Lead Content Designer

Echtra Games is a medium sized and growing game studio in San Francisco with a team of veteran game developers and visionary newcomers who work both on-site and remotely. At Echtra, we value diversity and support work-life balance. We also have great benefits, an open vacation policy, and flexible schedules!

Position Overview

Echtra Games is looking for a Lead Content Designer to join our growing team for a new AAA PC and Console ARPG. We are looking for a design leader who is dedicated to creating exceptional player-focused games that transport and immerse the audience. This leader will lead a team of talented designers fostering innovation and excellence, while playing a pivotal role in shaping our studio’s design strategy and ensuring its successful implementation. We are looking for an enthusiastic self-starter with a proven track record of leading and guiding design initiatives from inception to delivery, with a strong focus on player satisfaction, replayability, and fun.

Echtra Games is a small game studio in San Francisco with a team of veteran game developers and visionary newcomers who work both on-site and remotely. At Echtra, we value diversity and support work-life balance. We also have great benefits, an open vacation policy, and flexible schedules!

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Design team to ideate, define, and develop features that yield world-class experiences for our players
• Synthesize the needs of players and all development disciplines to identify problems and then research, analyze, design, execute and validate solutions
• You will oversee, mentor & coach the designers and take an active role in their career development and goal setting
• Review and provide constructive feedback on design work, ensuring high-quality output
• Set examples, guidelines, and best practices in Design for others in your game team
• Encourage a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and respect
• Identify key hires for the team, and take an active role in the recruitment process through onboarding and beyond
• Maintain a strong understanding of the game’s target audience and market trends to guide design choices

Requirements & Competencies

• An experienced veteran that fully understands the limitations and best practices of developing AAA games for PC and Console, including at least one leadership role and at least one action/role-playing title shipped in this position
• Proven experience in game design, with a focus on action RPGs or 3rd person shooters
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing and mentoring design teams
• Broad knowledge of all aspects of game design with a strong understanding of combat and encounter design, balance, difficulty, progression and reward, gameplay variety and usability.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work efficiently, and manage multiple design streams simultaneously
• Able to collaborate with proactive communication and a willingness to build consensus with competing perspectives
• Deep working knowledge of industry standard game engines (UE4/UE5 preferred)
• Highly engaged and experienced in collaborating and partnering with technical team members

Pluses

• Experience building games-as-a-service

What we offer you:

• Competitive salary, bonus plan and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• 401K Company Match Contribution (US)
• RRSP/DPSP company match contribution (Canada)
• Health coverage, dental, disability, critical illness, EAP, and life insurance (Canada)
• Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits (US)
• Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
• Global Fitness reimbursement program
• Global Wellbeing Program
• Financial wellness program with unlimited access to certified financial planners
• Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
• Family planning support program
• Generous paid parental, pregnancy-related disability, caregiver, and compassionate leaves
• Subsidized Back-up child care (US)
• Zynga happy hours and frequent employee events
• Flexible working hours on many teams
• Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
• Work with cool people and impact millions of daily players

We will consider all qualified job-seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $114,400 and $169,300 per year.

The pay range for this position in Washington at the start of employment is expected to be between