Game Systems Director, Founders School - $400,000/year USD

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the development of the world's most captivating business simulation game by assembling the team, establishing the vision, and shipping a product that transforms players into more capable entrepreneurs through gameplay.
• Success in Your First Year:
  • Within 6 months, ship a playable vertical slice in which players advance through authentic business competencies by completing substantive gameplay objectives.
  • Initial playtests demonstrate that teenagers reliably characterize the game as enjoyable before realizing the depth of their learning.
  • Within 12 months, deploy a closed beta exceeding 1,000 participants, attain 40%+ 30-day retention, and implement a development rhythm capable of sustainably delivering new simulation experiences.

Basic Requirements

• Track record shipping at least one commercially successful game that players authentically embraced, preferably within a team of 10 or fewer.
• Proven experience directing cross-functional game development from initial concept through market launch.
• Comprehensive expertise crafting simulation, sandbox, systems-driven, strategy, or management game experiences.
• Active daily application of generative AI technologies to enhance game design and development workflows, with demonstrable recent examples of AI integration in your process.
• Enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and sincere conviction in the importance of building profitable enterprises.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and talent acquisition capabilities.
• Commitment to working on-site in New York City.
• Authorization to work in the US without sponsorship.

Nice-to-have Requirements

• Background shipping sandbox, tycoon, builder, management, or simulation game titles.
• Experience developing products for audiences under 18.
• Experience embedding education or competency development within entertainment offerings.
• Experience collaborating with prominent brands, content creators, or licensed intellectual property.
• Demonstrated history scaling a game team from initial concept through successful market launch.

About Founders School

Founders School is a four-year high school built for ambitious students who want to create, build, and solve meaningful problems. The program combines Alpha School's elite academics, real-world experience, and mentorship from world-class entrepreneurs around three commitments to every student: Build a million-dollar business. Identify problems in the world worth solving. Master AI before adults do. This is a place for people who'd rather build the thing than manage the thing. We're hiring the founding team that builds the dream high school for the most entrepreneurial and ambitious students in the country. Launching in NYC Fall 2026.