Wizards of the Coast (Skeleton Key studio) is looking for a Gameplay Designer to define and implement the player's core combat experience in a first-person AAA game. Your focus will be crafting player abilities, movement, and actions, with an emphasis on feel, responsiveness, and clarity.
What You'll Do
- Design, prototype, and iterate on FPS player combat systems including spells, melee attacks, ranged abilities, and related mechanics.
- Define and refine player movement, traversal verbs, and action sets to ensure a responsive and expressive movement kit.
- Collaborate closely with animation, VFX, and audio to drive timing, readability, and feel for player actions.
- Work with engineering to implement, tune, and maintain player-facing gameplay systems and behaviors.
- Author and maintain gameplay data, tuning values, and documentation to support iteration and scalability.
- Playtest frequently, evaluate player experience, and iterate based on feedback and design intent.
- Contribute to cross-discipline discussions about combat feel, player readability, controls, and overall gameplay.
What We're Looking For
- 4+ years of professional experience as a Gameplay Designer or Combat Designer on shipped games.
- Hands-on experience designing player abilities, combat mechanics, and movement systems in real-time games.
- Strong understanding of player-centric design principles, including controls, camera, character feel, and feedback.
- Experience working closely with animators and engineers to bring gameplay systems from concept through implementation.
- Ability to prototype, iterate, and tune gameplay systems using data-driven tools and scripting workflows.
- Strong communication skills and comfort giving and receiving feedback in a collaborative environment.
- A player-first mentality with a passion for crafting responsive, satisfying gameplay experiences.
Team & Environment
You will report to the Design Director. We believe empowering teams and providing the necessary time, tools, and support fosters a creative culture where everyone can do their best work.
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary: $86,700.00 to $138,900.00
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Paid Vacation & Holidays
- Generous 401(k) Match
- Paid Parental Leave
- Volunteer & Employee Giving Programs
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Product Discounts
Work Mode
This role is onsite in Austin, TX.
Wizards of the Coast is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, or any other legally protected status.
