LOCATION: Austin, TX, Carlsbad, CA, Chicago, IL, Eugene, OR, Remote, US, Remote, Canada, Toronto, Canada

Zynga is looking for an experienced Lead Game Designer to work on Words with Friends 2. This role leads and participates in direct design and creative input on content and features for the popular words game. This role includes individual contributor work while leading others.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

Create or adapt leading game features to work with an existing game
Pitch new ideas to the team/ hold brainstorming sessions
Lead a design team, reviewing all types of design work and providing feedback and guidance
Work with leadership team to analyze real-time player feedback and data, identify opportunity spaces, shape feature design, and adjust game roadmap accordingly
Work with analytics and product management to analyze live player data, run experiments, and tune or adjust game balance using Excel or Google Sheets
Design systems or features of small to large scope, writing design documentation and collaborating with other disciplines from preproduction to release
Work to improve existing workflows and processes for the game design team
Remain up-to-date with Game Design literature and standard methodologies to be an evangelist for the craft of Game Design

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Strong knowledge of feature, systems, and gameplay design
Strong knowledge of game balancing and pacing
Possesses extensive knowledge of games and strategies
Management experience, preferably with an experienced design team
Translates direct consumer insights, market data, and analysis into creative design solutions
Passionate gamer
2+ games shipped or 5+ years of live games experience

WHAT WE OFFER YOU:

Competitive salary, bonus plan, Zynga RSU’s (Restricted Stock Units), ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
401K Company Match Contribution
Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits
Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
Family planning support program
Generous paid maternity/parental leave
Subsidized Back-up child care
Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
Flexible working hours on many teams
Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
Work with cool people and impact millions of daily players

HIRING UPDATE: The safety of our candidates and team members is our top priority. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our workforce transitioned to working from home, with all interviewing and onboarding being conducted virtually until further notice.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to building a diverse and talented workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, colour, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome job-seekers, players, employees, and partners from all backgrounds to join us!

We will consider all qualified job-seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities in order to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [email protected] to request an accommodation associated with your application for an open position.

Zynga does not engage in financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process. We do not conduct job interviews over third-party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp or others. We will never ask you for your personal or financial information over unofficial chat channels. Our in-house recruitment team only contacts individuals via official company email addresses (i.e., via a zynga.com or naturalmotion.com email domain).

Lead Game Designer – Words With Friends