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Lead Systems Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

Ontario, Canada (On-site)

Lead Systems Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

1 Month ago • 8 Years + • Systems Design

About the job

4 skills required for this role

Test your skills to join the top 1% applicants for this job

multiplayer

unreal

user-research

critical-thinking

Job Description

Sledgehammer Games in Toronto seeks a Lead Systems Designer to develop, implement, and tune player experiences for globally released games. This role involves collaboration with teams across multiple studio locations, translating high-level vision into clear team guidance. Responsibilities include managing a design team, improving workflows, creating impactful game systems, utilizing user research for iterative improvements, and fostering strong working relationships across the studio. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of systems design experience, including 2+ years in game design and scripting/coding, familiarity with proprietary engines (Unreal), and excellent communication skills.

Must have:

8+ years systems design experience
2+ years game design experience
2+ years scripting/coding experience
Experience with Unreal Engine
Excellent communication skills
AAA title shipping experience

Good to have:

Strong understanding of FPS gameplay
Experience with major AAA console/PC game development
Exceptional communication skills

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Job Title:

Lead Systems Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

Requisition ID:

R023736

Job Description:

Platform

Sledgehammer Games is a leading developer in the video game industry, best known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise. Since its founding in 2009, the studio has delivered iconic titles like "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare," "Call of Duty: WWII," and most recently, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.” We combine cutting-edge technology with creative vision to produce games that resonate with players worldwide. With a focus on creating high-quality multiplayer experiences and captivating single-player campaigns, we continue to shape the future of first-person shooters.

We are looking for a talented developer to join us as a Lead Systems Designer within our Toronto team. In this role you will partner closely with our teams at our other studio locations in the United States and Australia in the creation of epic content for some of the biggest games in the world. If you're ready to be part of a dynamic and collaborative environment where your skills can make a real impact, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us.

Sledgehammer Games is wholly owned by Activision. To learn more about our studio, please visit us at www.sledgehammergames.com or search for Sledgehammer Games on your favorite social media platform. Want to hear what it’s like at the studio directly from current employees? Check out our #LifeatSHG developer profiles: https://youtu.be/12DUBszg-w4

Your Mission

Your mission is to develop, implement and tune player-first experiences that will be enjoyed by millions of gamers across the globe. You must thrive in a challenging and often ambiguous environment. An agile and flexible mindset is also necessary since this position must deal with a wide variety of internal and external partners. Excellent and persuasive communication skills are a must.

Interpret high-level vision into clear guidance for the team, holding regular reviews and providing iterative feedback to meet the required quality bar.

Manage a team of designers and help to better the processes and workflows for systems design.

Strive for deep systems design that focuses on elevating the gameplay experience with fewer, more impactful systems.

Work with user research during playtests to identify iterative improvements and changes.

Build effective working relationships with key creative and production collaborators across SHG, helping to ensure consistency of output from the studio.
Open to working in / relocating to Toronto

Minimum Requirements

8+ years of industry experience working in the field of systems design
2+ years of experience designing games
2+ years of scripting/coding experiences
Expansive knowledge of game design with appreciation and understanding for the other fields.
Experience working with proprietary engines and toolsets including Unreal.
Ability to pitch concepts clearly and concisely, and which demonstrate critical thinking.
An analytical approach and the ability to break down complex problems into consumable and relevant pieces for others.
Passion for games and fun interactive gameplay
Open to working in / relocating to Toronto

Extra Points

Previous experience working on and shipping a AAA title as a systems/game designer
Experience taking major AAA console and PC games from concept to completion.
Strong understanding of First-Person gameplay experiences including gameplay mechanics, feel, and feedback.
Hunger for gaming with a broad range of game experience.
Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! At Activision Blizzard, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment. We’re driven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’re not just looking back at our decades-long legacy; we’re forging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’re in the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater — this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

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About The Company

Activision

156 Active Jobs

Founded in 1979, Activision continues to disrupt the world of entertainment with its extensive roster of epic blockbuster games -- Pitfall®, Tony Hawk®, Guitar Hero®, Crash Bandicoot™, Skylanders™, Bungie’s Destiny and Call of Duty.®

As the leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products on consoles, mobile and PC, our “press start” is simple: delight players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

Activision is headquartered in Santa Monica, and publishes globally in markets including U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong and the region of Taiwan.

At Activision, we strive to connect and engage our global player community through entertainment. Our success comes from the passionate, talented and diverse team of people behind our world-class franchises. Ensuring Activision is an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive will help us deliver a new era of epic entertainment for our players.