Senior Game Designer - The Sims

The Sims studio at Electronic Arts is seeking a Senior Game Designer to join a multidisciplinary team focused on the future of The Sims. This individual contributor role involves creating prototypes and designs for gameplay content, mechanics, and systems, writing detailed documentation, and implementing interactive elements. The ideal candidate will collaborate with various teams, use player-centered design processes, and mentor junior designers, contributing to inspiring creative play for millions of players worldwide.

Must Have

• Create gameplay prototypes and designs for content, mechanics, and systems.
• Write clear, detailed documentation for functionality and logic.
• Implement and tune interactive objects and systems in-engine.
• Collaborate effectively with art, engineering, and QA teams.
• Partner with producers for feature scoping and task tracking.
• Utilize player-centered and data-informed design processes.
• Troubleshoot in-engine issues, ensuring quality player experience.
• Mentor and guide junior designers based on expertise.
• Possess 5+ years of professional experience with a shipped AAA title.
• Experience in builders, simulation, sandbox, or life-sim games.
• Experience with live service or expansion content.
• Proficiency in logic, scripting, and in-engine implementation (Unreal, XML, Blueprints).
• Proficient in version control (Perforce, Git), task tracking (Jira), and data visualization.
• Experience with player-driven storytelling and diverse playstyles.
• Comfortable designing content around identity, relationships, and social dynamics.

Good to Have

• Experience working within Agile development.

Perks & Benefits

• Paid time off and vacation
• Sick leave
• Paid company holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement savings plan (401k/retirement plan)
• Potential for bonus and equity
• Mental well-being support
• Complimentary games

General Information

Locations: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

• Location: Redwood City
• Country: United States of America

Role ID

211852

Worker Type

Regular Employee

Studio/Department

Maxis

Work Model

Hybrid

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

Welcome to The Sims, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, & storytellers. Our drive is to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. As the developer of The Sims, we create games and experiences for millions of people around the world and are always looking for new ways to inspire our players. The Sims is a place where you can do what you love and help others grow while doing it; a place where your unique voice can be heard and seen. We put creativity and inclusivity at the core of our work and don't settle for seeing the world only as it is, but strive to build a world as it could be.

Location: Vancouver or Redwood City, hybrid in studio three days a week.

This is an individual contributor senior role reporting to a Development Director. You will be part of a multidiscipline team working on the future of The Sims.

Responsibilities:

• Create prototypes and designs for gameplay content, mechanics, and systems
• Write clear and detailed documentation that communicates functionality, logic, tuning, and player outcomes
• Implement and tune interactive objects, mechanics, and systems, or mechanics that power story-driven simulation and gameplay
• Collaborate with designers, art, engineering, and QA to ensure alignment and feasibility
• Partner with producers and project managers to scope features and track tasks
• Use player-centered and data-informed design processes through quantitative and qualitative player insights
• Troubleshoot in-engine, taking ownership over quality and player experience
• Mentor junior designers, offering feedback and guidance based on expertise

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of professional experience with one shipped AAA title
• Experience in builders, simulation, sandbox, or life-sim games
• Experience with expansion content or live service development
• Experience with logic, scripting, and in-engine implementation using in engine, esp. with proprietary tools (e.g., Unreal, XML, Blueprints)
• Proficient in version control (e.g. Perforce, Git) task tracking (e.g. Jira), and data visualization tools (e.g. Looker or Tableau)
• Experience with player-driven storytelling and systems supporting different playstyles
• Comfort designing content around themes like identity, relationships, and social dynamics
• Bonus - Experience working within Agile development

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).

PAY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$111,600 - $152,800 CAD
• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$124,100 - $182,800 USD

In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

LinkedInID

1449