Game Designer (Senior/Lead)

Deck Nine Games is an independent game developer dedicated to crafting interactive story games that inspire, transform, and entertain players. Our passion is storytelling games. Our first narrative game, Life is Strange: Before the Storm is loved by fans and has won multiple awards, including Game of Year and was nominated for both a VGA and a BAFTA. The studio is 100+ people and is in sunny Westminster, Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains.
We're looking for talented and self-motivated people to join us as we aim to rise to the top of the storytelling game studios. We are part of the thriving Colorado game dev scene and our location offers a lower cost of living and a proximity to countless family-friendly activities and amazing outdoor opportunities. As the crafters of stories that encompass the full breadth of life's experiences, Deck Nine is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural team in which people from all walks of life feel inspired to do their best work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believe deeply in the creativity and strength built from diversity of race, religion, disability, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, and the many other qualities that make us different.
The Position:
Deck Nine Games is currently hiring a Lead Game Designer for our next narrative adventure game.
Could this be you? Well, do you love single player games? Do you enjoy crafting narrow but deep experiences? Can you love a game equally for its gameplay and its characters, its themes and its story arcs? Do you hunger to stand in front of a team, inspire them and lead them in creating a deeply personal game that fans talk about for years? If so, then you may be the right person for the job.
If you are a talented and passionate game developer and you are looking to challenge yourself creatively, please apply today! Position is full time, on-site or remote, and applicants must already be authorized to work in the U.S.
Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the game director to develop a shared vision that merges gameplay and story
• Mentor a team of gameplay and level designers to create innovative game experiences
• Understand the needs of our players and ensure the gameplay developed by the team contributes to an engaging and memorable player experience
• Work with the story team to break the story with an eye toward gameplay
• Get your hands dirty in the prototypes, game levels, and game systems
• Work together with the art team to craft visually impressive visual experiences that furthers gameplay
• Work closely with everyone to create clear creative strategies and solve creative problems
• Listen to all the ideas, coherently answer questions, and protect the core vision
• Review, troubleshoot, and provide feedback
• Be a passionate leader every day

Requirements:

• 6+ years of experience in game design, preferably with 3+ years as a Lead Designer or Design Director
• Significant involvement in 2 published games, with at least 1 project at senior level
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills
• Exceptional creativity and design skills
• Strong knowledge of player mentality and motivations
• Strong technical ability to prototype game mechanics
• Passionate about narrative adventure games and the desire to grow their gameplay
• Knowledge of both contemporary gameplay and narrative design
• Strong understanding of current and past game trends

Pluses:

• Good knowledge of at least 1 industry-standard engine, ideally Unreal 4
• Familiarity with a variety of editors and scripting languages
• Understanding the specific needs of narrative adventure games
• Shipped at least 1 narrative adventure game
• An excellent understanding of non-linear narrative systems and structures
• Puzzle design experience, especially in the context of narrative adventures

Benefits Include:

• Health Insurance with United HealthCare
• Dental and Vision - at no cost to you
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• And so much more!