Senior Game Designer (combat)

PlayStation / Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA, United States
Base: $145,100 - $181,400 usd; bonus/equity: eligi...
On-site
5+ years combat design experience
Shipped title as combat designer
Proficiency in unreal engine or unity
PlayStation/Naughty Dog is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in combat for their Santa Monica location. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in combat design, particularly for action-adventure or shooter games, and be ready to contribute to innovative game development in a collaborative environment

Job Summary

  • Naughty Dog is seeking a Senior Game Designer to own enemy NPC archetypes and drive combat innovation for upcoming titles.
  • The role requires close collaboration with AI programmers, animators, and the design team to implement and tune enemy behaviors.
  • Candidates must have at least one shipped title and strong leadership skills to mentor junior designers within the studio.

Matching Summary

Match Score: 85

PlayStation/Naughty Dog is seeking a Senior Game Designer specializing in combat for their Santa Monica location. The ideal candidate should have extensive experience in combat design, particularly for action-adventure or shooter games, and be ready to contribute to innovative game development in a collaborative environment.

Salary

Base: $145,100 - $181,400 USD; Bonus/Equity: Eligible for annual bonus and incentive plans; Benefits: Not specified

Skills & Requirements

Must-have

  • 5+ years combat design experience
  • Shipped title as combat designer
  • Proficiency in Unreal Engine or Unity
  • Experience with behavior trees and NPC AI
  • Strong coding ability in C# or Lua

Nice-to-have

  • Computer Science degree preferred
  • Mentoring junior designers
  • Knowledge of narrative structure intersection
  • Keen eye for character action details
  • Effective diagramming and sketching skills

Key Requirements

  • 5+ years industry experience in combat design
  • At least one shipped title required
  • Proficient in game engines like Unreal or Unity
  • Strong coding background preferred

Work Rights

Not specified

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