Director, Game Design - Game Modes (Apex Legends)

Founded in 2010, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. Respawn Entertainment is the Academy Award-winning studio behind Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Star Wars™ Jedi titles. Join us to help shape the future of one of the world's leading live service franchises.

Apex Legends is looking for a Director of Game Design (Game Modes) to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of innovative gameplay experiences that will shape the future of Apex for years to come. In this role, you will partner closely with leaders across Design, Production, Engineering, Art, UX, QA, Analytics, and Product Management to define and deliver game modes that deepen player engagement, expand the Apex experience, and support the long-term goals of a live service franchise.

As a Design Director, you will be responsible for establishing the strategic direction of the Modes team, growing and mentoring a team of designers and design leaders, and ensuring the highest standards of quality from concept through launch and live operations. You will champion Respawn's culture of creative ownership, candid feedback, and player-first thinking while helping evolve the design practices that enable the team to operate at its best.

This is an opportunity to have a lasting impact on one of the world's leading live service shooters while working alongside some of the most talented developers in the industry.

What You'll Do

• Define and drive the long-term vision, strategy, and roadmap for game modes across Apex Legends.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of designers and design leaders, providing mentorship, career growth, performance management, and organizational guidance.
• Partner with leadership across all disciplines to identify opportunities for innovation, investment, and growth within the Apex gameplay ecosystem.
• Establish goals, priorities, and execution plans for the Modes team, ensuring alignment with franchise objectives and seasonal content strategies.
• Guide game mode development from early ideation and prototyping through production, launch, and post-launch support.
• Review, evaluate, and provide direction on game mode concepts, features, and gameplay systems to ensure they meet quality, engagement, and business objectives.
• Champion player-focused design decisions informed by qualitative feedback, gameplay expertise, and live service performance data.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Technical Design leadership to evolve tools, workflows, and technical capabilities that improve team efficiency and scalability.
• Drive design excellence by establishing and advocating for best practices in design process, documentation, playtesting, feature scoping, and production planning.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews and facilitate alignment on complex design and development challenges.
• Partner with Production to identify risks, manage scope, and make informed tradeoff decisions throughout development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Design organization.
• Play the game regularly, maintain deep knowledge of the Apex player experience, and proactively provide feedback on all aspects of the product.
• Help shape the future of Apex Legends by contributing to franchise-level planning, strategic initiatives, and long-term product vision.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of professional game design experience, including significant experience developing multiplayer games.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing designers, design leads, or multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience leading game mode development or major gameplay initiatives for a live service title.
• Deep expertise in multiplayer FPS design, player motivation, progression systems, and competitive gameplay.
• Proven ability to establish vision, align stakeholders, and lead large-scale initiatives across multiple disciplines.
• Strong understanding of live service development, content planning, and operating games through multiple seasons of post-launch support.
• Experience building and scaling high-performing teams through mentorship, coaching, and talent development.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience balancing player experience, technical constraints, production realities, and business objectives.
• Proficiency with scripting, prototyping, or technical design workflows sufficient to effectively partner with technical teams and evaluate implementation approaches.
• Passion for creating exceptional player experiences and collaborating with diverse perspectives.

Bonus Qualifications

• Shipped multiple AAA multiplayer titles, including at least one live service game.
• Experience leading game mode strategy for a competitive multiplayer FPS.
• Expertise in player retention, engagement, and live service content ecosystems.
• Experience managing managers or leading larger design organizations.
• Familiarity with analytics-driven design methodologies and experimentation frameworks.
• Deep knowledge of Apex Legends, its player community, and the factors that contribute to its success.
• Strong perspective on the future of multiplayer game modes and a track record of turning vision into shipped player experiences.

Pay Transparency - North America

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs). 

PAY RANGES

* British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$190,500 - $267,300 CAD

* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$215,900 - $327,900 USD

Pay 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 Canada, 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

We’re proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.

We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.

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.