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Senior Technical Designer

Job Description

Senior technical designers are competent in both system and level design, but are known for being detail-oriented developers with advanced technical skills when compared to other designers. As part of a multidisciplinary production team, they help shape the architecture for new game systems; as well as, create and implement the more complex technical design elements into the game. Equally, they advocate and shape production efficiency and product quality, primarily for system development and world creation. It is expected that their work will be of the highest quality.

Senior technical designers act as a point of contact between designers and other disciplines. They regularly identify ways to improve communication amongst disciplines as they are uniquely positioned between content creators, engineering, and other departments. They are trusted to take direction from the conception phase, collaboratively refine designs into a clearly defined and deliverable idea, and drive development through to a shipped product.

Responsibilities

System Development

• Drive the development of feature prototypes by working in close collaboration with production, technical directors, engineers, and other disciplines.
• Provide insightful feedback in design discussions with an emphasis on the realities of the engine and system constraints and how they will impact development.
• Provide accurate risk assessments to production, engineering, and design when new features are proposed.
• Maintain a clear understanding of design direction so that systems can be implemented to spec and design intentions can be communicated clearly to other disciplines.

World Creation

• Develop and enforce best practices including naming, script conventions, spatial metrics, budgets, production pipelines, and tools.
• Document, conduct training sessions, and enforce best practices for implementation of maps in the engine throughout production.
• Provide constructive, critical feedback for designers creating level layouts and placing gameplay elements so they can properly scope their work and achieve the highest quality within the time constraints.

Workflow Improvement

• Obtain in-depth knowledge of the engine, its capabilities, and auxiliary development tools.
• As an advanced user, help test new features and tools before they are deployed to the rest of the team and throughout. production.
• Work with Technical Directors, engine team, and production to improve tools, methods, task management, etc.
• Effectively utilize production and QC to manage workload.
• Document and enforce technical standards for content creators.
• Stay current with innovations in game development technology and production methodologies to innovation to the project.

Firefight Problems

• Provide constant technical support on the tools and engine for every member of the team
• Debug and implement reliable solutions to difficult issues until production has ended

Mentorship

• Help more junior members of the team enhance their skills both interpersonal and technical.
• Critique and provide feedback to more junior members of the team.
• Desire to grow into a Lead is preferred.

Qualifications

• A passion for shipping high quality games
• Proactive self-starter who can operate at autonomously when requested
• Thorough and detailed
• Punctual
• Effective, tactful communicator
• Experience in all phases of shipping a product
• Understanding of software engineering principles
• Strong work ethic
• Positive Attitude
• Problem Solver
• Extensive experience in all phases of development from inception to ship
• Relevant scripting experience with such as python, C#, or visual scripting

Additional Information

• Heavily subsidized paid medical and dental insurance for employees and dependents.
• Paid life and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• 401(k) plan with match.
• New hires start with 3 weeks of vacation annually, increasing to a cap of 5 weeks based on years of service along with 3 additional weeks of wellness time.
• 10 paid holidays (and we’re closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day).
• 12 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Body-Mind-Soul monthly reimbursement program for eligible activities.
• Strong, incentivized, employee referral program.
• Flexible work schedule.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Company Description

Ubisoft is one of the world's biggest creators, publishers and distributors of videogames and interactive services. The group has a broad portfolio of internationally renowned brands such as Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon, Just Dance, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Rainbow Six...

Supported by a worldwide network of studios and distribution subsidiaries, the teams at Ubisoft are dedicated to offering players original and unforgettable game experiences on all popular platforms, including consoles, smartphones, tablets and PCs.