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, articulating the vision, and shipping a product that transforms players into more capable entrepreneurs through gameplay.
• Establish and maintain a culture oriented toward rapid iteration and continuous refinement.
• Collaborate with Founders School leadership, educators, and practicing entrepreneurs to convert authentic business principles into engaging game mechanics.
• Integrate AI across the entire development pipeline to streamline design iteration, game balancing, prototyping, content generation, and production execution.
• Achieve concrete milestones, including delivery of a playable vertical slice within 12 months, successful playtesting with teenage users, and a scalable architecture for future simulation titles.

Basic Requirements

• Track record of shipping at least one commercially successful game that achieved genuine player affection, preferably within a team of 10 people or fewer.
• Proven leadership of multidisciplinary game development efforts from initial concept through public launch.
• Deep specialization in designing simulation, sandbox, systems-driven, strategy, or management game genres.
• Active daily application of generative AI tools to enhance game design and development workflows, with demonstrable recent examples of AI integration in your process.
• Enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and authentic conviction in the importance of building profitable enterprises.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and talent acquisition capabilities.
• Availability to work on-site in New York City.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship requirements.

Nice-to-have Requirements

• Portfolio including sandbox, tycoon, builder, management, or simulation game releases.
• Background designing experiences for audiences under 18 years old.
• Experience embedding education or skill-building elements within entertainment products.
• History collaborating with prominent brands, content creators, or licensed intellectual property.
• Demonstrated success scaling a game team from early-stage concept through commercially successful 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.