Senior Game Designer - Systems

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Hybrid work

Medical benefits

Retirement benefits

Diverse game titles

Cutting-edge tools

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Game Designer - Systems for our Port Elizabeth studio. You will design, document, and iterate complex game systems (combat, progression, economy, AI) and balance them to deliver engaging player experiences.

Collaborate with programmers and cross-disciplinary teams to integrate systems with art, narrative, and UI. You will lead playtesting, analyze data, and mentor junior designers, contributing to a culture of learning and creative problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of professional game design experience, with emphasis on systems design.
• Shipped at least one major title in a systems design role.
• Proficiency in game design documentation, balancing, and prototyping.
• Experience with scripting languages (Lua, Python) or visual scripting is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a deep understanding of player psychology and engagement.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems, including combat, progression, economy, and AI.
• Balance game mechanics to ensure a fair, challenging, and rewarding player experience.
• Collaborate closely with programmers to implement and refine game systems.
• Work with other disciplines to ensure systems integrate seamlessly with art, narrative, and UI.
• Conduct playtesting sessions, gather player feedback, and use data analytics to inform design decisions.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to a culture of shared learning and creative problem-solving.

Skills

Systems design

Game design

Prototyping

Lua

Python

Analysis

Communication

Tools

Lua

Python

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned game development studio in Port Elizabeth , is seeking a talented and experienced Senior Game Designer - Systems . This role focuses on the creation, implementation, and balancing of complex game systems that form the core player experience. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of artists, programmers, and other designers to craft engaging and innovative gameplay mechanics. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of game design principles, a passion for player-centric design, and a proven ability to design and iterate on systems that deliver compelling and long-lasting engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems, including combat, progression, economy, and AI.
• Balance game mechanics to ensure a fair, challenging, and rewarding player experience.
• Collaborate closely with programmers to implement and refine game systems using proprietary or industry-standard tools.
• Work with other disciplines to ensure systems integrate seamlessly with art, narrative, and UI.
• Conduct playtesting sessions, gather player feedback, and use data analytics to inform design decisions.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to a culture of shared learning and creative problem-solving.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in game design , with a strong focus on systems design.
• Shipped at least one major title in a systems design role.
• Proficiency in game design documentation , balancing, and prototyping.
• Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Lua, Python) or visual scripting tools is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a deep understanding of player psychology and engagement.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, able to articulate complex ideas clearly.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus structure.
• Hybrid work environment offering flexibility and work-life balance.
• Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities to work on diverse and exciting game titles in Port Elizabeth .
• Access to cutting-edge development tools and technologies.