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Senior Systems Designer (12-month contract)

Role overview

Qualifications

  • Minimum 6 years in technical design or systems design
  • Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of game design processes and skills investigating in-game issues
  • At least two shipped titles
  • Experience with Unreal 5 and Blueprints

Responsibilities

  • Design, prototype and implement complex gameplay systems and tools, in collaboration with the other Designers, Artists and Programmers
  • Provide team-facing documentation to inform and guide the work of downstream groups
  • Provide creative and technical feedback on the work of other Designers
  • Understand, interpret and execute on creative direction, in alignment with project goals

About the company

Blackbird Interactive logo

Blackbird Interactive

Video Games & Interactive Entertainment

Blackbird Interactive (BBI) is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent studio - behind such games as Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and the upcoming Homeworld 3, Minecraft Legends, and Crossfire: Legion. Founded by Rob Cunningham, Yossarian King, and Aaron Kambeitz in 2010, the award-winning Vancouver studio boast its own internal CG cinematics department, led by the founder of Pixar Canada, and has also been involved in various game-adjacent projects over the years - such as Project Eagle with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other initiatives with the eatART Foundation and Sanctuary AI. BBI was listed among the fastest growing Canadian companies by revenue in 2020 and 2021 by The Globe and Mail and Deloitte. https://linktr.ee/BlackbirdInteractive.com

Company details

IndustryVideo Games & Interactive Entertainment
Company size201 - 500

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Job description

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.
 
Our studio operates as a remote-first workplace, offering flexible work arrangements.
 
PLEASE NOTE: At this time, we are only able to hire candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada and reside within Canada.

Blackbird Interactive is looking for a Senior Systems Designer to join on a sci-fi, first-person action game built in Unreal 5. The game is heavily systems-driven, and uses a blend of hand-authored and procedural content, with deep immersion, emergent gameplay, and an emphasis on narrative. 

As a Senior Systems Designer, you are responsible for the design, tuning and maintenance of many important, complex systems, from core gameplay to economy and progression systems, with the goal of delivering a more dynamic player experience. You are a key bridge between Design and the Art and Code disciplines. You are also responsible for designing both features and dev-facing tools for use in Unreal. You care about shaping an engaging player experience and bringing together a blend of creative and technical skills and experience.


Responsibilities
  • Design, prototype and implement complex gameplay systems and tools, in collaboration with the other Designers, Artists and Programmers

  • Provide team-facing documentation to inform and guide the work of downstream groups

  • Provide creative and technical feedback on the work of other Designers

  • Understand, interpret and execute on creative direction, in alignment with project goals

  • Act as a technical expert on key features and participate in data debugging

  • Guide the technical work of others and ensure that content creation follows documented best practices

  • Help test new tools / features before distribution to the rest of the team

  • Participate in planning a roadmap to completion for the systems for which you’re responsible

  • Mentor designers and promote good design principles across the team


  • Requirements
  • Minimum 6 years in technical design or systems design

  • Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of game design processes and skills investigating in-game issues

  • At least two shipped titles

  • Experience with Unreal 5 and Blueprints

  • Self-direction and a proven ability to thrive in a highly technical environment


  • Pluses
  • Experience with other areas of design (level design, UX/UI, encounter scripting, etc.)

  • Experience playing modern first person games, including genres like Immersive Sim or Action-RPG

  • Experience or knowledge of 2D / 3D software

  • Experience with a variety of game engines

  • Experience with version control software

  • Apply once. Then go straight to the hiring manager.

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    MR

    Marcus Rivera

    Chief Revenue Officer

    m.rivera@company.com
    linkedin.com/in/marcusrivera
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