Senior Game Designer, Scenario Design (Sand Table)

Anduril Industries•Costa Mesa, CA

26d

About The Position

As a Scenario Designer on the Sand Table team, you will be instrumental in creating compelling and realistic military scenarios for our next-generation wargaming and briefing capabilities in XR headsets. You will work closely with our Creative Director, Subject Matter Experts, and Product Leads to design, implement, and refine scenarios and missions that showcase the product's capabilities while ensuring they meet military stakeholder needs. Additionally, you will collaborate with the UX team to develop intuitive authoring tools that enable end users to create their own scenarios in immersive environments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Interactive Media, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
5+ years of professional experience in level design, scenario design, or mission design for games or interactive simulations
Strong portfolio demonstrating scenario/mission/level design work for complex interactive applications
Excellent communication skills with the ability to create clear design specifications
Strong analytical skills for scenario balancing and iterative design
Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven environment
Experience with Custom Game Engines, Unity or Unreal Engine
Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience designing campaigns or scenarios for RTS games, military simulations, wargames, or defense applications
Knowledge of XR design principles and constraints
Background in military operations or understanding of military doctrine and procedures
Experience designing scenario authoring tools or level editors
Experience shipping at least one AAA game title in a similar role
Familiarity with procedural scenario generation techniques
Active security clearance

Responsibilities

Design and develop engaging military scenarios that demonstrate system capabilities and address realistic operational challenges
Create detailed scenario documentation including mission objectives, environmental conditions, force compositions, and expected outcomes
Design scenario progression systems that support both guided missions and open-ended experimentation
Collaborate with the UX team to design intuitive scenario creation tools that enable military users to quickly build and modify complex simulations
Balance simulation fidelity with narrative elements to ensure scenarios are both realistic and engaging for users
Work closely with Systems Designers to ensure scenarios properly leverage existing gameplay systems and identify opportunities for new features
Partner with UI/UX designers to create effective briefing materials and scenario interfaces that enhance user understanding
Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure technical feasibility of scenario concepts and optimize for performance
Prototype scenario concepts to validate designs before full implementation
Identify technical constraints early and develop creative solutions that maintain design integrity while meeting platform requirements
Present scenario concepts to military stakeholders, explaining design decisions and gathering feedback
Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to ensure scenario authenticity and operational relevance
Maintain effective working relationships with military stakeholders to ensure scenarios support mission objectives and training requirements
Partner with project managers to ensure scenario deliverables align with program milestones and customer expectations
Champion best practices for scenario design within the organization
Contribute to the development of scenario design frameworks and tools that enhance team productivity
Foster a culture of open communication and continuous improvement
Drive innovation in military scenario design by researching and applying emerging techniques from the game industry

Benefits

Healthcare Benefits
US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you.
UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents.
IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.
Additional Benefits
Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees.
Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs.
Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting.
Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available.
Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development
Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region.
Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.
Retirement Savings Plan
US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options.
UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match.
AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.