About the role
Location & Type
- Location: UK Remote or West Midlands-based
- Contract Type: Full-Time Contractor
- Visa Sponsorship: Not available
Role Overview
As a Technical Games Designer, you will work at the intersection of design and technology, using Unreal Engine and Blueprint to prototype, implement, and iterate gameplay features, scripted events, and interactive content. You will work closely with Design, Art, Engineering, Animation, and other disciplines to turn design requirements into polished, functional game experiences.
Responsibilities
- Work with the design team to prototype, implement, and iterate gameplay features, mechanics, and systems within Unreal Engine.
- Create and maintain Blueprint logic for gameplay systems, scripted events, interactive environments and supporting game functionality.
- Build and iterate playable levels and gameplay content from an initial white-box stage through to a high standard of quality.
- Prototype features and mechanics in-engine to quickly test ideas, demonstrate functionality and identify potential technical or design issues.
- Collaborate with Design, Art, Engineering, Animation and other departments to ensure gameplay features and level content are implemented effectively.
- Translate design requirements into robust, practical, and maintainable technical implementations.
- Troubleshoot gameplay, Blueprint, and content issues, identifying the cause of problems and working towards effective solutions.
- Work within the technical specifications and performance requirements of the project, ensuring content remains within appropriate performance thresholds.
- Create and maintain level scripting, gameplay logic and interactive elements while considering scalability, performance and maintainability.
- Support the implementation and iteration of gameplay systems, encounters, missions and other interactive content where required.
- Work with existing systems and tools, identifying opportunities to improve workflows and solve technical design problems.
- Communicate effectively with other disciplines to identify dependencies, raise potential issues, and ensure features progress smoothly through development.
- Iterate on implemented features based on playtesting, feedback, and technical requirements.
- Take ownership of assigned gameplay features and content, seeing them through from initial implementation to a polished, production-ready state.
Essential Qualifications
- 3+ years of relevant experience in the games industry, ideally within a Game Design, Technical Design, or similar role.
- Strong practical experience using Unreal Engine and its tools and workflows.
- Strong knowledge of Unreal Engine Blueprints and the ability to create gameplay logic and systems from scratch.
- Experience prototyping, implementing, tuning, and iterating gameplay features and content in-engine.
- A strong understanding of gameplay logic, scripting and the relationship between game design and technical implementation.
- Experience creating and implementing scripted level events, interactive environments and gameplay systems.
- Good understanding of level design principles and the practical requirements of building playable game environments.
- Ability to diagnose and solve technical problems within gameplay and level content.
- Strong understanding of content structure, asset management and game development pipelines.
- Ability to learn proprietary tools, systems and workflows quickly and efficiently.
- Good understanding of a 3D package, preferably Maya.
- An understanding of performance considerations and the technical limitations of real-time game development.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple disciplines.
Desirable Qualifications
- Experience delivering gameplay features within a AAA development or co-development environment.
- Experience working with Unreal Engine Blueprint systems beyond basic scripting, including reusable and modular gameplay functionality.
- Experience designing or implementing gameplay systems involving combat, AI, 3C’s, interactions or mission logic.
- Experience with open-world level, encounter, mission or feature implementation.
- Experience working with multiplayer or online gameplay features.
- Understanding of Unreal Engine’s wider technical systems and workflows.
- Experience working with animation systems, VFX, audio or other gameplay-facing disciplines.
- Experience with live-service, post-launch or DLC development.
- Experience profiling and optimising gameplay or level content.
- Experience working with version control and collaborative development pipelines.
- An understanding of software development principles and the ability to work effectively alongside engineers.
What We Offer
- Join a friendly, nurturing work environment with the opportunity to build games as part of an extremely talented, ambitious studio.
- Work on market-leading AAA titles and IP with globally reputable studio and publisher partners.
- Be part of a sustainably growing game developer studio as we consciously expand our team and projects on a case-by-case basis.
- Learn within an independent studio across a wide range of projects and opportunities both internal and external.
Application Instructions
- Send portfolio and cover letter.
- If examples are from previous works with another studio, ensure samples are cleared for release by copyright owners.
- Online portfolio links are preferable; otherwise, showreels via Dropbox or other secure sharing platforms are accepted.
- Applications are stored on a private cloud-based system for recruitment purposes only.