Senior Designer

Award winning studio, developers of the amazing Heavenly Sword - Ninja Theory, are looking for a very experienced, high level Senior Designer.

Role purpose and primary objective:

Take responsibility for areas of level design and specific game mechanics, taking an active part in the design creation process and ensuring the overall vision of the studio is maintained.

Support the Lead Designer in ensuring the overall design requirements are met – to quality, schedule and vision – using knowledge of game design development, software/hardware and potential risks. Support and mentor more junior members of the team to ensure team goals are met.

Primary Accountabilities/Key result areas
Take an active and vocal part in creative/planning discussions alongside the Lead Designer, Principal Designer and Creative Director. Ensure contributions are creative, useful, constructive and appropriate. Demonstrate commercial awareness in thoughts and suggestions and encourage more junior members of the team in their input.
Responsibility for whole areas of level design (as designated by Lead - for example individual chapters) – taking initial agreed creative vision and documenting using established format of 3D visualisation of level with detailed annotation of image stills. Liaise with artists to ensure understanding of documentation and that output remains as close as possible to initial directive.
Take responsibility for reaction to playtest data – internal self and peer reviews as well as more formal external analysis. For the latter take data from test laboratories and usability studies to suggest and implement effective changes that retain the original creative directive as well as meet quality and commercial requirements.
Demonstrate a mature understanding and awareness of schedules – both within the design team and the studio as a whole. Liaise effectively with Production ensuring a workable balance between creative demands and commercial/business requirements. Show flexibility and adaptability in relation to publisher/production/business requirements whilst remaining a positive champion of the design vision.
Work effectively with other disciplines as required using experience and knowledge to better interactions and to ensure an appreciation of others conflicts. For example: demonstrate established knowledge of pacing, flow and spatial constraints to ensure art requirements are carried out smoothly and effectively; use technical knowledge (software restraints, scripting etc) to liaise efficiently with programmers.
Responsibility for whole areas of game mechanics (as designated by Lead e.g. movement) – taking initial agreed creative vision and documenting in agreed Company format – explaining and describing specifications for outcome in game using technical knowledge to shape explanations. Liaise with programmers to ensure expected outcome – tweak values, implement playtest reactions and balance using knowledge and experience to understand and recognise the appropriate outcome when generated.
Act as a mentor to more junior members, offering constructive advice where appropriate, assisting in prioritising and supporting development of relationships within the studio. Ensure own particular areas of expertise or experience are shared within the team whether through one-to-ones or team training. Remain up-to-date with current techniques and tools used in design and help ensure that an ethos of continual learning is encouraged throughout the design team.






Knowledge and Skills required


Essential
A Level standard skills in English and Maths (demonstrates numerate knowledge and literacy appropriate to tasks)
Demonstrates strong world editor experience for example Unreal or hammer typically gained from 2-3 years experience in these
Knowledge of the game design development process gained from working on multiple shipped titles, ideally of a recognised AAA standard.
Demonstrable understanding of the game development business model
Experience or interest in working with action adventure games
Strong communication skills both written and verbal
Good English speaking skills
Good spatial knowledge
Proven ability to work as an active and positive team member
Solid understanding of practical mathematics
Strong problem solving skills

Desirable
Degree in Computer Science/English/Engineering/Architecture/Design
Scripting experience
Maya/Max/XSI experience
Experience of Visio
Experience of sketch-up