Game Director (PAYDAY 3)

This is a key leadership role to support our long-term commitment to and focus on the project and franchise. You will be responsible for the overall design direction of the project; ensuring that our gameplay, levels, systems, story, and other design elements stay true to the franchise and align with the strategic direction and product goals of PAYDAY 3's live service. You will work collaboratively with all other crafts to ensure alignment and deliver an excellent player experience. This requires both high-level creative leadership and deep production knowledge across multiple disciplines.So, do you have a broad and deep knowledge of multiple areas of Game Design, and the desire to steer the ship of PAYDAY 3? If so, we want to hear from you!

What you'll be doing

• 🫀 Own the design direction: You'll be responsible for leading our Game Design and ensuring that the core gameplay, systems, narrative tone and design identity stay true to the PAYDAY franchise and achieve the product vision set by our Product Director.
• 🎮 Define the player experience: You'll set the tone for what the player feels, sees, and does.
• 📞 Make the big calls: You'll make key decisions about the gameplay and systems that shape the project.
• 🤝 Keep everyone aligned: You'll work closely with all other teams across the company to ensure that we're all pulling in the same direction toward our product goals.
• 🏃 Keep things running smoothly: You'll help us build smart, scalable and sustainable practices to keep the project on track with proactive risk mitigation.
• 🫂 Studio-wide collaboration: You'll collaborate across the studio, acting as a thought leader whilst mentoring senior staff to help foster a healthy, thriving team culture.
• 📢 Be a spokesperson: You'll represent the game and the studio both internally and externally to partners, the press, and other stakeholders.

What you'll bring to the table:

• Deep game design chops: You have expert-level knowledge across multiple areas of game design, consistently setting benchmarks for quality and consistency, with a proven track record of shaping and delivering excellence across multiple projects.
• Co-op fun: You have experience developing online multiplayer live service games.
• A love for innovation: You’re able to define and evolve methodologies, workflows, and long-term best practices with cross-functional impact.
• Strategic thinking: You can navigate deeply complex challenges, aligning creative, technical, and business needs.
• Collaboration skills: You're a natural at bringing people together and can influence functional and organisational structures, driving alignment through cross-team collaboration.
• Confidence to speak up: Ability to represent your craft and project with clarity and credibility in both internal and external forums.
• A passion for mentoring: You're dedicated to helping others learn, grow, and become the best version of themselves.

Bonus points if you have experience with:

• FPS games: You have experience developing first-person shooters.
• Unreal Engine: You have experience either hands-on, or leading teams and projects within Unreal Engine 4 and/or 5.

Interview Process:

• 30-minute Google Meet call with a member of our Talent Acquisition team.
• 1-hour interview with our Head of Design and the General Manager of PAYDAY.
• 1-hour interview with Project Baxter’s Game Director and a Production Manager.

Perks of the Job

We know that great work comes from happy people, so we've levelled up our benefits package:

• Flexible hours: Our core hours of 09:30 AM to 15:30 PM CET helps you to structure your day that is best and most productive for your lifestyle and for your team.
• Time off: You'll get 30 vacation days, plus an extra 5 days to use as you please, and even a paid moving day. That's all on top of public holidays!
• Pension: We offer a generous occupational pension plan through Nordnet.
• Insurances: We've got you covered with comprehensive private healthcare, life, and accident insurance.
• Wellness allowance: We offer a 5000 SEK annual wellness allowance to put towards whatever helps you feel your best; whether that’s a gym membership, yoga classes, swimming lessons, or whatever else you do for you!
• Bike to work: Enjoy tax-free bike leasing through Lease a Bike.
• SL card: 12 month travelcard can be bought through us, and paid monthly through salary.
• Relax and recharge: We offer free monthly in-office massage sessions to help you unwind and recharge.
• Fun and games: We're a team that loves to hang out; whether that’s Monday breakfasts, frequent fika, or our weekly Dungeons & Dragons club.
• A great new office: Our new digs are right in the heart of Stockholm, surrounded by great restaurants, gyms, and awesome spots for Friday after-work drinks.

Ready to Join the Crew?

If this all sounds good to you, then we can't wait to hear from you! Send us your CV and a cover letter in English. We review applications continuously, so the sooner you apply, the better.

P.S. A heads-up for our friends in the agency world: we're handling this one ourselves, so please don't send us any unsolicited CVs to our TA team or managers.

What more do we offer? We're glad you asked!

• Flexible working hours, with core hours of 09:30-15:30 CET, to allow you to structure your day in a way that best suits you;
• 30 paid vacation days per year, plus an extra 5 paid days off, plus 1 paid moving day - all on top of public holidays, of course!;
• A generous occupational pension via Nordnet, typically ~50% above the collective agreement standard;
• Private healthcare, life, and accident insurance;
• A wellness allowance of 5000 SEK per year towards your wellness; whether that's a gym membership, tennis lessons, yoga classes, or whatever else you do for you!;
• Bike leasing through Lease a Bike, with the cost deduced tax free from your gross salary;
• In office massage sessions monthly, free for all employees;
• A variety of fun events in office, from regular breakfasts and fika sessions, to our weekly DnD club;
• And let's not forget our new office itself - in the centre of Stockholm near a variety of excellent restaurants, gyms, and bars for those Friday after-works!

One Team. A Multitude of Skills.

Do you recognise yourself in the following description? If so you could be one of us!

Smarter Together – We utilise our diverse set of experiences, competences, and backgrounds to achieve the best results.

Accountability – We are committed to delivering excellence, including holding ourselves and others accountable. We get sh*t done.

Enable Creativity – We use fun, passion and play to explore new ideas and possibilities.

Learn and Develop – When we fail we do it quick and make sure to learn from it. Asking for and giving feedback is part of our daily routine.