Senior Combat Designer (Enemies / Bosses)

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. This is a 6-month contract.

Insomniac Games is looking for a Senior Combat Designer (Enemies/Bosses). In this role, the Senior Combat Designer (Enemies/Bosses) is accountable for the quality and on-time delivery of combat gameplay, specifically focused on enemies, mini-bosses, and bosses. Designer will be responsible for initial pitches, prototyping, implementation, iteration, polish and balance for AI enemies, smaller-scale mini-bosses, and larger boss encounters, as needed. Work will be done in a highly collaborative, cross-disciplinary pod, under the direction and review of combat and design leads.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Hands-on implementation work on initial design, prototyping, iteration, balance and polish of AI enemy combatants, mini-boss characters, and large-scale boss encounters.
• Directly implements and iterates on Enemy AI and bosses through proprietary internal tools and scripting systems.
• Works within a cross-disciplinary pod. Collaborates directly with Gameplay Programming, Animation, and other pod members to best leverage skills and creativity across all departments.
• Writes and regularly updates clear gameplay system documentation detailing functionality and best practices for using Enemy AI across missions and levels.
• Gathers and prioritized feedback from multiple sources. Proactively implements changes and improvements in enemy / boss design to respond to issues around clarity, balance, and playability. Drives continual improvement on assigned combat work.
• Supports Mission Designers, as needed, through best practices, training, and model encounters. May also work on combat encounters directly within Missions.
• Coordinates with other combat design staff on game-wide combat issues, including difficulty, balance, enemy differentiation, enemy introductions, etc.
• Contributes to a safe, supportive, and creative work environment that exemplifies our studio values.
• Other creative duties as needed.

Experience and Education

• Five or more years of professional game design experience, with at least one shipped title as a Combat Designer.
• Expertise in the current state of combat design craft across the games industry.
• Experience in designing, prototyping, implementing, and polishing enemy AI combatants and boss characters.
• High proficiency with modern game engines, such as Unreal or proprietary engines. Proven experience in scripting, prototyping, and iterating gameplay systems directly. Experience in 3D layout a plus.
• Strong skills in written, verbal, and visual communication across disciplines.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.
• Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills: 

• Intermediate knowledge and experience with level editing tools and scripting (Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar editors). 
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya or other major 3D modeling programs. 
• Adobe Illustrator experience and UE4 Blueprint scripting skills are a plus. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. 

Other Skills: 

• Individual must have very good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with team members and other developers. 
• Strong communication skills including verbal and written skills are required.