Manager, Design

Warner Bros. Discovery•Chicago, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of. Who We Are… When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next… From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive. WB Games is a leader in the games industry across all game platforms and mobile devices. Our diverse and inclusive workforce creates and brings to life the most beloved characters, franchises, heroes, and wizards in the world. We are fans of what we make and proud of what we do. We have studios and offices across the globe. Your New Role WB Games Inc seeks a Design Manager to lead and manage the design team as they work to realize the vision of the Creative Director for our AAA title development. This individual will be the internal evangelist for the design vision and will help define the design process in collaboration with the experienced design team and under guidance from the Creative Director. The Design Manager will oversee the definition and implementation of the design pipelines in concert with the engineering team. This person should be willing to get their hands into the design process as well as leading others to do the same. The ideal candidate has previously managed internal game design teams that have shipped multiple successful games in the console and PC space and has been in a leadership role on at least one multi-million selling AAA console or PC game. They should have hands-on experience with character combat design and level design. This candidate should also have extensive experience with definition of core game loops, progression systems, and other aspects of systems design. Please note that this role will be based in Chicago, IL.

Requirements

Minimum of 3 shipped titles on which the candidate was involved from inception to completion
Minimum of 8+ years in game development, with at least 4+ years in a management role
Direct experience as a Lead Designer on an AAA action game
A minimum of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent work experience)
Well versed in all aspects of game design including systems, narrative, level, and combat design
Strong desire to apply metrics and data analysis to augment their design instincts
Should have extensive experience with a project that provides ongoing live support
Excellent communication skills required, both written and verbal
Excellent organizational skills, including both strong skills in prioritization and multitasking
Strong conflict resolution and mediation skills
Strong leadership and mentoring skills
Scripting/coding knowledge, sufficient to understand script-heavy design processes
Positive attitude and collaborative approach to problem solving
High level of initiative and proactivity

Responsibilities

Work closely with the Creative Director to develop and define the vision of the game
Clearly articulate the design through documentation and internal communication
Review progress throughout the development cycle to ensure the trajectory aligns with the established vision
Lead a team of veteran designers in the day-to-day creation of characters and combat systems
Work with the art teams to create levels, models, SFX, and animations to support the defined gameplay needs
Collaborate with engineering to ensure that tools and support technologies meet the design requirements
Work with the team to create engaging core game loops and great moment-to-moment gameplay
Oversee creation of engagement and progression systems to support player fun
Maintain vigilance on a player-first mentality
Act as the primary liaison between the design team and other disciplines
Help act as a bridge between design creative and production realities
Collaborate with Production to ensure clear communication across the team
Mentor the design team with a goal of helping each member develop into high-performers
Ensure knowledge sharing across the team