Senior Game Designer: Shape Engaging Systems (Remote)

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 1,482,000 - 2,305,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development budget

Home office allowance

Team events

Innovative game projects

Job summary

Placements24 client, an award-winning independent game development studio, seeks a Senior Game Designer for a fully remote role. You will conceptualize, design, and implement core mechanics and systems to define the player experience.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in game design, shipped titles, a strong portfolio, and proficiency with Unity or Unreal Engine. You will document designs, mentor teammates, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver engaging, balanced gameplay.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in game design, with 2 shipped titles in senior or lead roles.
• Strong portfolio of design contributions to commercial released games.
• In-depth knowledge of game design principles, player psychology, and narrative design.
• Experience designing and balancing complex game systems (combat, economy, progression, AI).
• Proficiency with Unity/Unreal Engine; strong documentation skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership for remote teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Design core game mechanics, systems, and player progression.
• Create design documents, flowcharts, and wireframes for features.
• Collaborate with artists, programmers, and other designers to implement systems.
• Balance economy, progression, and difficulty for engagement.
• Prototype and test ideas, gathering feedback for iterations.
• Integrate story elements with gameplay alongside narrative designers.
• Analyze player data to identify improvements and optimization.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to the team's vision.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies.

Skills

Game design principles

Player psychology

Narrative design

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

Placements24 client, an award-winning independent game development studio, seeks a Senior Game Designer for a fully remote role. You will conceptualize, design, and implement core mechanics and systems to define the player experience.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in game design, shipped titles, a strong portfolio, and proficiency with Unity or Unreal Engine. You will document designs, mentor teammates, and collaborate across disciplines to deliver engaging, balanced gameplay.