Game Design Director

Are you an experienced Game Design leader who wants to be the driving force behind the creative vision of SCUM, our popular multiplayer survival game?

As Game Design Director, you will be responsible for defining and executing the design vision across gameplay, systems, progression, and levels. You will lead and mentor the design team, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and ensure that the player experience is engaging, balanced, and aligned with the game’s overall vision. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on an already popular game!

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and mentor all game design teams across systems, gameplay, and levels, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and excellence.
• Define and champion the game’s design pillars, systems, and core mechanics, ensuring consistency and clarity across the project.
• Drive iteration, playtesting, and data-driven design decisions to deliver the best possible player experience.
• Collaborate closely with Art, Engineering, Production, and Product teams to align the design vision with execution.
• Establish and maintain design processes, documentation standards, and workflows to ensure efficiency and quality.
• Represent the design discipline in leadership discussions, contributing to strategic decision-making for the game and studio.
• Incorporate player feedback and analytics into design decisions, ensuring the game meets player expectations while staying true to the creative vision.
• Support recruitment, career development, and performance management of the design team.
• Get your hands dirty with actual design work as and when needed :)
• Ensure that creative ambition is balanced with practical execution and production realities, delivering polished and cohesive game experiences.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience as a Lead or Senior Game Designer on shipped AA/AAA titles.
• Deep knowledge of gameplay systems, progression, balancing, and survival/open-world mechanics.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with the ability to inspire and guide multiple design teams.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to define a long-term design vision.
• Excellent communication skills and experience collaborating cross-discipline.
• Data-driven mindset with ability to incorporate analytics, testing, and player feedback into design decisions.
• Passion for survival, crafting, and open-world PC/console games.
• Availability to work onsite in Zagreb, Croatia.