Senior Game Designer (Gamedev)

TL;DR

Senior Game Designer (Gamedev): Designing and implementing enemy NPC archetypes and combat systems for high-end action-adventure games with an accent on AI behavior and combat feel. Focus on collaborating with AI programmers and animators to create unique enemy behaviors and tuning gameplay for maximum impact.

Location: Ability to work onsite from the Santa Monica, CA based studio is required

Salary: $145,100 - $181,400 USD

Company

Naughty Dog is a world-renowned studio crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology.

What you will do

• Pitch, design, and implement unique enemy NPC archetypes and behaviors.
• Collaborate with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and tune AI behaviors.
• Work with animators on enemy locomotion, traversal, and melee moves to ensure each archetype feels unique.
• Prototype, implement, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems in coordination with the design team.
• Write and maintain core vision documentation for enemy archetypes.
• Mentor junior designers and facilitate playtesting sessions to iterate on combat systems.

Requirements

• Must be based in or able to work onsite in Santa Monica, CA.
• 5+ years of industry experience in combat or technical design for action-adventure or shooter games.
• At least one shipped title in a combat designer or similar role.
• Proficiency in game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and scripting languages (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting).
• Strong coding ability; a Computer Science degree is preferred.
• Deep knowledge of modern character action-adventure and shooter combat trends.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work with some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry.
• Eligible for additional compensation packages including annual bonuses and incentive plans.
• Commitment to diversity and a broad range of cultural and life experiences.