Senior Technical Designer

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 

As a Senior Technical Designer you will be working closely with our Design team, Engineering team, and all other departments to develop systems, tools, and game content.

You’ll excel at rapidly prototyping ideas and capable of turning a design specification from paper into a high quality, shippable game system. You should be able to quickly familiarize yourself with an existing script base and be able to harness and improve on it to provide support to other designers and content creators to bring our games to life within a collaborative environment. You will bring a strong design sense and an ability to create compelling content that millions of fans are going to love.

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Use our scripting language to implement robust, performant, and fun game systems.
• Work with other designers and almost all other disciplines to collaborate daily on systems and content.
• Document systems, define best practices, and communicate technical information to the rest of the team.

Minimum Requirements 

• 4+ years’ professional experience in a Gameplay Engineering, Technical Design, or similar position
• Previous experience working on and shipping a AAA title as a systems/game designer
• Proficiency with LUA, Python, Javascript and/or other script languages
• A passion for games
• Game knowledge and an understanding of the design principles behind games
• Able to collaborate with other engineers and designers
• Ability to work well in a fluid, changing environment as creative challenges evolve
• Open to working in / relocating to Toronto

Extra Points

• B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent experience
• Expertise and passion in one or more of the following areas: AI, Animation, General Gameplay, Tools
• Experience working on networked Cooperative or Competitive Multi-player game experiences
• Understanding of 3D Game Math (e.g. vectors)
• Previously shipped AAA titles
• Experience with our map building tools (Radiant), or our game scripting language (GSC).
• Proficient in C/C++

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.