Studio: Skeleton Key
Job Opening: Lead Combat Designer
Location: Austin, Texas
Type: Full-Time
Responsibilities:
- Own and drive the core combat and gameplay systems for the project.
- Build and iterate on core combat systems such as weapons, interactions, player movement, cameras, and AI from inception to launch.
- Collaborate with other teams, and ensure the appropriate partners are involved and informed throughout development.
- Act as a strong quality advocate for the team, crafting compelling moment-to-moment gameplay, and help other team members achieve the same high quality.
- Lead and develop a team of Gameplay/Combat Designers, inspiring and empowering them to do great work.
- Build and maintain documentation for all owned features.
- Help evangelize the game’s vision to the rest of the team at large.
- Provide constructive feedback to team members.
- Remain current with industry trends and competitor games.
Qualifications & Skills:
- 7+ years as a Combat or Gameplay Designer, with first-person perspective experience.
- A minimum of 2 shipped AAA titles.
- Proven experience with controls, player movement, weapons, interactions, cameras, AI, melee, vehicles, progression, game balance, exploration mechanics.
- Extensive familiarity working in Unreal or other modern game engines.
- Hands-on practice and implementation of complex systems (ex – aim assist, AI Behavior trees, overall game balance).
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Self-sufficient and self-motivated – you are able to push features forward but also know when to ask for guidance or help!
