Game Designer

ABOUT HARDSUIT LABS

Founded in 2015 by industry veterans Andy Kipling and Russell Nelson, we are a Seattle based game developer and co-dev studio who were recently acquired by Keywords Studios in 2023. We believe that great games can only be built with great people and that great people thrive and do their best work in a healthy, collaborative, and positive work environment that values them. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace and building equity throughout the organization. At Hardsuit Labs, we are respectful and inclusive, we are problem solvers and efficiency champions, we are curious and collaborative, we are flexible and adaptable and most of all we are always looking to deliver excellence in the experiences and products that we craft!

As a studio we have built a reputation as an Unreal Engine focused development house, working in a multitude of genres and games, from support work and work for hire to original development. We have long-standing relationships with some of the largest gaming companies in the industry and are a certified developer across all major platforms.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Level Design | Mission Design | Gameplay Design

As part of Keywords Studios, we are gifted with the opportunity to partner with a variety of studios across the globe on all types of games and genres. If the idea of bringing your skills to bear upon an ever-changing landscape of games in collaboration with teams all over the world sounds exciting to you...well, continue reading my friend.

Every partnership we engage with will bring a new set of specific needs, but the skills you will be flexing include:

• Collaborate with internal and external teams/disciplines to achieve end-user experience goals
• Conceptualization, documentation and ideation of levels, spaces, missions, and gameplay experiences
• Work with a variety of technologies, systems, and platforms
• Grey-boxing, pacing, layout beats, scripting, encounters, gameplay implementation
• Testing, debugging, level performance, streaming, and optimization
• Environmental storytelling, world building, tone, setting, art propping
• Manage and maintain work and documentation
• Actively contribute to the improvement of pipelines and the team around you
• Be a source of knowledge and mentorship to others

Requirements

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• 4+ years of experience working in professional production environments in game design, level design, and mission design
• Collaborator able to work across internal and external teams/disciplines as a team player
• Pro-active problem solver who will see problems through to resolution
• Excellent active communication skills and follow through
• Experience conceptualizing, developing, and shipping levels and missions end to end
• Good sense of 3D game space, pacing, flow, immersion, player motivation, and aesthetics
• Strong understanding and comfort with technical concepts, logic, and logic flow
• A strong understanding of Unreal Engine and its development environment

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience with a range of game engines and tool sets
• Experience in other development roles - Production, Engineering, Art, QA
• Experience in developing networked games and cooperative experiences
• Capable with Maya / Max or 3D software equivalent
• Console development experience

Benefits

• Group Insurance: dental and health care benefits
• Group RRSP + employer matching contribution
• Employee and Family Assistance Program