Technical Game Designer

Naughty Dog•Santa Monica, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Naughty Dog is seeking a Technical Game Designer for a temporary engagement through staffing partner DZConneX Services. The role is hybrid and based in Santa Monica, California. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. The designer will prototype gameplay using in-house tools and a scripting language, covering areas such as combat encounters, narrative sequences, player mechanics, and enemy behaviors. They will work across departments to advance prototypes into production and polish them to Naughty Dog’s quality standards. The role calls for a self-motivated, proactive designer who combines technical and creative skills and iterates rapidly. The estimated base pay range is $58.03–$72.55 per hour. The role is eligible for medical, dental, and vision benefits. Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for new employees.

Requirements

Significant programming ability; a Computer Science undergraduate degree is preferred.
Knowledge of 3D math.
Experience with C++, C#, Lua, or another scripting language.
Broad understanding of the gaming landscape.
Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills.
Willingness to take design direction, brainstorm, iterate, and develop fun, creative solutions.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing AAA third-person action games.
Experience with 3D level editors.
Understanding of narrative principles and conveying emotion through gameplay.
Experience with Behavior Trees, melee combat systems, character animation, or enemy and boss design.

Responsibilities

Prototype, implement, and own gameplay scenarios, narrative sequences, interactive objects, and AI behaviors.
Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems.
Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to produce the assets and code support needed for owned areas.
Take on additional responsibilities as assigned.