IEG - Senior / Principal Gameplay Combat Designer

NetEase Games

About The Position

As a leading internet technology company based in China, NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES and HKEX:9999, “NetEase”) provides premium online services centered around content creation. With extensive offerings across its expanding gaming ecosystem, the Company develops and operates some of China’s most popular and longest-running mobile and PC games. Powered by industry-leading in-house R&D capabilities in China and globally, NetEase creates superior gaming experiences, inspires players, and passionately delivers value for its thriving community worldwide. By infusing play with culture and education with technology, NetEase transforms gaming into a meaningful vehicle to build a more entertaining and enlightened world. NetEase’s ESG initiatives are among the best in the global media and entertainment industry, earning it a distinction as one of the S&P Global Industry Movers and an “A” rating from MSCI. For more information, please visit: http://ir.netease.com/ Overview: We are building a high-quality competitive football mobile game aiming to deliver a world-class real-time football gameplay experience. As a core gameplay designer, you will lead the design and iteration of match gameplay systems, including player behaviors, positioning AI, ball interactions, and match pacing and balance. This role will directly shape the core gameplay experience of the product.

Requirements

8+ years of experience in game design
Experience in designing core gameplay systems
Experience in competitive or action games
Strong system design and analytical skills

Nice To Haves

Experience working on sports games
Familiar with EA FC Mobile / eFootball Mobile
Experience in AI behavior systems design
Experience in gameplay balancing
Deep understanding of football tactics
High-level player of football games
A strong sensitivity to competitive gameplay feel
Passion for competitive gameplay
Ability to solve problems in complex systems
Strong ownership of gameplay quality

Responsibilities

Lead Core Match Gameplay Design
Design and iterate key gameplay systems including:
Passing mechanics
Shooting systems
Dribbling and skill moves
Defending and tackling
Physical interactions
Continuously improve the game feel, responsiveness, and competitive depth
Player Behavior & AI Systems
Lead the design and tuning of the following systems:
Player positioning and spatial awareness
Offensive and defensive decision making
Tactical execution
Dynamic formation transition
Match Balance & Pacing
Responsible for the overall match experience:
Offensive and defensive pacing
Skill success rates
Player attribute impact
Match fairness
Cross-Team Collaboration
Work closely with Gameplay Engineers, Animators, Technical Artists, Data Analysts to improve animation startup and transtions, input responsiveness, ball physics, and overall match realism.
Competitive Research
Continuously study real-world football tactics, competitive football games (EA FC / eFootball), and high-level player game behaviors.
Translate real-world football knowledge and insights into implementable game systems.