Principal AI Designer

4 Months ago • All levels • Combat Design

About the job

Job Description

Experienced AI Designer needed to create engaging AI systems and behaviors for AAA video games. Must have expertise in Unreal Engine, game design principles, and creating balanced systems.
Must have:
  • Unreal Engine
  • Game Design
  • AI Systems
  • Gameplay Loops
Good to have:
  • Combat AI
  • Non-Combat AI
  • Player Verbs
  • Cross-Discipline
Perks:
  • Diverse Team
  • Collaborative Work
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Who We Are

Hangar 13 is an internal 2K development studio that creates influential AAA video game experiences across all major platforms. The studio is based in four locations around the world: Brighton (UK), Brno & Prague (Czech Republic) and across the US, working collaboratively as one team. Each of our locations provides the opportunity to work with some of the most talented developers in the industry, on creatively challenging and exciting projects, in a diverse and welcoming environment.

Our focus is on making the highest quality games with sustainable, healthy development plans; to tell stories that engage players through worlds and experiences that keep them hooked from start to finish.

We strive to be a studio where our team members know they can make a difference and grow professionally alongside creating games they are proud of.

 

What We Need

Hangar 13 is in search of an experienced and highly skilled AI Designer who has a passion for creating engaging AI Systems and Behaviours that provide great gameplay and really help sell the fantasy of the game. You enjoy analysing AI and Player behaviours and want to create novel gameplay experiences.

 

What You’ll Be Doing:

  • Ownership of some of the AI behaviours and features from prototype to shipping
  • Own the feature development for AI game design, combat and non-combat NPC’s in the game
  • Craft new archetypes that fit the vision of a Mafia game. All the way from creative and technical design prototypes to enemy behaviours and abilities
  • Evangelise core gameplay features to the rest of the team and help develop best practices for the designers to utilise in their content
  • Ensure that players can understand AI intention and plan their combat accordingly
  • Analyse, validate and incorporate feedback from the team and external user testing
  • Collaborate in cross-discipline pods to implement, tune and balance combat
  • Author and maintain design documentation

 

What We’re Looking For:

  • A deep understanding of game design principles and the role of AI in gameplay loops
  • Understanding of how AI, tactical space and player verbs combine to create unique moments
  • Experience working with Unreal Engine
  • Passion for creating complex, balanced systems and linking those to desired player experiences
  • Keeps up to date with current industry trends, features and techniques related to the execution of engaging AIs
  • Has proven ability to create fun, engaging combat or non-combat NPC’s in a previous role.
  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration is second nature, and you know how to use diverse opinions to bring the best out of your features
  • Shipped one or more AAA game titles in an AI Design role or similar
  • Ability to drive prioritisation and scheduling of work for owned feature(s)
  • Creative problem-solving skills, able to consider both the details and the bigger picture
  • Can independently understand and solve technical challenges related to your features
  • Strong documentation skills, proficiency with Wiki systems or Confluence is a plus
  • Strong collaboration skills, able to work well with team members from other subject areas and in other locations

Hangar 13  prides itself on the diversity of its team members, partners, and communities.  For this reason, we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment and hiring through compensation, benefits, discipline and termination.  

As an equal opportunity employer, we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and/or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.  Please contact us if you need to request reasonable accommodation.

SECURITY NOTICE -  We have recently been made aware of increasing occurrences of bad actors posing as company HR personnel to gain information from "potential candidates", in the form of job interviews and offers. These scams can be quite sophisticated and appear legitimate.

Please know that Hangar 13 and 2K never use instant messaging apps to contact prospective employees or to conduct interviews.

If you believe you have been a victim of such a scam, you may fill out a complaint form at https://complaint.ic3.gov/ and https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ detailing as much as possible. We are taking these matters very seriously and apologize for any inconvenience.

#LI-Hybrid

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About The Company

2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K’s portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, and HB Studios. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.


Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of our growing library of critically-acclaimed franchises such as NBA 2K, 2K PGA, Battleborn, BioShock, Borderlands, The Quarry, The Darkness, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, WWE 2K, and XCOM.


At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don’t meet every requirement for the role. If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!

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