Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer

Summary


We are seeking a Principal / Lead Gameplay Designer to own the design and implementation of compelling 3 C's gameplay. This person will work closely with design leadership, animators, engineers, and artists to deliver world-class moment-to-moment gameplay and player feel.


Core Responsibilities

• Own and drive implementation of all moment-to-moment player-feel gameplay in alignment with direction from a senior leadership team.
• Develop engaging combat mechanics, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, AI tactics, weapons, and camera systems.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to prototype, iterate, and polish combat features from concept through ship.
• Author and maintain design documentation, ensuring clarity and alignment across departments.
• Analyze playtest data and player feedback to continuously refine and balance combat systems.
• Own combat encounters and pacing in collaboration with level and narrative design teams.
• Establish metrics and best practices for environment and encounter design to support optimal gameplay.
• Mentor junior designers and contribute to the evolution of team processes and best practices.
• Maintain high standards for quality, responsiveness, and fun across all combat elements.

Core Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in game design with at least 2 shipped titles, including one in a senior or lead role focused on combat.
• Deep understanding of player mechanics, animation-driven gameplay, enemy design, and AI behavior.
• High technical proficiency with Unreal Engine 5.0 and its suite of combat, AI, and animation systems tools.
• Strong prototyping skills with scripting languages or visual scripting systems (e.g., Blueprint, Lua, etc.).
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
• Passion for creating satisfying, intuitive, and deep combat systems across various player archetypes.

Plus If...

• Experience designing melee combat systems, ranged combat, or hybrid mechanics.
• Background working on open-world or sandbox games.
• Experience planning player skill and progression systems.
• Knowledge of cinematic combat presentation and camera work.
• Experience working with motion capture and/or animation pipelines.

Description

• Full-time job with benefits.
• Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.
• Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeway.

The base pay range for this position is $145,000 to $180,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.