Senior Boss Designer II - Unannounced Project | Irvine, CA

Blizzard Entertainment • Irvine, CA

4d • $99,200 - $183,520 • Hybrid

About The Position

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations – only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people. We are looking for a Senior Boss Designer II to help craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and refining memorable boss encounters that deliver compelling gameplay experiences and challenge players in meaningful ways. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose. This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and onsite days, based out of our Irvine, CA location.

Requirements

• 12+ years of professional game design experience, having shipped one or more AAA games with significant encounter or combat design responsibilities.
• Experience designing and implementing complex combat-focused gameplay systems and encounters from initial concept through prototyping and production, to final polish.
• Proven experience owning complex combat content, showing ability to work with a high degree of independence in alignment with project vision.
• Experience collaborating closely with engineering, art, animation, audio, and production partners on cross-disciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire colleagues through an enthusiastic approach to game development and a commitment to continuous improvement of core skills.
• Ability to take initiative and manage responsibilities independently, demonstrating strong ownership and accountability.
• Comprehensive understanding of encounter design, gameplay readability, difficulty balancing, and player experience.
• Experience creating boss battles and memorable gameplay moments.
• Strong understanding of gameplay scripting tools and implementation workflows.
• Experience balancing gameplay systems through testing, iteration, and player feedback.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to articulate design goals to diverse audiences.
• Experience working within modern game engines such as Unreal or equivalent.
• A team-oriented approach to game development.
• A player-first mindset focused on delivering highly engaging gameplay experiences.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• The ability to operate independently while collaborating effectively across disciplines.
• A passion for creating memorable gameplay experiences that resonate with players.
• A commitment to providing constructive feedback and fostering positive creative partnerships.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing and implementing epic boss battles.
• Experience developing in Unreal engine on one or more AAA games.
• Experience designing and developing behaviors, perception, and combat abilities for enemy NPCs.
• Experience working on action games, shooter games, or combat-heavy 3rd person experiences.
• Experience mentoring junior or mid-level designers.
• Experience collaborating with external partners or vendors.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and iterate on boss encounters from concept through final polish.
• Create compelling gameplay mechanics, combat scenarios, and encounter scripts that support narrative and gameplay goals.
• Collaborate with design directors, engineers, artists, animators, audio designers, and others to deliver high-quality boss experiences.
• Develop boss behaviors, attack patterns, and combat pacing to create challenging and satisfying gameplay.
• Balance encounters using playtest feedback, analytics, and qualitative observations.
• Document encounter designs, implementation requirements, and player experience goals.
• Prototype encounter mechanics that elevate and expand normal gameplay.
• Mentor other designers through thoughtful feedback, knowledge sharing, and collaborative problem solving.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify risks and propose solutions that improve gameplay quality and development efficiency.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others
• Relocation assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed