Studio: Absurd Ventures
Job Opening: Open World Designer [Senior/Lead]
Location: Santa Monica/San Rafael, California, US
Type: Full-Time
Responsibilities:
- Drive the design and implementation of engaging, immersive, interactive open-world content that encourages exploration and emphasizes a mix of fun, varied gameplay, worldbuilding, and storytelling.
- Work closely with the narrative team to develop ideas for new content.
- Develop and execute the design vision and strategy, ensuring that open-world content aligns with the game’s overall narrative, thematic, and player experience goals.
- Leverage the game’s core systems and mechanics to create dynamic and unpredictable open-world experiences that adapt to player choices and actions.
- Continuously seek opportunities to innovate, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of open-world design.
- Rally designers, engineers, animators, artists, and external co-dev partners to deliver playable progress at regular intervals as part of a rapid iterative process.
- Incorporate feedback from peers, playtests, and senior leadership to refine and pivot as the game demands.
- Go beyond documentation and management to lead from the trenches, with hands-on contributions to the playable experience.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and iteration.
Qualifications & Skills:
- 5 or more years of experience in open-world design.
- Prior experience as a Senior or Lead Designer.
- Knack and passion for blurring the lines between AI, systems, mechanics, and scripted content to create deep, layered worlds in which stories can unfold organically through exploration and gameplay.
- Strong understanding of population and encounter design and open-world content balancing.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Innovative thinker with creative problem-solving skills who thrives in a collaborative team environment.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams is a plus.
- Experience in UE4 or UE5 is a plus.
- Experience working with co-development partners is a plus.
