ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Principal Level Designer to join our studio for the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.
A developer in this role serves as an important part of the Level Design team with a focus on owning a key Open World location, driving its layout, combat encounter design, and scripting. This role will work closely with Level Artists and Gameplay Systems team members in creating enticing locations that are fun to explore, packed with thrilling gameplay, challenging combat, and memorable player experiences. A key part of this role involves designing the workflow and establishing best practices for open world creation on a new, industry-leading engine.
The preferred location for this role is Hunt Valley, MD, Austin, TX, or Madison, WI. Will consider remote.
Responsibilities
Help drive vision on a large area in Level Design; build consensus on that vision across disciplines
Support the leadership team in establishing and role modeling positive processes
Define quality standards for the team through hands-on execution and documentation
Dedicated mentoring of more junior members of the team
Partner with Level Artists in creating layered environments packed with exploration and combat
Script and implement key moments within these spaces
Craft memorable combat encounters and work with Combat Systems Designers in honing these experiences to perfection
Create fun gameplay spaces focused on the game’s core mechanics
Help determine the optimal workflow for content creation
Work with the tools team to identify the ideal toolset with which to create content
Qualifications
5+ years of level design experience
Broad gameplay design knowledge
Ability to drive collaboration and consensus across multiple disciplines
Strong organization, verbal, and written communication skills
Deeply creative with a great sense of what makes gameplay fun
Excellent sense of gameplay pacing
Excellent level design skills
Good grasp of scripting or coding
Experience with combat encounter design in a AAA game
Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven and focused on iteration and polish
Strong understanding of the discrete elements game levels and combat experiences are built from and the ability to problem solve both holistically and on a per-component basis
Preferred Skills
Experience developing Open World games
Combat systems design experience for third or first person games
Background in architecture or paper/board game design
