Senior Systems Designer

Do you want to build compelling game experiences having designed, prototyped and delivered high profile gameplay systems, features or tools? Do you love working with as small team of talented designers, artists and programmers to create ambitious in-game content?  If so, this role could be for you!

Blackbird Interactive is looking for an experienced Systems Designer to help a small team build an immersive first-person sci-fi game.  As Senior Systems Designer you will be highly collaborative and able to creatively solve challenging design and technical problems.  You care about shaping an engaging player experience and bringing together a blend of creative and technical skills and experience.

About Blackbird

Blackbird is a rapidly growing independent game development studio located in Vancouver, BC, Canada. We are dedicated to creating uncompromising immersive games with a strong narrative and distinctive art style. We are a team of industry veterans that launched our first game, Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, to critical acclaim in 2016. 

Role Responsibilities:
 

• Design, prototype and implement gameplay systems, in collaboration with the other designers and programmers.
• Design, prototype and implement level mechanics, in collaboration with the other designers and programmers.
• Provide team-facing documentation to inform and guide the work of downstream groups.
• Participate in planning a roadmap to completion for the systems for which you’re responsible.
• Guide the tuning and pacing of the player experience, and contribute to defining the tools and pipeline required to do so.
• Execute clean and robust implementation of items and abilities with game-wide ramifications and effects.
• Provide thoughtfully and thoroughly considered systematic implementation of reward mechanisms and mechanics.
• Understand, interpret and execute on creative direction, in alignment with project goals.
• Collaborate with artists and programmers to build challenges and puzzles that emphasize the strengths of our core gameplay.
• Script events and objectives for both gameplay and narrative.
• Test and integrate new features, art assets, and gameplay props as they come online.
• Review and incorporate feedback on your work from other designers.

Requirements:

To be successful in this role you will have: 

• Knowledge of competitive products and a variety gameplay genres, as well as a personal understanding of video game fun.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to convey abstract concepts.
• Ability to think logically with a high level of attention to detail.
• 5 years in game development, with at least 2 years in a Gameplay or Systems Design specific role.
• Build fun, playable, complete levels in a greybox format. 
• Experience with Unity, Unreal or a similar game engine.
• Experience using a text-based scripting language (e.g. Lua, C#).
• Shipped at least one game

Pluses:

• Extensive experience with Unity.
• Experience with 3D art tools like Max or Maya.
• VR gaming experience, or (even better) VR development experience.
• A passion for first-person games like BioShock, Portal, and The Talos Principle.
• Interest in single-player and co-op gaming.