Senior Game Designer - Generalist

Summary

Join Snowed in Studios, a Keywords Studios company in Ottawa, Canada, as a Senior Game Designer! Contribute to the development of globally impactful games for prestigious clients. You will collaborate closely with client studios, designers, and directors, creating engaging game mechanics, narratives, and documentation. This role requires extensive experience in game design, strong communication skills, and familiarity with various game engines. Snowed in Studios offers a fantastic work environment, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. The position is remote or hybrid, open to candidates residing in Ontario or Quebec.

Requirements

• 6+ years professional experience in video game design and development
• Shipped game title(s) on mobile, console and/or PC
• Very strong communication skills and the ability to clearly communicate design vision and ideas
• Experience working directly with external clients and stakeholders
• Experience with game engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine and/or proprietary game engines
• Ability to match and work within design pillars or existing IP
• Experience taking games all the way from initial concept to live operations
• Strong understanding of design fundamentals (UX, narrative, mechanics balancing, the three C’s: Character/Camera/Controls, economy design and monetization)

Responsibilities

• Work closely with client studios to bring their games and features to realization
• Work with other game designers and directors to supplement mechanic, quest and narrative designs to specification
• Create thoughtful and engaging mechanical and dialogue choices with a strong understanding of the project’s IP and development constraints
• Create both high and low level design documentation to inform stakeholders, developers and artists on the design’s vision
• Work with artists and developers in-engine to implement data, and components accurately

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading design teams
• Experience overseeing or owning the analysis of game KPI's, and user testing
• Experience generating and pitching new game ideas to external clients
• Strong UX design skills
• Programming background or ability to prototype ideas in blueprints and scripts

Benefits

• Opportunities work in triple-A, in a no-crunch modern studio with a relaxed atmosphere and a variety of work
• Comprehensive benefits package that covers Dental Care, Health Care (including out of country coverage), Vision Care, Long Term Disability, Physio, Massage etc
• Generous leave policies include 4 weeks paid vacation (plus 1 week over the Holiday Season), unlimited sick leave and 2 paid personal days. We also provide parental leave top-up and an Employee and Family Assistance Plan that offer 24/7 free and confidential help with your physical and mental health
• RRSP Matching
• A dynamic and supportive team environment with a range of experience and an amazing culture – we have board game nights, movie nights, arcade tournaments, and more to help blow off steam and hang out together
• The opportunity to build or expand your career the way you want to, in a smaller studio connected to a global studio family
• A sweet hoodie!