Blackbird Interactive is looking for a Lead Designer to spearhead a design team responsible for all game mechanics and all campaign content on a massive scale AAA game.
Do you love working with a team of talented designers, artists and programmers to create ambitious features or level experiences? Do you like working with producers to set goals to realize a game design vision? Do you want to lead the game design on a large scale title? If so, this role could be for you!
Note: There are several opportunities at this experience level at Blackbird.
Responsibilities
- To conceive, prototype, implement, iterate and ultimately be responsible for core game features, level or campaign content, UX and UI, and Player experience - particularly around game systems
- Staff, work with, mentor and discipline a design department responsible for all game features as well as singleplayer and co-op campaign content of the game
- Request and prioritize features for the design team ranging from small scale things such as scripting functions to large scale features like camera controls, save game or UI flow
- Collaborate with artists and audio designers on ways to communicate and enhance the aesthetic implementation of the features or levels you manage and oversee
- Work with producers and team leadership to assess requirements and provide effort estimates and updates to help ensure the team reaches its goals successfully
- Distribute, tune and teach mechanics over the life of the game
- Communicate intention, vision and design to a wide range of other disciplines
- Work tightly with a game director above you, and individual seniors or area leaders below you (EG Lead gameplay designer or lead campaign designer, etc.)
- Work with our publisher or other partners to field feedback and shape the overall game experience
Requirements
- 5+ years of game design or level design - including a Lead or Senior role credit on a shipped product
- Self direction and a proven ability to thrive in a highly dynamic and technical environment
- Strong inter-disciplinary collaboration skills, including verbal and written skills
- Able to develop and champion a strong design vision from concept to completion
- Experience in HD console game and/or high-end PC development
- Understand that great execution of an idea is as important as the idea itself
- Strong ability to analyze and adapt design based on feedback
- Strong appetite for iteration and the follow-up with the team and producers on those iterations
- Strong game vocabulary with the latest AAA and indie experiences on PC, console and select mobile titles that can be referenced to the development team. However, it should be complemented with...
- Strong appetite to cross into new game experiences - which have never been realized before in software.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with and understanding of scripting languages and tools
Pluses
- Multiple shipped products, preferably at least one strategy type game
- Strong background in strategy games preferred
- Experience developing or playing games featuring procedurally generated content
- An innovators heart, keen to create brand new things that haven't been done before
- A love of building high quality features or level/content experiences
- A love of managing and mentoring other designers
- Experience playing classic and modern RTS/strategy titles such as Starcraft, Company of Heroes, Command and Conquer, Dawn of War and Homeworld as well as Strategy titles like Civilization, XCom, Crusader Kings, etc.
- Demonstrated passion for entertainment products / media (i.e. comics, movies, novels, etc.)
- Unity 3D Experience
- Knowledge of narrative and cinematic storytelling theory
- Experience in the pre-production stage of a large scale shipped project
At Blackbird, we're all about being true to our roots. We started small in our CEO's garage, and even though we're expanding, our desire is to stick to that foundation of creativity, community, and collaboration. Our team has proved that great ideas can come from any position in any discipline, so it's important to us to make sure every voice is heard.
Work/life balance is extremely important to us, and we've demonstrated that over the years by severely limiting over-time requirements. We want people to be happy about coming to work every day, and to that end we offer lots of opportunities for growth and development; whether it's lunch and learns, team events, or our generous vacation days, paid holiday closure and flexible schedules. We also try to provide every opportunity possible for our employees to spearhead R&D initiatives through our BlackOps program. In short, don't expect to feel like a cog in a machine working for BBI.
Due to COVID-19, applicants must be eligible to work in Canada, or currently in Canada on a work permit/visa. With the exception of specifically on-site roles, all roles will commence as a work-from-home arrangement. This arrangement will be revisited as COVID-19 government regulations are eased.
Please send a cover letter with your resume and application. If applying for an artistic role, please provide a link to your portfolio and/or demo reel.
If you are interested in the role, please apply even if your experience and skills donβt perfectly match our ideal credentials. We are committed to diversity and especially encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer we encourage applications from all qualified individuals. BBI does not discriminate against applicants based on genders, races, national and ethnic origins, religions, ages, sexual orientation, marital and family status, and/or mental or physical disabilities.