Game Designer - Systems

Placements24; Vereeniging; Hybrid; ZAR 500,000 - 850,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work schedule

Work on exciting game projects

Professional development and growth

Vereeniging location

Access to latest tools

Team-building activities

Health and wellness benefits

Job summary

Placements24 in Vereeniging is seeking a Systems Game Designer to shape core game mechanics, including combat systems, progression loops, and economy balancing. You will design, document, and iterate on systems to ensure they are engaging, balanced, and fun.

You will collaborate with engineers, artists, and other designers in a hybrid team, balancing performance on target platforms and staying current with industry trends. A strong portfolio of shipped titles or prototypes is expected.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in game design with a focus on systems design.
• Experience designing, documenting, and balancing complex game systems.
• Proficiency with Unity or Unreal Engine and scripting languages is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for a hybrid role.
• Portfolio of systems design work on shipped titles or prototypes.

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems (combat, progression, economy, feedback loops).
• Collaborate with engineers, artists and designers to implement mechanics.
• Balance systems to provide challenging yet rewarding experiences.
• Create design docs, flowcharts, and prototypes.
• Analyze player data and feedback to identify improvements.
• Participate in meetings in hybrid on-site and remote.
• Ensure systems are robust, scalable, and performant on target platforms.
• Contribute ideas to overcome design challenges.
• Stay current with industry trends in systems design.
• Provide constructive feedback and participate in peer reviews.

Skills

Systems design

Analytical thinking

Written and verbal communication

Team collaboration

Player psychology

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Game Design, CS, or related

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Scripting languages

Confluence

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering game development studio located in Vereeniging, is searching for a talented Systems Game Designer to contribute to the intricate design and implementation of game mechanics. This role operates under a hybrid work model, allowing for a balance between collaborative in-office sessions and focused remote work. You will be instrumental in conceptualizing, documenting, and iterating on core game systems, ensuring they are engaging, balanced, and fun. Your responsibilities will include designing combat systems, progression mechanics, economy balancing, and player progression loops. If you have a deep understanding of game design principles and a passion for crafting compelling interactive experiences, this is an excellent opportunity to shape the future of our innovative game titles.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems, including combat, progression, economy, and player feedback loops.
• Collaborate closely with engineers, artists, and other designers to implement and refine game mechanics.
• Balance game systems to ensure a challenging yet rewarding player experience.
• Create detailed design documentation, flowcharts, and prototypes to communicate system designs.
• Analyze player data and feedback to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
• Work within a hybrid team environment, actively participating in meetings and discussions both remotely and on-site.
• Ensure systems are robust, scalable, and performant on target platforms.
• Contribute creative ideas and innovative solutions to overcome design challenges.
• Stay current with industry trends and best practices in systems design.
• Provide constructive feedback to team members and participate in peer reviews.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in game design, with a specific focus on systems design.
• Proven ability to design, document, and balance complex game systems.
• Experience with game engines (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine) and scripting languages is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, crucial for a hybrid role.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and independently.
• Demonstrated understanding of player psychology and engagement mechanics.
• Proficiency in using tools for documentation, such as Confluence or similar platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience.
• A portfolio showcasing your systems design work on shipped titles or significant prototypes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Hybrid work schedule offering flexibility.
• Opportunity to work on exciting and genre-defining game projects.
• Professional development and growth opportunities.
• Collaborative and creative work environment in **Vereeniging**.
• Access to the latest game development tools.
• Regular team-building activities and social events.
• Contribution to innovative and high-quality games.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.