Junior Game Designer

***This position is full-time in office***

Junior Game Designer

Sony PlayStation Studios is seeking outstanding talent to join our passionate and creative family in crafting our next high-profile AAA console title.

We are seeking a Junior Game Designer based on location in our LA studio. You will report directly to the project's Executive Producer. The ideal candidate will possess a combination of solid gameplay systems design experience, exceptional game design skills, and a collaborative mindset, paired with a passion for games. Become part of the team creating our next AAA title that will stand apart from the rest!

We are a newly established AAA studio based in Los Angeles, driven by a team of seasoned industry leaders and experienced game developers. Our mission is to create the next groundbreaking AAA original IP while reimagining the development process with a lean and highly efficient approach. We're seeking talented individuals who share our vision and are eager to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities:

The Junior Game Designer position is a player-centric developer that is always thinking about the player's experience. They have a talent for creating fun and exciting game experiences and are fluent in various areas of design. They will sit within the gameplay team and will be responsible for contributing to the development of gameplay mechanics and systems. They will also collaborate with the rest of the design team to build highly re-playable experiences. They need to have excellent instincts for what makes fantastic and engaging gameplay as well as good judgement and decision-making skills. They should be strong collaborators and can communicate their needs to other team members to aid in the design of gameplay.

• Work as part of the design team, taking responsibility for individual game parts, creating game design documents, diagrams, and flowcharts.

• Design compelling game mechanics using modern mobile design principles.

• Create, balance and tune game mechanics, game difficulty and UI flow.

• Evolve and adapt game designs based on play testing, feedback, and live metrics.

• Drive long term player engagement by understanding players' needs and motivations.

• Perform maintenance on existing gameplay systems such as: combat, gameplay cameras, player navigation, scoring, etc.

• Collaborate across disciplines to get work done and clear dependencies.

• Work directly with artists, programmers, animators, and other game designers to contribute to the vision of the game.

• Gameplay scripting using appropriate scripting tools

• Additional responsibilities will be assigned as needed.

Skills we are looking for:

• People: Proactive self-starter, but also a team player. Strong interpersonal, facilitation, oral and written communication, and project management skills a must. Ability to listen and understand various viewpoints and help guide diverse global workgroups to common solutions. Strong cultural sensitivity and sensibility a must.

• Process: Process knowledge, attention to detail, timely follow-up and strong organizational skills.

• Technical: Understanding of the technical aspects of product and game development. Ability to identify other business units with necessary technical knowledge and cultivate relationships.

• Planning/Implementation: Implementing projects in partnership with co-workers and global development teams. Strong capability to multitask and prioritize. Ability to proactively handle shifting priorities and requirements.

Qualifications:

• 2+ years of game design and product development or equivalent / related industry experience

• Experience working with teams through all aspects of the product life cycle, including prototyping, pre-production, production, beta, and release.

• Moderate experience with C++, C#, Lisp / Racket, Lua, or other scripting language.

• Experience in working with Unreal Engine 5

• Bachelor's Degree (4-year college) or equivalent direct work experience

• Candidates must be proactive and willing to take direction.

• Creativity and 'out of the box' thinking is strongly encouraged.

• Must have strong analytical and critical thinking skills. Ability to apply creative solutions within business constraints.

• Must be able to prioritize and perform multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities efficiently and effectively.

• Must have excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills in handling complex situations with the ability to negotiate and recommend solutions.

• Knowledgeable of current industry trends; stays up to date on competitive products and best practices

• You must be a passionate gamer with a deep understanding of core game mechanics and the impact and influence of design decisions. strong opinions on overall quality of execution and a deep understanding of what it takes to execute at a AAA quality level is a must.