Senior Designer, Gameplay

About the role

Avalanche is a Warner Bros. Games studio located in downtown Salt Lake City, nestled against the backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. We’ve been in the video game business since 1995, creating interactive experiences for fans of the world’s largest franchises. Join the team behind the blockbuster open world, action RPG Hogwarts Legacy as we create what’s next!

Responsibilities

• Direct collaboration with design leadership, the mechanics design team, producers, and other peers across every discipline to help define the goals and experiences for future releases.
• Daily Design, prototype, and implement gameplay mechanics with focus on 3Cs, player abilities, and interactions.
• Partner with design leadership to help define pillars, player experience goals, and feature plans that support the broader vision for the game and build on established gameplay mechanics systems.
• Translate high-level creative direction, team feedback, and cross-discipline conversations into clear design documentation, specs, and implementation plans.
• Work closely with discipline leads and stakeholders across the studio to gather input, vet proposals, and align gameplay systems with the broader needs of the project.
• Work closely with production to prioritize features and keep milestones on track.
• Help improve tools, pipelines, and documentation for implementation and iteration, and share those processes with the team.
• Collaborate with engineers, animators, artists, VFX, audio, UI, and other designers to solve gameplay-related technical and design problems.
• Partner with the broader team to tune and refine systems based on leadership & peer feedback, playtest results, and data analysis.
• Contribute to progression, reward, and other connected gameplay systems that complement the moment-to-moment gameplay experience.

Requirements

• Strong gameplay and systems design experience, with the ability to own features from concept through polish.
• Demonstrated ability to define feature direction and turn broad creative goals into clear design plans and documentation.
• Experience designing and implementing third-person player mechanics in 3D games; action RPG experience preferred.
• Contributed to shipped titles and participated in a full dev cycle from concept through release.
• Experience with Maya, Unreal Engine 5, including Blueprint and other gameplay implementation tools, to create and iterate on gameplay features.
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and provide clear guidance to designers, engineers, and artists.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize feedback from multiple stakeholders into coherent design proposals and implementation specs.
• Good to have: Experience with broader gameplay and progression systems.

Qualifications

• College degree in Game Design, Computer Science, or related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in game design, preferably in AAA titles.
• Proven track record of delivering successful projects.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for storytelling and game design.

Skills

• Proficiency in game design software such as Maya, Unreal Engine 5, and Blueprint.
• Understanding of game mechanics and player behavior.
• Experience with game development tools and pipelines.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.

Benefits

Here at WBD, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options.
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company match.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Generous paid time off and holidays.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $80,000 - $120,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This position is hybrid with weekly onsite days at Avalanche Studio in Salt Lake City, UT. Relocation assistance provided for qualified candidates out of the area.