At Wizards of the Coast, we connect people around the world through play and imagination. From our genre defining games like Magic: The Gathering® and Dungeons & Dragons® to our growing multiverse, we continue to innovate and build new ways to foster friendship and connection. That’s where you come in!

Atomic Arcade is a brand-new video game development studio located in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area led by industry veterans from AAA game and film studios. We are in the process of staffing up our development team with outstanding talent to build our first multi-platform, AAA game - a bold and contemporary new take on the GI JOE Universe starring the legendary character Snake Eyes! This is an excellent opportunity to not only build an outstanding AAA experience but to also help form the core foundations for the studio and team to build upon. We are proud to be part of Wizards of the Coast which is a division of Hasbro.

About the Role

Atomic Arcade is seeking a visionary Lead Narrative Designer to join our exciting AAA Action/Adventure project. In this leadership role, you will drive the development and implementation of a rich, immersive narrative that enhances gameplay and resonates with players.

Reporting to the Creative Director, you will play a meaningful, leadership role on the team as we finalize pre-production and move into full production. You’ll collaborate closely with Creative, Design, Art, and Audio teams to integrate storytelling into every layer of the experience—ranging from overarching lore to moment-to-moment dialogue.

Key Responsibilities

Story & World Development

- Closely collaborate with the studio directors and other key team stakeholders to continue to shape the overarching story, lore, and universe of the game. Ensure the narrative aligns with the core game design framework and enhances overall player immersion. 

- Develop characters with unique backstories, emotional arcs, and motivations that engage diverse audiences across the game experience.

- Design a vibrant world that delivers narrative through exploration, missions, environmental storytelling, and dynamic events.

Narrative Design & Implementation

- Design how in-game narrative sequences will play and be authored within scope.  This includes sequences that mix gameplay with story and cinematic moments, ranging from simple to complex.

- Script in-game conversations, cinematic moments, and narrative elements that complement and enhance player behavior and game systems.

- Work closely with level designers, mission designers, and gameplay teams to ensure narrative elements are harmoniously integrated into gameplay mechanics, objectives, and environments. 

- Maintain narrative consistency and quality across all content and features.

Team Leadership

- Lead and mentor existing team of writers and narrative designers through the development cycle.

- Provide constructive feedback, set priorities, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality content.

- Foster cross-disciplinary collaboration with design, art, engineering, audio, and production teams.

Iteration & Refinement

- Use playtest feedback to evolve and refine the narrative experience.

- Uphold cinematic and storytelling standards in line with the broader IP and project creative vision/goals.

Qualifications

- 8+ years of narrative design experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or ownership role.

- At least one shipped AAA title as a Lead or Principal Narrative Designer.

- Demonstrable, deep knowledge of game mechanics and an understanding of how to write for design frameworks as well as the ability to communicate story without words.

- Proven success crafting compelling worlds, characters, and story mechanics.

- Strong writing skills across genres and tones, with a proven ability to write dialog and stories that connects across demographics.

- Deep understanding of how to weave narrative and story into the fabric of the overall game design.

- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

- Experience managing scope, deadlines, and budgets without compromising creative quality.

- Comfortable with game development tools, pipelines, and engines (Unreal Engine 5 preferred).

Bonus Skills

- Professional writing experience in other media (film, TV, novels, etc.).

- Prior, direct experience translating major entertainment IP’s into high-quality AAA games.

- Technical scripting skills and familiarity with narrative implementation tools.

- Knowledge and Passion for our game’s IP and genre.

We are an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

Atomic Arcade is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. We are committed to making all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. If you have a disability and require assistance in this application process and need to request an accommodation, please contact your recruiter or coordinator.

The base salary range for this position is $148,400.00 to $222,600.00. The hiring range will vary based on factors such as experience, skills, and market conditions. Additionally, employees may be eligible for annual and long-term incentives as part of their overall compensation package.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package Includes:

• Health & Wellness: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Time Off to Recharge: Paid Vacation & Holidays
• Financial Well-being: Generous 401(k) Match
• Life & Family Support: Paid Parental Leave
• Giving Back: Volunteer & Employee Giving Programs
• Level Up Your Skills: Tuition Reimbursement
• Exclusive Perks: Product Discounts & More!

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