Lead Systems Designer

About Steel City Interactive

SCI was born out of passion for video games and boxing, with the ambition to create an authentic and exciting boxing game that does justice to the sport we love. What started as a fun prototype has grown into ‘Undisputed’, the first major boxing video game in over a decade.  

SCI is a welcoming place for expression and open communication, where everyone has a voice. We’re a diverse bunch, consisting of people with decades of games industry experience, graduates and talented individuals who come from other industries. We all bring knowledge and learn from each other.

Together we are driven by ambition to bring the world of boxing into a video game like never before.  

The Role

We are currently recruiting for a Lead Systems Designer, who has a passion for creating rich and rewarding experiences for our players. You will be responsible for a wide range of designs focused on player rewards, unlocks, achievements, progression and challenges, bringing these systems together to create a captivating but also meaningful player journey. You’ll also be responsible for gameplay features, game systems and mechanics from conception to completion. Taking responsibility and ownership for various areas of design but you’ll also work closely with other disciplines and in particular other designers to ensure that their features deliver a complete connected player economy and rewards system.

You’ll be a passionate and level-headed designer who will be proactive and will always be thinking about the player experience. You’ll gather feedback and action it where required, always asking the questions about what the value of the feature is for the player and to the business. You’ll also feel right at home with balancing gameplay and creating reward loops to ensure player engagement, whilst keeping an eye on how this will make the players experience fun, whilst providing worthwhile progression.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of various features from end-to-end implementation of the game economy, being the focal point for these features within the design team.
• Develop simulations (excel) to predict how best to serve the players needs within different game modes.
• Develop a connected reward system that benefits the player for playing how they want to play and not punish them for a particular game style.
• Craft gameplay loops with other designers to help players engage with the game and provide rewards.
• Work closely with the Data team to track and balance any live systems.
• Design general game mechanics and systems that help keep the player engaged and excited to play our games.
• Be responsible for a range of rewards systems, including achievements, challenges, unlocks, currency and player progression.
• Evangalise features you are working on and the overall game vision to others within the organisation.
• Use critical thinking skills to analyse feedback, and action any required changes.
• Write clear and concise design documentation, ensuring that it is always kept up to date.
• Collaborate with designers, programmers and artists to ensure work is delivered with a consistent quality and on time.
• Work with other designers to ensure that feature knowledge and progress is shared.
• Assess and communicate issues and risk within reasonable timescales.
• Have a keen eye for quality, identifying areas that could be improved, ensuring the game is meeting the highest standards.
• Mentor and support colleagues in both technical and personal development.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• At least 5 years in the games industry as a Game Designer.
• At least 3 years being responsible for economy systems and economy-based designs on console/pc.
• Shipped at least one game, where you were heavily involved in economy design and gameplay features, preferably console or PC.
• Proficient in Excel.
• Clear, concise and well written game design documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Deep understanding of game economies, mechanics and player value.
• Be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Based in the UK.
• Proficiency in using Unreal Engine 4 or 5 and the Blueprints system (nice to have).

What we offer

Healthy work-life balance:

• 23 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), that increases 1 day per year of service.
• Christmas shut down
• Holiday exchange programme
• Flexible working hours

Support for family life:

• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• Private Healthcare which includes Optical & Dental

Great office environment:

• A dog friendly studio based in Sheffield, with free snacks, fruit and drinks!
• Free parking

Health & wellbeing support:

• Company sick pay
• 2 days paid Mental Health leave per year
• Access to 24/7 doctors
• Employee Assistance Programme
• £300 wellbeing stipend every January

Learning support:

• Learning days
• Unlimited access to Udemy courses

Additional financial support:

• Technology scheme (up to £750)
• Discount Club at over 350 high street stores
• Discretionary Cost of Living Payments
• Relocation benefits
• Electric Car Vehicle Scheme
• Bonus

Connection and perks:

• Wrap parties & company paid outings
• Individual entertainment budget to cover team events

Steel City Interactive is an equal opportunity employer. We’re committed to building a diverse team and welcome all applications, considering them without regard to race, religion, belief, age, gender, gender expression, gender identity, gender reassignment, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, sex or sexual orientation.

If you’re excited about this role and believe you would add value to our team, but don’t meet every single requirement, we would still like to hear from you – please let us know about the value you would bring in your application.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

Please be aware that all applications for roles submitted through our website will be managed by our external recruitment partner, Amiqus. While they will handle the processing and management of your application, your data will remain securely stored within our Applicant Tracking System (ATS). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information. By submitting your CV through our website, you give your permission for your application to be managed by Amiqus and to be contacted by them on SCI’s behalf.