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Expert Lead Designer

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Warner Bros. Discovery

26d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior Level
  • Design
    Product
  • London

AI generated summary

  • You should have a strong AAA design background, Unreal Engine proficiency, leadership skills, and expertise in game mechanics, level design, and storytelling in action-adventure or open-world genres.
  • You will define gameplay experience, oversee design documentation, iterate on mechanics, mentor designers, lead playtesting, and collaborate with teams to ensure high-quality game development.

Requirements

  • Proven track record as a Lead Designer or Lead Level Designer on at least one shipped AAA title.
  • Significant experience in game and level design, ideally in action-adventure, open-world, or immersive sim genres.
  • Expertise in-game mechanics, systems design, encounter balance, and level flow.
  • Proficiency in Unreal Engine (or equivalent), with strong experience in level editing tools, scripting, and world-building.
  • Strong technical knowledge of AI behaviour, traversal systems, combat design, and progression balance.
  • Experience balancing difficulty scaling, encountering variety and pacing across levels.
  • Expertise in game systems, world interactivity, and player agency.
  • Strong leadership and mentorship skills with experience managing design teams.
  • Ability to balance combat, exploration, and storytelling within game levels.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
  • Ability to pitch and present design ideas to both internal teams and external partners.
  • A passion for immersive storytelling, level composition, and gameplay design.

Responsibilities

  • Work closely with the Game Director and Studio Product Director to uphold the strategic and game vision for gameplay.
  • Establish and maintain design pillars for game mechanics, level design, and player progression.
  • Define and oversee the gameplay experience, ensuring it aligns with narrative, pacing, and world-building goals.
  • Own game design documentation, ensuring vision and quality targets are consistently met across all gameplay and level design aspects.
  • Develop and iterate on combat mechanics, enemy encounters, traversal, and puzzle design to craft memorable gameplay experiences.
  • Ensure levels are mechanically rich, supporting player agency, varied playstyles, and emergent gameplay.
  • Oversee the creation and refinement of level layouts, from blockout to final polish, ensuring best-in-class player navigation, encounter pacing, and visual storytelling.
  • Provide expert feedback on missions, traversal, combat, UI, and overall gameplay balance, ensuring a cohesive gameplay loop.
  • Lead playtesting sessions, gathering data and iterating on levels and mechanics based on player experience and telemetry feedback.
  • Work closely with combat designers and AI engineers to ensure challenging and dynamic enemy encounters.
  • Champion a cycle of prototyping, iteration, and polish, ensuring design decisions are data-driven and player-focused.
  • Develop grey box levels and gameplay prototypes, working closely with engineers and artists to refine mechanics and spaces.
  • Collaborate with Art, Engineering, Narrative, and Audio teams to deliver cohesive, technically feasible, and visually stunning gameplay spaces.
  • Work with AI programmers, animators, and combat designers to bring encounters and systems to life.
  • Communicate design goals to stakeholders, publishing partners, and marketing teams.
  • Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Game and Level Designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
  • Define best practices for game and level design, ensuring smooth pipelines from concept to final polish.
  • Work with Production to develop schedules, track milestones, and ensure timely, high-quality feature delivery.
  • Identify and communicate design risks early, proactively resolving issues to keep development on track.
  • Ensure all design and implementation deliverables meet Rocksteady’s high standards of quality and polish.

FAQs

What is the primary responsibility of the Expert Lead Designer?

The primary responsibility of the Expert Lead Designer is to deliver high-quality gameplay systems, mechanics, and level design, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience throughout the project.

What types of games should candidates have experience with?

Candidates should have significant experience in game and level design, ideally in action-adventure, open-world, or immersive sim genres.

What level of experience is required for the position?

A proven track record as a Lead Designer or Lead Level Designer on at least one shipped AAA title is required.

What technical skills are necessary for this role?

Proficiency in Unreal Engine (or equivalent), strong technical knowledge of AI behaviour, traversal systems, combat design, and progression balance are necessary skills.

What is involved in the design documentation process?

The Expert Lead Designer owns game design documentation, ensuring that the vision and quality targets are consistently met across all gameplay and level design aspects.

Is there a mentorship component in this role?

Yes, the Expert Lead Designer will lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Game and Level Designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

What benefits does Warner Bros. Discovery offer?

Warner Bros. Discovery offers various benefits, including private family medical and dental care, a contributory pension scheme, annual bonuses, and access to training resources, among others.

What does the hybrid work model entail?

The hybrid work model combines remote and in-office work, following the current company policy and subject to agreement with the Line Manager.

How does Warner Bros. Discovery support diversity and inclusion?

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces building a workforce that reflects the diversity of society, and they consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of various protected categories.

What leadership responsibilities are expected in this position?

The Expert Lead Designer is expected to lead a multidisciplinary team of designers, communicate design goals to stakeholders, and help develop best practices for game and level design.

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Warner Bros. Discovery

Entertainment & Media
Industry
10,001+
Employees

Mission & Purpose

Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment company, known for producing and distributing a wide range of content, including films, television shows, and digital content. Their ultimate mission is to captivate audiences worldwide by creating compelling and innovative stories that entertain, inform, and inspire. With a strong focus on storytelling and creativity, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to enrich people's lives through entertainment and provide a diverse array of content across various platforms. Their purpose is to connect people through shared experiences and to continue being a leading force in the entertainment industry, shaping the future of entertainment in the UK and beyond.

Culture & Values

  • Act as one team

    Trust each other, succeed together, and grow together. Collaborate across teams and make decisions that are best for WBD overall. Prioritize growth, development, and well-being for our teams. Respect and support each other, and celebrate wins.

  • Create what's next

    Be curious, innovate, and focus on the future. Drive change, embrace disruption, and never stop learning. Use data and technology to transform what we create and how we tell stories and deliver. Experiment, fail fast, acknowledge mistakes and learn from them.

  • Empower Storytelling

    Put creators, consumers and partners at the center, and share extraordinary stories. Tell stories that entertain and inspire our viewers, communities, and each other. Foster creativity by giving the freedom to try new things and produce our best work. Deliver the best experience; anticipate what consumers want and be fan obsessed.

  • Champion Inclusion

    Empower others, have courage, and pursue equity. Amplify the voices of global storytellers to reflect audiences around the world. Intentionally seek out diversity, remove barriers, and create space for all to share ideas and be heard. Actively listen and lead with empathy, integrity, and transparency.

  • Dream it & own it

    Advocate the mission, move with speed, and drive results. Have an owner's mindset; bring a perspective, take decisive rapid action, and manage spend responsibly. Make clear choices, set ambitious goals, and be accountable for results. Speak up and fearlessly challenge the norm.