Lead Game Designer – Live Ops & Analytics
Job Summary
Job Description
Big Time Studios seeks a Lead Game Designer to lead the design and evolution of core gameplay systems for their next project. Responsibilities include balancing game mechanics, driving live operations, leveraging analytics for player engagement and retention, iterating on progression and in-game economies, and managing live content updates. This role requires leading a cross-functional team, managing game balancing and live event design, and ensuring content keeps the game fresh. The ideal candidate possesses deep live service game design experience, a passion for data-driven design, and a strong understanding of game economies.
Must have:
- 7+ years game design experience in live-service games
- Live ops experience and data-driven game updates
- Proficiency in game analytics and telemetry tools
- Deep understanding of in-game economies and balance
- Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills
10 skills required
Job Details
A BIT ABOUT US
Big Time Studios is a bold new game studio on a mission to build cutting-edge AAA entertainment for the 21st century. Our team is composed of veterans from Riot Games, Epic Games, Insomniac, Blizzard, EA, Decentraland, and other top studios. We are fully funded and assembling a world-class team of A-players to develop engaging and highly replayable online experiences.
THE MISSION
Big Time Studios is seeking a Lead Game Designer to spearhead the design and evolution of core gameplay systems for our next big project. This role will focus on balancing game mechanics, driving live operations, and leveraging analytics to optimize player engagement and retention. You will be responsible for iterating on progression, in-game economies, and live content updates to ensure long-term player engagement.
As a data-driven leader, you will guide a cross-functional team of designers, engineers, and artists to develop, launch, and maintain compelling gameplay systems. You will also manage game balancing, economy tuning, and live event design, ensuring that content updates keep the game fresh and exciting for players.
If you have deep experience in designing live service games, a passion for using analytics to refine player experiences, and a strong understanding of game economies, we want you on our team.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Gameplay System Design: Lead the design and iteration of core gameplay mechanics, ensuring deep, engaging, and scalable systems.
- Live Ops Leadership: Oversee live events, seasonal content, balance updates, and other live service elements to maximize player engagement and long-term retention.
- Data-Driven Game Design: Leverage player telemetry, A/B testing, and analytics to make informed design decisions that improve user experience and game balance.
- Game Economy & Balance: Design and maintain a dynamic in-game economy, ensuring fair and engaging progression for all types of players.
- Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, art, marketing, and community teams to ensure smooth execution of features and live events.
- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Manage and mentor a team of game designers, fostering growth and maintaining high-quality design standards.
- Design Documentation: Maintain detailed, up-to-date documentation on game systems, mechanics, and economy models to align with development goals.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 7+ years of game design experience, with shipped titles in live-service games (MMOs, strategy games, RPGs, or similar).
- Strong background in live operations and experience designing data-driven game updates that drive player retention.
- Proficiency in game analytics and telemetry tools, with a track record of using player data to refine and improve game systems.
- Deep understanding of in-game economies, balance, and progression systems, with experience in designing sustainable, engaging systems for online games.
- Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience leading and mentoring design teams.
- Experience working cross-functionally with engineers, artists, and product teams to deliver high-quality game experiences.
- Proficiency with industry-standard design and analytics tools, including spreadsheets for balancing, SQL for querying game data, and game engines like Unity or Unreal.
- Passion for building engaging online experiences that keep players coming back.
If you’re passionate about creating deeply engaging gameplay experiences, using data to drive decisions, and leading live-service games, we want to hear from you! Apply now and become a core leader in shaping Big Time’s next big adventure.
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