Lead Designer, Game Systems

Avalanche is a Warner Bros. Games studio located in downtown Salt Lake City nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. We've been in the video game business since 1995, creating interactive experiences for fans of the world's largest franchises. Join the team behind the blockbuster open world, action RPG Hogwarts Legacy as we create what's next!

Lead Designer, Game Systems

The Job

As a Lead Designer, Game Systems for our Online Multiplayer RPG, you will spearhead the design and implementation of numerous gameplay loop systems that tie together the player experience at a meta game level. You will collaborate closely with the Game and Design Directors to oversee and implement the strategic integration of player progression, in-game economies, rewards, account systems, social systems, and game mechanics, ensuring that these systems create an engaging, cohesive, and rewarding player journey.

Your Role Accountabilities...

This role will focus on designing, coordinating, and enhancing the overall gameplay experience across multiple systems in the game. This position includes a blend of creative, strategic, management, and technical responsibilities.

Design Leadership:

• Lead the development of core gameplay loops and meta systems, such as player progression, skill trees, crafting, in-game economies, or mission systems.

• Define and balance meta-level features that enhance long-term player engagement, retention, and monetization strategies.

• Create, prototype, and iterate on innovative gameplay features that harmonize across various in-game systems.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Collaborate closely with design, product, narrative, engineering, and art disciplines to ensure meta systems complement and enhance the player experience.

• Work with product managers and analysts to ensure that gameplay systems align with overall project goals and player behavior insights.

• Partner with UX/UI designers to create intuitive, player-friendly interfaces for meta systems.

Balance and Tuning:

• Ensure progression systems are balanced, fair, and provide meaningful advancement and rewards.

• Lead and implement tuning and balancing processes, utilizing player feedback and data to improve gameplay experiences.

Vision and Documentation:

• Define and document the vision for Systems features and ensure they align with the overall creative and design direction of the game.

• Lead the creation of high-quality design documentation, including system designs, flowcharts, and user stories.

Mentorship and Team Leadership:

• Mentor and manage senior to junior designers to provide guidance to other design team members.

• Promote a collaborative, creative, and innovative design culture within the team.

Qualifications & Essentials...

• 7+ years of experience in game design, with at least 3-5+ years leading or owning major online multiplayer gameplay systems.

• Deep understanding of core gameplay mechanics and how they interact with meta systems (e.g., progression, economy, player retention strategies).

• Proven experience in designing and balancing complex systems across multiple in-game layers.

• Strong collaboration and communication skills across departments, including engineering, art, narrative, and production.

• Ability to conceptualize, prototype, and implement gameplay systems.

• Proficiency with game design software (e.g., Unreal Engine).

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret player data and adjust designs accordingly.

• Management experience working with AAA quality design cross functional teams.

Nice to Haves...

• Experience with implementing data informed game design and a passion for using metrics to enhance player experience.

• Experience with scripting languages or a technical background is a plus.

• Deep knowledge of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in game design.

• A passion for online multiplayer RPGs

How We Get Things Done...

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $108,150.00 - $200,850.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

If you're a qualified candidate with an arrest or conviction record, please know that your application will be considered in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.