Senior Game Systems Designer - Core Mechanics & Balance

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Stock options

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24, Randburg, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Game Designer (Systems) to architect and balance core game systems, from combat to economy, shaping player progression and engagement. You will partner with programmers, artists, and other designers to deliver polished systems that feel intuitive and rewarding.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of professional game design experience, a strong portfolio on shipped titles, and proficiency with scripting languages.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in game design, with a significant focus on systems design.
• Strong portfolio showcasing systems design on shipped games.
• Experience with scripting languages (Lua, Python) is a plus.
• Solid understanding of balancing principles, statistics, and probability.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core game systems (combat, progression, economy, AI).
• Balance game mechanics to ensure fair, engaging player experience.
• Collaborate with programmers to implement and refine systems with clear specs.
• Work with artists to ensure systems are visually and interactively compelling.
• Conduct playtests and analyze feedback to identify improvements.
• Develop design docs including system overviews, flowcharts, and balance spreadsheets.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to team collaboration.
• Stay informed about industry trends and competitor analysis.

Skills

Systems design

Balancing mechanics

Analytical thinking

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design, CS, Psychology, or related field

Tools

Lua

Python

Job description

Placements24, Randburg, Gauteng, seeks a Senior Game Designer (Systems) to architect and balance core game systems, from combat to economy, shaping player progression and engagement. You will partner with programmers, artists, and other designers to deliver polished systems that feel intuitive and rewarding.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of professional game design experience, a strong portfolio on shipped titles, and proficiency with scripting languages.