Senior Combat Designer

Crystal Dynamics is seeking a Senior Combat Designer to join their team and contribute to the development of combat mechanics for their games. The role involves designing, implementing, and iterating on combat systems to ensure a high-quality player experience. The Senior Combat Designer will work closely with engineers and animators to create seamless and exhilarating combat experiences, while also refining and tuning combat elements based on player feedback. The ideal candidate should have professional experience in game design, a fundamental understanding of combat game design principles, and excellent communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Take a hands-on approach, actively designing, implementing, and iterating on innovative combat mechanics and systems to ensure a high-quality player experience.
• Utilize basic math and timing principles to fine-tune combat systems, including hit frames, damage values, and player/enemy behaviors.
• Apply the principles of player-centered design to ensure combat mechanics are satisfying, rewarding, and accessible.
• Test, debug, and refine combat elements based on feedback from playtests and quality assurance teams.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of trends and advancements in the gaming industry, particularly in relation to combat mechanics in action-adventure games.
• Communicate effectively with the engineering team on technical requirements and constraints, assisting in the creation of detailed feature requests.
• Collaborate closely with the animation team to ensure combat movements are fluid, responsive, and visually impressive.
• Professional experience as a game designer, who has contributed to the development of combat systems for a high-quality current-gen-console title.
• A fundamental understanding of combat game design principles, including the ability to create engaging and balanced combat mechanics, systems, and features that prioritize player-centered design.
• Willingness to actively engage in hands-on combat design and implementation, utilizing design tools for prototyping and proof of concept settings.
• The ability to refine combat tuning, balance gameplay variables, and apply mathematical and analytical skills to ensure a satisfying combat experience.
• Excellent communication skills, with the capacity to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively when collaborating with cross-functional teams.

• Professional experience as a game designer, contributing to the development of combat systems for a high-quality current-gen-console title
• Fundamental understanding of combat game design principles, including the ability to create engaging and balanced combat mechanics, systems, and features that prioritize player-centered design
• Willingness to actively engage in hands-on combat design and implementation, utilizing design tools for prototyping and proof of concept settings
• Ability to refine combat tuning, balance gameplay variables, and apply mathematical and analytical skills to ensure a satisfying combat experience
• Excellent communication skills, with the capacity to articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively when collaborating with cross-functional teams

• Professional experience as a game designer
• Fundamental understanding of combat game design principles
• Ability to create engaging and balanced combat mechanics, systems, and features
• Willingness to actively engage in hands-on combat design and implementation
• Ability to refine combat tuning and balance gameplay variables
• Excellent communication skills
• Proficiency in utilizing industry-standard game design tools and software
• Bonus if you have shipped AAA title
• Competitive pay range ($100,000-$125,000 USD)
• Generous benefits package for full-time employees
• Equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and inclusion