Associate Level Designer

Join Romero Games as we develop John Romero’s next First Person Shooter in partnership with a major publisher! This is an unprecedented opportunity to join a thriving independent development studio and work on a high-profile title that will be played by millions of gamers worldwide.

Romero Games is looking for a Associate Level Designer to join our growing team full-time. You will be responsible for creating game maps that align with the narrative and special features of our overall design. Working within the Level Design team, alongside your Lead and other departments, you will contribute to developing, defining, and establishing an engaging and enjoyable gameplay experience for our upcoming title.

This position is open in our office in Galway, Ireland, a relocation package is available.

The target start date for this position is December 2024.

What you will do:

• Craft unique spaces where gameplay flow and visual composition form memorable experiences

• Own a slice of our game world and in time become one of the points of contact for its design, while making sure that it fits & reflects the game narrative, art direction and respects our technical & scope requirements

• Engage in review sessions, be receptive to feedback and use the resources at your disposal to deepen your knowledge and expertise. Contribute relevant ideas and arguments to the creative process, when possible, to enhance the overall gameplay experience

• Be a supportive member of the team

• Be open to feedback and have a thirst for knowledge

• Communicate efficiently and effectively with the team

• Make sure that your work is clean, your design is to spec, you finish your tasks on time or signal risks whenever possible

• Show passion & care for your work, focus on your strengths and bolster your weaker skills

What you need to have:

• A good understanding of core aspects of level design such as: visual language, world logic, sign-posting, flow, game balance, difficulty tuning and pacing, etc.

• Experience working with game prototypes, game jams, mods combined with an enthusiasm for building video game environments.

• Attention to detail

• The ability to work collaboratively with other team members

• Five years of experience playing first or third person shooters

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• A passion for environment design and architectural concepts

• Some experience building levels using 3D level editing tools (Unreal 4, UnrealEd, Hammer, Radiant, etc.)

• Some experience prototyping maps and gameplay mechanics using Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar

• Experience writing design documentation

• Presentational skills and experience with PowerPoint or Keynote

• Experience with source-control applications (SVN, Perforce, GIT, etc.)

• Solid problem-solving skills

• Knowledge of entity setup

What is nice to have:

• Unreal 4/5 Blueprints, Flow Graph, or other visual scripting software

• Experience with Adobe Photoshop or similar

• Undergraduate degree in Video Game Design, Computer Science, Marketing, Entertainment or a form of technical training

Benefits:

• Ownership. Everyone in the company benefits from ownership in the company. Every full-time Romero Games employee is given a stake. (This benefit is not open to contractors.)

• Vacation: Time off for vacation. Five weeks vacation per year + 10 national holidays. Extra vacation days after 5 and 10 years of service.

• Hybrid Working. Flexible working hours, including work-from-home and remote work.

• Sabbaticals: At 5+ years, should you choose to take unpaid time for a personal project, we will cover 20% of your pay provided that it is in your area of interest.

• Premium Health. Premium health benefits, plus extended healthcare coverage.

• Fertility Leave: For employees undergoing IVF treatment, surrogacy or other forms of fertility treatment, two days per cycle for recovery or travel.

• Relocation assistance. Flexible start dates, relocation reimbursement and assistance in finding housing. 

• Life-Friendly Policies: We understand that work is one of the things that you do and that life happens. We have a long and consistent pattern of life-friendly management, whether taking your kids to creche, assisting your parents with an appointment, or taking your pet to the vet.

• Menopause: Up to five days off per year for appointments or recovery days.

• Clothing Assistance Program: A financial support for people going through a major life event such a pregnancy or gender affirming care.

• Compassionate Leave / Bereavement. We support employees by offering paid time off during bereavement for immediate family. This includes loss of pregnancy, including the loss of surrogate pregnancy.

• Parental Leave and Support. Family-focused benefits include fully paid maternity and paternity leave and flexible work hours. Most people here are parents. We get it.

• Professional Development: World-class workshops on accessibility, diversity, design and more, from internationally recognized experts.

• Social Events. Regular social events such as pub nights (including online pub nights), holiday parties, barbecues and conferences, with accommodation and travel covered by us. 

• Expert Speakers. Monthly insider expert seminars with renowned creators such as John Carmack, Rhianna Pratchett (Tomb Raider), Warren Spector (Deus Ex), David Brevik (Diablo), Harvey Smith (Dishonored), Josh Sawyer (Pillars of Eternity), and more.

• Bike to Work Programme: Within Ireland, using the Bike-to-Work government initiative, employees obtain a brand new bike and safety equipment worth up to €1,250 for a regular bike, and up to €1,500 for an electric bike. The scheme covers your new bike and gear, saving 52% of the retail price of bike and equipment.