Systems & Economy Designer (Intermediate/Senior)
Job Description
Key Skills Required
Master these to land this role
Want to know if you're a match for this job?
As a Systems & Economy Designer, you’ll tackle some of the most complex design problems in our live games. You’ll work with mature systems and economies that have evolved over many years, identifying where things aren’t working as intended, understanding why, and designing solutions that improve the game for the long term.
This work is rarely one-and-done. You’ll establish hypotheses, build models, design solutions, launch changes carefully, measure their impact, and continue iterating as you learn more. You’ll need to understand not only the numbers, but also how changes affect player behavior and how they are likely to be received by a passionate community.
We’re open to hiring this role at either the Intermediate or Senior level depending on experience. A Senior designer will be expected to take on broader and more ambiguous problems with greater autonomy, while also sharing their expertise and supporting other designers on the team.
What You Will Do
- Design, balance, maintain, and iterate on progression systems, currencies, reward structures, monetization systems, and other core game systems
- Investigate complex system and economy problems to uncover root causes and develop solutions
- Build spreadsheet models to simulate progression, balance economies, and forecast outcomes
- Lead design initiatives from problem definition and scoping through implementation and launch, working closely with Product, Engineering, Creative, Community, and other designers
- Use data, player behavior, and community feedback to guide decisions, define success metrics, and evaluate outcomes
- Improve the tools, frameworks, documentation, and processes we use to design and maintain our games, including scripting, AI, and automation
- Participate in our live-ops on-call rotation for several days per month, helping the team respond quickly to urgent issues as they arise
- Stay closely connected to player sentiment, community discussions, and trends in the free-to-play mobile market
- Share your expertise and support other designers through mentorship, feedback, and collaboration
Who We Are Looking For
- 3-5 years of experience in game design, with a focus on systems or economy design
- Experience working on free-to-play games, preferably live service mobile games
- A strong understanding of F2P economies, progression, monetization, and retention mechanics
- Strong familiarity with the free-to-play mobile market and genuine interest in understanding the games, systems, and player behaviors within it
- Strong spreadsheet skills and experience building models to simulate balance, progression, or economic outcomes
- Strong data literacy, including familiarity with F2P KPIs and using data to investigate problems and evaluate design changes
- Experience owning design projects through implementation, launch, analysis, and subsequent iteration
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex systems and design rationale clearly across disciplines
- Nice to have:
- Experience with strategy, farming, puzzle adventure/exploration, or match-3 games
- SQL query and/or Looker experience
How would you rate this job post?
See what other professionals think about this role.
Similar Opportunities
Explore Top Companies in this Space
Homa
Mobile Gaming & Publishing / GameDev AI Tools / Data Analytics Platforms / Consumer Media Technology
Tripledot Studios
Video Games / Mobile Gaming / Entertainment
Nexters
Mobile Gaming
ZeptoLab
Video Games / Mobile Gaming / Digital Entertainment
A Thinking Ape
View Company ProfileA Thinking Ape (operating at athinkingape.com) is a mobile gaming company specializing in social strategy games designed for long-term player engagement. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company focuses on creating massively multiplayer mobile experiences that foster community-driven interaction. Unlike traditional single-player or competitive games, A Thinking Ape’s titles emphasize collaborative and creative gameplay, encouraging players to build lasting connections and communities. Their flagship product, *Party In My Dorm*, exemplifies this approach by blending social mechanics with strategic depth, allowing players to engage in persistent, evolving worlds. This design philosophy appeals to both casual and dedicated gamers, offering a unique blend of accessibility and depth. Backed by substantial funding—including a reported total of $71.2 billion in investments—the company has scaled its operations while maintaining a lean, autonomous culture that prioritizes employee autonomy and flexible work arrangements.
Safety First
- Never pay for a job application.
- Do not share sensitive bank info.
- Verify the client before starting work.
