Principal Game Designer (AI)
Job Summary
Job Description
Sumo Sheffield, founded in 2003, is seeking a Principal Game Designer (AI) to join their AAA third-person action RPG team. The role involves crafting responsive game worlds with compelling NPCs and challenging enemies. You will focus on enemy design and AI behavior systems to create meaningful player choices and dynamic encounters. Responsibilities include designing systemic, responsive AI, creating varied combat encounters, aligning AI with world-building, and mentoring other designers. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in AI design for action or RPG titles, a deep understanding of AI systems, proficiency in creating distinct enemy types, and experience collaborating with cross-functional teams. Familiarity with UE4/UE5 and shipped AAA titles is required. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package including discretionary bonuses, flexible working, private healthcare, and a commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Must have:
- Proven experience designing AI and enemies for action/RPG titles
- Deep understanding of AI systems for tactical/strategic enemy behaviors
- Ability to design distinct enemy types with unique roles
- Proficiency in creating diverse unit combinations
- Solid grasp of encounter pacing and gameplay rhythm
- Experience collaborating with animation, level design, and engineering
- Excellent communication and clear design documentation skills
- Ability to prototype and adjust behaviors using Blueprint or similar
- Passion for player choice and systemic design
Good to have:
- Shipped one or more AAA titles using UE4/UE5 or similar engine
- Experience balancing difficulty and behavior for various players
- Strong grasp of combat pacing, player feedback, and flow
- Familiarity working with licensed IP
- Collaborative mindset and ownership over gameplay systems
Perks:
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Pension
- Referral rewards
- Flexible benefits
- Savings on tech, bikes, and more
- Flexible working
- Generous holidays
- Birthday & duvet days
- Christmas break
- Sabbaticals
- Private healthcare
- Dental care
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Life cover
- Wellness support
- Learning days
- Volunteer time
- Structured growth
- Regular reviews
- Studio socials & events
- Gaming subscription
4 skills required
Job Details
About Sumo Digital, Sheffield
Founded in 2003, Sumo Sheffield was the first of the Sumo Digital studios. Firmly established as the premium development partner of leading publishers, we are trusted to deliver high quality games associated with some of the most iconic and valued properties in the industry. We are also generating innovative new IP! With a highly skilled body of over 300 developers we work across all platforms, on a selection of AAA games covering multiple genres including Sports, FPS, and platform adventure.
Day in the life of a Principal Game Designer (AI)
We are looking for a Principal Game Designer (AI) to join our team and help craft a rich, responsive world filled with compelling NPCs and challenging enemies. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an ambitious AAA third-person action RPG based on a globally beloved IP. As a master of your craft, you’ll focus on enemy design and AI behaviour systems that support meaningful player choice and create dynamic, engaging encounters across a variety of gameplay scenarios.
As a Principal AI Designer, you will design and iterate on enemy archetypes and AI behaviour to ensure that combat feels fluid, reactive, and alive. You will work closely with code, animation, and art teams to help implement responsive, believable AI characters. Your primary focus will be documentation and cross-discipline collaboration, supported by hands-on work using tools such as Blueprint for prototyping and fine-tuning behaviour and balance after implementation.
Within this role you will:
• Design AI that is systemic, responsive, and creates meaningful player challenges.
• Create combat encounters that support variety, player choice, and tactical decisions.
• Define gameplay states that support player strategy and flexible AI behaviour.
• Work with animation, code, and art to bring responsive AI characters to life.
• Align AI design with world-building, story, and player experience goals.
• Build combat scenarios that scale in challenge and support different playstyles.
• Own AI systems from concept to delivery with clear vision and accountability.
• Tune AI behaviours post-implementation for balance and player satisfaction.
• Mentor designers and help raise the overall quality of design across the team.
What do you need to do this job:
• Proven experience designing AI and enemies for first/third-person action or RPG titles.
• Deep understanding of AI systems that create believable tactical/strategic enemy behaviours.
• Ability to design distinct enemy types with unique, compatible roles and behaviour sets.
• Proficiency in creating diverse unit combinations, providing gameplay variety and depth.
• Solid grasp of encounter pacing and second-to-second gameplay rhythm.
• Experience collaborating with animation, level design, and engineering.
• Excellent communication and clear, concise design documentation skills.
• Ability to prototype and adjust behaviours using Blueprint or similar tools.
• Passion for player choice, systemic design, and emergent gameplay.
You will also need to demonstrate that you have:
• Shipped one or more AAA titles using UE4/UE5 or a similar engine.
• Experience balancing difficulty and behaviour across a wide range of players.
• Strong grasp of combat pacing, player feedback, and moment-to-moment flow.
• Familiarity working with licensed IP and aligning with tone and canon.
• A collaborative mindset and strong ownership over gameplay systems.
What’s in it for you?
At Sumo, you’re in control of your benefits, tailored to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and growth.
• Discretionary bonus scheme, pension, referral rewards, flexible benefits*, and savings on tech, bikes, and more.
• Flexible working, generous holidays, birthday & duvet days, Christmas break, and sabbaticals.
• Private healthcare*, dental*, EAP, life cover, and wellness support.
• Learning days, volunteer time, structured growth, and regular reviews.
• Studio socials & events and a gaming subscription.
*Optional via our flexible benefits platform.
Inclusion and Belonging at Sumo Digital
At Sumo Digital, we believe that when people feel supported, valued, and empowered, they create their best work and that’s what drives our success.
We’re committed to building a sustainable, people-first business where everyone can thrive. Our focus is on nurturing talent, fostering creativity, and creating a healthy, inclusive, and enriching environment where everyone feels they truly belong.
PRISM, our employee-led diversity group, champions inclusion, equity, and wellbeing across all our studios. It plays a vital role in shaping a culture where every voice is heard, every background is respected, and every team member feels safe, welcome, and represented.
We’re proud to support meaningful causes through our charitable and community initiatives-reflecting the passions and values of our people, partners, and players.
We’re actively working to improve diversity in our recruitment and career development processes, and we encourage individuals from underrepresented and marginalised communities to explore careers at Sumo Digital.
Together, we’re building a studio where everyone can grow, contribute, and feel proud to be part of something special.
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