Mobile Game Designer - Monetization

Sawhorse Productions is a Los Angeles based, Award winning full-service creative studio turning ideas into unforgettable experiences through captivating branded content, viral social moments, and groundbreaking interactive experiences. We partner with industry-leading brands, artists, and studios such as Walmart, Google, NBCUniversal, Fanatics, Toyota, Pepsi and Alo to deliver industry-leading, innovative multi-platform content. At Sawhorse, we believe in fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and relentless excellence while shaping the future of digital storytelling.

Our releases include: [Roblox, Fortnite, Rec Room, ZEPETO]

• Roblox: Walmart Discovered - 2024 ADDY Winner
• Roblox: Fenty - 2024 Webby winner
• Roblox: Alo Sanctuary
• Roblox: Beetlejuice Escape the Afterlife
• Roblox: Lamborghini Lanzador Lab - 2024 Telly Winner
• Roblox: Elton John’s 'Beyond The Yellow Brick Road'
• Roblox: Olivia Rodrigo 
• Roblox: Fashion Klossette
• Gen AI applet: Coca - Cola Cappy
• And numerous digital fashion releases on UGC Gaming platforms - Sawhorse Productions

Sawhorse Productions is seeking a Mobile Game Designer with a specialization in monetization systems to join our growing gaming team. This role is central to creating gameplay systems and economies that drive both player engagement and revenue growth.

You will design core loops, progression systems, gacha mechanics, battle passes, cosmetic economies, and live events — all optimized through a player-first lens. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to concept, build, and refine mobile experiences that are both deeply engaging and financially successful.This role demands strong design instincts, mastery of live service monetization, and a strategic mindset informed by player behavior and analytics.

This is a freelance role to start (6 months), with potential for longer-term or full-time opportunities.

• Core Gameplay and Systems Design: Create compelling gameplay loops and progression systems that align tightly with monetization strategies.
• Monetization Systems Development: Design, build, and tune monetization features including gacha mechanics, IAP stores, currencies, season passes, and limited-time offers.
• Economy Balancing: Establish in-game economies that maintain a healthy balance between free-to-play and pay-to-win dynamics, maximizing LTV without damaging player experience.
• Live Ops Design: Architect and execute live service strategies including events, sales, content updates, and retention-driving campaigns.
• Data-Driven Optimization: Work closely with analytics teams to evaluate the performance of monetization systems, optimize funnels, and inform future designs through player data and KPIs.
• Documentation and Communication: Create clear, actionable design documentation, including flowcharts, economy spreadsheets, user flows, and feature specs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product managers, engineers, artists, and marketing teams to ensure monetization systems integrate seamlessly across the entire player experience.
• Player Behavior Analysis: Apply deep understanding of player motivation, engagement triggers, and behavioral economics to shape monetization designs that feel rewarding and ethical.
• Market Research: Stay current on mobile monetization trends, top-grossing games, and emerging strategies across genres.
• Testing and Iteration: Develop hypotheses, conduct A/B tests, and iterate quickly based on results to continually refine monetization and engagement strategies.

Qualifications

A strong candidate for this position should have the following qualities:

• Mobile Gaming Expertise: 4+ years of professional experience in mobile game design with a focus on F2P monetization.
• Monetization Mastery: Extensive knowledge of monetization design strategies, including gacha systems, cosmetic economies, dual-currency systems, and battle pass structures.
• Live Service Experience: Experience designing, operating, and optimizing live events and ongoing content updates in live mobile games.
• Economy Design Skills: Strong ability to build and manage virtual economies, balancing currency sinks and sources to sustain engagement over time.
• Analytical Mindset: Proficiency with player data analysis, KPI interpretation, and A/B testing methodologies.
• Player-Centric Approach: Passion for creating player-first experiences that are monetization-positive but not exploitative.
• Documentation Skills: Strong ability to communicate design concepts clearly through design docs, flowcharts, wireframes, and spreadsheets.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Comfortable working with marketing, product, engineering, and creative teams to deliver cohesive player experiences.
• Knowledge of Top-Grossing Games: Deep familiarity with the monetization strategies used by leading mobile titles across various genres.
• Self-Starter Mentality: Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Nice to Have's

• Gacha System Expertise: Extensive experience designing and optimizing gacha systems and probability-based economies.
• Mobile RPG: Background in mobile RPGs, collection games, or other gacha-driven mobile genres.
• Cross-Platform Knowledge: Familiarity with adapting mobile monetization systems for web or console UGC experiences.
• A/B Testing Platform Experience: Hands-on experience using A/B testing platforms to validate design and monetization hypotheses.

$70 – $90 per hour (Equivalent to full time salary of $145,000 - $185,000)