Sr Combat Designer

Job Description

Santa Monica Studio, the award-winning team behind God of War, is seeking a Sr Combat Designer to contribute to the development of a new, unannounced title. This role involves designing and implementing enemy and boss characters, collaborating with various disciplines to ensure cohesive execution within the game.

Responsibilities:

• Create high-level character design intent and combat flow plans.
• Implement character animation and behavior using state machines, behavior trees, visual and sound effects, and scripting systems.
• Iteratively work within the set standard for character asset design, creation, and in-game implementation.
• Participate in combat-specific and production-related discussions.
• Represent complex design and character features to multiple departments.
• Value the relationship between gameplay elements and player responses.
• Respond to playtest and lead feedback to improve the player experience.
• Drive and create opportunities for value addition within the team and studio.

Requirements:

• 4+ years of professional experience in game development.
• 2+ years of experience in a Character design capacity (creative and technical).
• Experience using text-based and visual scripting languages.
• Basic knowledge of vector math, scripting languages, and code (e.g., XML, C++, Lua).
• Ability to work with code-based proprietary tools.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of competitive products and gameplay genres.
• Quality written communication skills.
• Ability to professionally communicate and work with other team members.
• Ability to discuss combat systems, mechanics, and enemies in 3rd person melee action RPGs.

The role offers:

• Top-tier benefits package including medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), and paid time off.
• Wellness program and employee discounts for Sony products.
• Eligibility for a bonus package.