Senior Systems Designer

3 Months ago • 5 Years + • Systems Design • $89,640 PA - $186,840 PA

Job Summary

Job Description

As a Senior Systems Designer at Lightspeed LA, you'll be responsible for designing and implementing gameplay features, systems, and mechanics for a AAA open-world game. This includes brainstorming, prototyping, and fine-tuning rewarding and user-friendly systems. You'll collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams (Tech, Design, UX, Art) to ensure engaging gameplay aligning with the game's overall vision. You'll also develop in-game prototypes, evaluate performance, adapt to technical constraints, and iterate on designs throughout production. The role requires strong communication, critical thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively in a creative environment. Experience shipping at least one title is crucial.
Must have:
  • 5+ years experience as gameplay/systems designer
  • AAA open-world game design experience
  • Strong communication & collaboration skills
  • Prototyping, implementation & system tuning
  • Adaptability to technical constraints
Good to have:
  • Scripting languages (e.g., Unreal, Unity)
  • UI/UX design, ambient systems, AI systems
  • Progression, vehicle, itemization, economy expertise
  • Mentoring & leading design teams
  • Shipped AAA game from inception to finish
Perks:
  • Free daily lunch
  • Beverages, snacks, fresh fruit
  • 401k match
  • Cell phone reimbursement
  • Financial wellness sessions
  • Flexible spending account
  • Team building events
  • Parental leave
  • Company-paid health insurance
  • Life & disability insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Wellness training
  • Travel insurance
  • Preventive care

Job Details

About the Hiring Team

Welcome to Lightspeed LA, the first U.S.-based, AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA is focused on building open-world games that emphasize an ambitious living world, sophisticated player-driven gameplay, and mature, thoughtful storytelling. We are developing the first in a series of genre-defining titles.

Why join Lightspeed LA?

For us, it's not only about the exciting, new AAA open world game we're developing but also about team values and studio culture. We foster an open and transparent environment where everyone feels comfortable providing constructive feedback about all aspects of our games.

● We encourage the showing of work that's still in progress.
● We don't attack or question unfinished work, we celebrate its promise.
● We have a No Blame Culture where we blame the problem, not the person.

This is a safe place to fail, and we don't view failure as a negative, but as the natural result of pushing boundaries and trying new things. We create together. We face Challenges Together. We succeed together.

What the Role Entails

  • Be responsible for designing and creating gameplay features, systems, and mechanics for a AAA open world game

  • Brainstorm, prototype, implement, and fine tune deep game systems that are rewarding, easy to understand, and easy to use

  • Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to create memorable and engaging gameplay that aligns with the creative and holistic direction of the game

Who We Look For

  • 5+ years of experience as a gameplay or systems designer

  • Communicate design functionality and vision through presentations, prototyping, and design documentation

  • Take a holistic approach to design rules and experiences with input and consideration from a multi-faceted team of contributors, including Tech, Design, UX, Art, etc.

  • Help develop in-game prototypes of gameplay systems and features and evaluate their performance

  • The ability and desire to work in an extremely creative and collaborative environment

  • Adapt to technical and production constraints, and be willing to iterate on your designs as often as needed throughout production

  • Critical thinking, open-mindedness, resourcefulness, and flexibility

  • Be an integral part of realizing solutions to fix bugs and problems within the implemented systems

  • Follow up on features pre and post launch to help improve, add, or remove components

  • Combine passion, skill, and expertise to continually raise the design bar

  • Experience designing gameplay features, mechanics and/or systems on at least one shipped title

Preferred Qualifications

  • Strong knowledge of scripting languages

  • Analytical skills for evaluating systems and interpreting player behavior

  • Expertise in one or more of the following areas: user interface design, ambient systems, camera systems, progression systems, vehicle systems, AI systems, itemization, economy, or weapons

  • Possess an extensive knowledge of competing products and a deep understanding of the complex interdependencies of open world game systems

  • Experience with modern game engines and visual scripting (Unreal, Unity, etc.)

  • A passion for mentoring designers and leading by example

  • Shipped at least one AAA game from inception to finish

Why Join Us?

Perks and Benefits:

Just some of the benefits of working with us here at our newly built studio in Irvine, CA.

● Free daily lunch
● Beverages, fresh fruit, and snacks
● 401k with employer match
● Monthly Cell phone bill reimbursement
● Financial wellness sessions
● Flexible spending account
● Team building and company outings
● Parental leave for new parents
● Company paid health insurance
● Life and disability insurance
● Employee assistance program
● Wellness training
● Travel insurance
● Preventive care

If the above sounds like you, or if you'd like to know more about the role, we'd love to hear from you to see if we might be a good fit for each other! Contact us for more information about this exciting opportunity.

Location State(s)

California

The base pay range for this position in the state(s) above is $89,640.0 to $186,840.0 per year. Actual pay is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A sign on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units may be provided as part of the compensation package, as well as other medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the specific position offered.

Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.

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