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Lead Level Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

Ontario, Canada (On-site)

Lead Level Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

29 Minutes ago • 8 Years + • Level Design

About the job

7 skills required for this role

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unreal-blueprint

level-design

multiplayer

unreal

user-research

critical-thinking

talent-acquisition

Job Description

Lead Level Designer at Sledgehammer Games Toronto will develop, implement, and tune player-first experiences for AAA single-player games. Responsibilities include leading level design for single-player content, mentoring the design team, collaborating with stakeholders across studios, and contributing to team recruitment. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of experience in level design for AAA titles, strong communication skills, and a passion for single-player gaming. They will work with proprietary engines (Unreal) and tools, participate in playtests, and provide estimates and schedules for the design team. The role requires a strong understanding of geometry building, flow, layout, and modern level design trends. Success in this role demands an egoless attitude, ability to offer constructive criticism and work iteratively.

Must have:

8+ years AAA level design experience
Experience with Unreal Engine
Strong communication and leadership skills
Lead design experience on shipped titles
Geometry building, flow and layout expertise

Good to have:

Unreal Blueprint experience
Experience with multiple internal/external partners
Experience working on established franchises

Job Title:

Lead Level Designer - Sledgehammer Games Toronto

Requisition ID:

R023736

Job Description:

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 Level 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 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:

Your Mission

Your mission is to develop, implement and tune player-first experiences that will be enjoyed by millions of gamers across the globe. You must thrive in a challenging and often ambiguous environment. An agile and flexible mindset is also necessary since this position must deal with a wide variety of internal and external partners. Excellent and persuasive communication skills are a must.

Act as the level design leader for Single Player content made by Sledgehammer Games.
Lead by example in the hands-on creation of content as part of the team’s output.
Work with stakeholders across other Activision studios to ensure content developed fits with creative pillars.
Partner with the recruitment team to identify key hires, taking an active role in building the core team.
Interpret high-level vision into clear guidance for the team, holding regular reviews and providing iterative feedback to meet the required quality bar.
Mentor and lead the level design team, taking an active interest in their development.
Work with user research during playtests to identify iterative improvements and changes.
Rally the team and create visible, wide-spread support for direction.
Communicate progress and resolution of issues with the ability to set guidelines for peers and support teams.
Represent the team’s work at global SHG all-hands meetings when required.
Build effective working relationships with key creative and production partners across SHG, helping to ensure consistency of output from the studio.
Over time, become a key creative leader at the studio with a highly visible presence at team all-hands and other studio events, visiting other studios when required.
Work with production teams to provide estimates and schedules for the Design team.
Learn, understand, and improve the tools and workflow for the team.

Minimum Requirements

8+ years of industry experience working in the field of systems design
8+ years of industry experience working in the field of level design on AAA titles.
Expansive knowledge of game design with appreciation and understanding for the other disciplines.
Ability to pitch concepts clearly and concisely, and which demonstrate critical thinking.
Experience working with proprietary engines and toolsets including Unreal.
Strong understanding of geometry building, flow, and layout.
Solid understanding of level design with ability to clearly discuss modern trends.
Strong problem-solving skills.
Passion and enthusiasm for Single Player gaming with a broad range of game experience.
An egoless attitude that encourages feedback and constructive critique, and enjoys working in a collaborative, iterative, and agile process.
An analytical approach and the ability to break down complex problems into consumable and relevant pieces for others.
Experience taking major AAA console and PC games from concept to completion.
Outstanding verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills.
Open to working in / relocating to Toronto

Extra Points

2+ years of experience as a lead level designer, with at least one shipped title in this position.
Experience working on projects involving multiple internal and external partners, and with established franchises where close collaboration with publishing owners is required.
Unreal blueprint experience.

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.

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About The Company

Activision

171 Active Jobs

Founded in 1979, Activision continues to disrupt the world of entertainment with its extensive roster of epic blockbuster games -- Pitfall®, Tony Hawk®, Guitar Hero®, Crash Bandicoot™, Skylanders™, Bungie’s Destiny and Call of Duty.®

As the leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products on consoles, mobile and PC, our “press start” is simple: delight players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

Activision is headquartered in Santa Monica, and publishes globally in markets including U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong and the region of Taiwan.

At Activision, we strive to connect and engage our global player community through entertainment. Our success comes from the passionate, talented and diverse team of people behind our world-class franchises. Ensuring Activision is an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive will help us deliver a new era of epic entertainment for our players.