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Senior Systems Designer

Cloud Imperium is looking for a Senior Systems Designer to help lead the effort in creating gameplay systems and technical ship setup for Star Citizen.

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop new features for the Persistent Universe (often shared with Squadron 42), working closely with the Lead Systems Designer and the Game Director to ensure that a cohesive vision for Star Citizen becomes reality
• Be a “go to” person for the designing, documenting, and seeing projects through the implementation of complex systems that not only stretch the capabilities of the engine but also integrates with the rest of the gameplay systems
• Be a leader within the department for cleanly implementing content with our designer tools and scripting languages
• Develop prototypes that clearly articulates the vision of the features/content for which you are responsible
• Pitch concepts, designs, and full proposals to project leads and directors
• Partner with cross-disciplinary teams to execute game systems
• Use expert data analysis skills to plot how the game is being used. Draw conclusions and make recommendations for how to improve the experience and the in-game economy
• Routinely collect feedback from user-testing, the development team, and design management
• Identify solutions to the problems expressed that won’t negatively impact other systems or mechanics
• Craft, create and refine gameplay mechanics
• Contribute to tools and workflow development, highlighting bottlenecks or suggesting areas where tools can improve workflow
• Identify and resolve conflicts with other disciplines in a way that best meets the design goals of the project
• Review work at various stages of implementation to ensure the execution matches the vision, goals, and quality requirements
• Other such duties and responsibilities as assigned by Cloud Imperium reasonably consistent with employee’s skills and experience

Requirements:

• 5+ years of professional experience in game development in a System/Technical Designer capacity
• Shipped (from pre-production to release) 2+ large, current, or next-gen 3D titles
• Knowledge and experience with a C style programming or a visual scripting language
• Must have knowledge in writing scripts to handle gameplay systems such as weapons balancing, navigation mechanics, basic AI behavior, and scripted sequences
• Ability to manage small teams to take individual features to completion
• Positive, solution-oriented individual with a passion for game development
• Experience with next-gen AAA game engines
• High degree of self-motivation and initiative
• Inherent ability to bring out the best in people around you, remain positive, and motivate your team
• Expert in time management
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to gather, analyze, and act on feedback from the team, openness to critique
• Ability to turn any idea into a fun, interactive gameplay experience
• Passion and constant drive to stay up to date with the latest technology and new techniques
• Must be willing to relocate to Austin, Texas when the COVID WFH period is lifted
• International travel may be required

Pluses:

• Experience with balancing in game economies
• Knowledge and prior experience with multiple scripting languages
• Experience with building behavior tree-based AI
• FPS gameplay experience
• Massively multiplayer gaming experience
• Multiplayer debugging experience
• Experience with CryEngine/Lumberyard
• Experience in data analysis
• Strong interest in science fiction-based themes
• Can point to personal projects or completed work that is a demonstrable example of previous work that highlights your abilities

This position is offered at our Austin Studio by Cloud Imperium Games Texas LLC.

If you feel you have something to offer this role, even if you don’t think you qualify for all the above, you should still apply – we are an inclusive employer and if you have potential, talent and a great work ethic, we want to hear from you.