging bot play.

You will report to the Senior Lead Game Designer. This role focuses on AI behaviors, scripting, and live-service iteration to deliver compelling autonomous opponents in Apex Legends.

Qualifications

• 3+ years as a game designer on a multiplayer title.
• Direct experience building NPC/AI behaviors.
• Experience with rapid prototyping and iterative design.
• Ability to implement designs via scripting.
• Strong sense of game feel, balance, and polish.
• Proven track record in design for live games.

Responsibilities

• Analyze match flow and tactics in Apex Legends to identify key patterns.
• Design AI behaviors and set performance expectations for Bots.
• Collaborate with engineers to implement Bot system updates.
• Communicate feature vision to Product, Data, Analytics, and Production.
• Ensure high-quality releases through bug fixing and balancing.
• Support other designers with broader gameplay work.

Skills

NPC AI design

Scripting & rapid prototyping

Game feel & polish

Multiplayer game design

Balance & tuning

Live-service perspective

Opinionated Bots in FPS

Job description

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Founded in 2010 by the original creators of the Call of Duty Franchise, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. From our roots as an indie studio to joining the expansive roster of studios at Electronic Arts, this remains our guiding principle. We truly love what we do and want to share our passion with players worldwide. Our shipped titles include critically acclaimed multi-platform games Apex Legends, Titanfall, Titanfall 2, and Star Wars™ Jedi: Fallen Order.

Join us for the opportunity to create groundbreaking games with some of the best developer talent in the industry.

Apex Legends is looking for a Game Designer who will help us shape and iterate on in-game Bots components for the Battle Royale. You'll work to identify expected player behaviors at various skill levels and how to replicate those with automated players (aka Bots). You will be responsible for quality of life improvements and designing updates to existing Bots systems and pushing those updates through to release, and sustaining them with post release support. You will balance performance constraints with healthy bot behaviors to create autonomous opponents that can challenge players in the dynamic landscape of the Apex BR. Incorporate player metrics, sentiment, and playtest feedback into decision making. You have experience on a live service game in AI or Systems design, and have strong enough technical and scripting abilities to work independently.

You will report to the Senior Lead Game Designer.

What You'll Do…

• Analyze the match flow and Tactics of Apex Legends, and identify key patterns of successful play
• Design AI behaviors and establish expectations of performance for Bots
• Partner with and support engineers to implement updates to Bots systems
• Hold and communicate the vision for the feature to your collaborators including Product, Data and Analytics, Production and more
• Ensure a high quality release by bug fixing, balancing, and creating a robust system that supports Bots in the Battle Royale
• Support other designers with broader gameplay

Ideally, you also will have…

• 3+ years professional experience as a game designer on a multiplayer game
• Direct experience building NPC / AI behaviors
• Experience in rapid prototyping and iterative design
• Experience implementing designs via scripting
• Understanding of game feel and polish
• Strong track record in design and balance
• Played and formed a lot of opinions about many live games
• Strong opinions on best practices of how Bots should behave in an FPS

Pay Transparency - North America

Compensation And Benefits

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$92,900 - $129,200 CAD
• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$104,400 - $157,400 USD

Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.

About Electronic Arts

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.