Senior Game Systems Designer - Remote & Impactful

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 1,482,000 - 2,470,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Fully remote position

Health and wellness benefits

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an accomplished Senior Game Designer with a strong systems design focus to join a renowned independent studio in Port Elizabeth. This fully remote role emphasizes crafting complex game systems, balancing mechanics, and delivering cohesive player experiences from home.

The candidate will guide design documentation, prototype new mechanics, mentor junior designers, and ensure alignment with core pillars and audience expectations across PC/console projects.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in game design with emphasis on systems design.
• Proven experience balancing complex game mechanics for PC or console.
• Strong understanding of monetization strategies.
• Proficiency in creating clear design documentation.
• Experience with Unity or Unreal Engine highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and remote collaboration skills.
• Portfolio showing systems design contributions to shipped titles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or related field.
• Passion for video games and understanding of player motivations.

Responsibilities

• Design and document core game systems, mechanics, and progression loops.
• Balance gameplay elements to ensure a challenging yet fair player experience.
• Create detailed design documents, wireframes, and flowcharts for new features.
• Collaborate with programmers, artists, and producers to implement and iterate on designs.
• Prototype and test new game mechanics, providing clear feedback for improvement.
• Analyze player data and feedback to identify areas for system optimization.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall design vision of the project.
• Ensure that all designed systems align with the game's core pillars and target audience.
• Contribute to the narrative and world-building aspects of the game as needed.
• Maintain high standards of design quality and player engagement throughout the development cycle.

Skills

Systems design

Game design

Unity

Unreal Engine

Player psychology

Balancing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Game Design

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

Placements24 seeks an accomplished Senior Game Designer with a strong systems design focus to join a renowned independent studio in Port Elizabeth. This fully remote role emphasizes crafting complex game systems, balancing mechanics, and delivering cohesive player experiences from home.

The candidate will guide design documentation, prototype new mechanics, mentor junior designers, and ensure alignment with core pillars and audience expectations across PC/console projects.