Staff Hero Designer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the design, prototyping, iteration, and refinement of core combat mechanics and player character systems.

• Develop and enhance hero combat and non-combat gameplay utilizing proprietary tools and scripting frameworks.

• Lead the creative vision, gameplay design, and ensure high execution quality for playable hero characters.

• Collaborate closely with Gameplay Programmers, Animators, VFX Artists, Character Artists, Mission Designers, Combat Designers, Systems Designers, UI/UX, Narrative teams, and project leadership.

• Manage development teams, establish milestones, prioritize tasks, and coordinate feedback.

• Proactively identify challenges, implement solutions, and enhance the quality of hero gameplay.

• Create and maintain documentation for player systems, tutorial videos, standards, metrics, and best practices.

• Review ongoing work, collect feedback, and ensure that quality targets for milestones are met.

• Facilitate brainstorming sessions and reviews while promoting design vision and inclusivity.

• Foster innovation in internal character prototyping and iteration tools.

• Oversee hero character work across the studio and provide mentorship and coaching to other Hero Designers.

• Assist in designing additional gameplay systems as required.

• Cultivate a safe, supportive, and creative work environment.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of eight years of professional game design experience.

• Experience with at least one shipped title as the primary designer responsible for player combat and/or overall player character systems.

• Demonstrated expertise in creating, fine-tuning, and enhancing player movement, combat, controls, and gameplay balance.

• Extensive knowledge of game design principles, particularly in third-person narrative games.

• High proficiency with modern game engines such as Unreal Engine or proprietary alternatives.

• Experience in scripting, prototyping, and iterating gameplay systems directly.

• Familiarity with 3D layout is advantageous.

• Proven ability to implement, iterate, and refine game feel with a polished presentation.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills.

• Capability to solve practical problems and interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or scheduling instructions.

• Intermediate knowledge and experience with level editing tools and scripting, including Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar software.

• Intermediate proficiency in Maya or other leading 3D modeling software.

• Experience with animation tools or programming languages is a plus.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, Miro, Confluence, or similar office applications.

• Strong interpersonal skills and effective communication with team members and developers.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.

• Background check required at the offer stage.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• Matching 401(k).

• Paid time off.

• Wellness program.

• Employee discounts for Sony products.

• Potential eligibility for a bonus package.

• Flexible role that can be performed remotely.