Lead / Senior Designer

Company Description

Heart Machine is a diverse team of passionate game developers working to create uniquely engaging worlds that are greater than the sum of their parts. We’re based in Los Angeles, but we have team members all across the globe.

We believe different perspectives contribute not only to more meaningful games but to a healthier and more sustainable team as well. As the studio grows, we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment where all voices are valued.

We’re ambitious and work hard, but health is an essential value at Heart Machine. We aren’t a crunch factory: we’re committed to building a culture of healthy work-life balance.

We’re looking for talented individuals who share these values to collaborate with us on amazing, unique games.

Intro

If you’re deeply invested in design at all levels, can discuss mechanics for days and love organization, then perhaps you’re right for this role! Our Lead/Senior Designer will own specific design features, facilitate and manage team members and their output and advocate for game system improvements consistently.

You will be working with Directors, Leads and every other discipline on the team to help communicate and bridge gaps on process during development for Hyper Light Breaker and future titles.

Responsibilities

• First Priority: Become an expert of the game project through play, reading and discussion

• Create: Prototype, iterate and own gameplay and progression systems and features throughout the project (before and after release), including understanding the technical implications of the designs

• Tune and Balance: Take ownership of the overall tuning and balance of all game systems, working with other designers to ensure that the game continuously delivers a “just one more run” feeling.

• Communicate: Work with your designers, Leads and other invested parties collaboratively, documenting and discussing critical features, systems, and content to find the best version of the game that is possible within our scope, building buy-in from the team and creating clear guidance to keep the team focused and empowered

• Playtests: Take part in and be able to run playtests, communicate with testers and capture robust feedback

• Change: Advocate and guide change through research, playtests and data

• Mentor: Share your experience and grow the design team’s skills and encourage non-designers to “think like a designer” and understand how their work combines together to serve the player

Qualifications

• Well-versed in games of all types and genres

  • With special focus on Action RPGs, Roguelikes/lites, Looter Shooter, or other systems-heavy genres mixing combat with deep systems.

• 4+ years experience in a game design role (preferably as leadership) with experience working on action games

• Remote-proficient- be great at collaboration and communication in a remote-first, global team

• At least 1 shipped title, either commercially or as a notable free release

  • Bonus: experience with multi-platform / multi-input games

• Excellent communication and documentation skills

• Excellent systems and balance tuning skills

• Have a deep understanding of and passion for game design theory and penchant for holistic design approaches

• Experience working with Unreal Engine (4.x preferred)

Additional Information

Salary

In the United States, the standard base pay range for this role we have estimated is $110 - $140k Annual. This base pay range is for the U.S. and is not applicable to locations outside of the U.S. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance and location. In addition to base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.

Benefits

• Competitive pay through bonus structures

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 401k

• Flex PTO policy and 10 Federal holidays annually

• Paid parental leave

Location

Flexibility to work remotely

Full-Time with Flexible Hours

Most staff maintain hours around 9a-6p PST. So long as you get the work done and are there for the meetings you are needed in, we trust you to manage your own time however makes sense to you.