Cliffhanger Games is a newly formed Seattle Studio focusing on blockbuster action-adventure games and pioneering next-generation emergent storytelling beginning with Marvel's Black Panther. Join us to pursue your passion to build unique groundbreaking, and inclusive games that empower players to create incredible stories of heroic adventure.
As an Associate Design Director, you will play a pivotal role in this journey, operating directly under the guidance of the VP of Creative. Your primary responsibility will be to ensure the creative vision and game design are not just aligned but are brought to life in a manner that enriches the player experience across all facets of our game.
Responsibilities
Vision Support: Act as a key supporter to the VP of Creative, ensuring the game’s design and narrative systems reflect the intended creative vision. Work closely to share this vision effectively within the team and across other stakeholders.
Design Support: Assist the VP of Creative in defining and achieving the strategic design objectives of the project. Guide the conceptual application within the game to meet these objectives, ensuring the design aligns with the studio’s goals around innovation, quality and player autonomy.
Quality and Cohesion: Oversee the quality, variety, and balance of the game's narrative systems and overall player experience. Ensure the game design is cohesive, engaging, and innovative, aligning with the project’s vision and priorities.
Collaborative Development: In conjunction with the Design Leadership, define the best design methods and practices for the project. Inform and guide the design team, communicating quality and content expectations regularly to create an optimum user experience for our target players.
Cross-functional Coordination: Facilitate cross-discipline support and alignment, offering guidance on complex design challenges. Work to harmonize design efforts across all feature teams and external design partners, ensuring a unified and impactful player experience.
Continuous Improvement and Engagement: Collaborate with the Product Manager and other key stakeholders to co-develop strategies that boost game retention and engagement, based on player data and feedback.
Required Qualifications
Proven Experience: At least 8+ years in the video game industry, with a focus on systems design and narrative in action-adventure genres or titles with significant narrative depth.
Leadership and Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to support, mentor, and drive a design team towards excellence. Strong collaboration skills, especially in supporting senior leadership and working across functional teams.
Communication Excellence: Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts clearly and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Player Centric: A solid understanding of player engagement and retention as well as evolving gaming trends, technologies, and competitive products, particularly within the action-adventure genre.
Adaptability and Passion: Flexibility in adapting to changing technologies and demands, with a continuous learning mindset. A passionate commitment to gaming and storytelling, aiming to create immersive and inclusive experiences for players.
Ceci ne s’applique pas au Québec.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The base salary ranges listed below are for the defined geographic market pay zones in these locations. If you reside outside of these locations, a recruiter will advise on the range and benefits for your specific location. EA has listed the base salary ranges it in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in the locations listed, as of the time of this posting. Pay offered will be determined based on numerous relevant business and candidate factors including, for example, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs.
BASE SALARY RANGES
California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. Sacramento): º $170,500 - $259,300 USD Annually
New York (depending on location e.g. Manhattan vs. Buffalo): º $167,300 - $259,300 USD Annually
Jersey City, NJ : º $202,600 - $259,300 USD Annually
Colorado (depending on location e.g. Denver vs. Colorado Springs): º $180,100 - $237,200 USD Annually
Washington (depending on location e.g. Seattle vs. Spokane): º $167,300 - $238,500 USD Annually
British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria): º $151,800 - $208,900 CAN Annually
Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at EA. In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity. For British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.
About Electronic Arts
Everything we do is designed to inspire the world to play. Through our cutting-edge games, innovative services, and powerful technologies, we bring worlds with infinite possibilities to millions of players and fans around the globe.
We’re looking for collaborative and inclusive people with diverse perspectives who will enrich our culture and challenge us. We take a holistic approach with our benefits program, focusing on physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support our people through every chapter of life. We provide comprehensive benefit packages and support for a balanced life with paid time off and new parent leave, plus free games and so much more. Our goal is to provide a safe and respectful workplace that empowers you to thrive in both work and life.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.
