Senior Game Designer

This job is posted for Smile Break via Parallel
Job Summary
We are seeking a creative and experienced Senior Level Designer to join our team and help shape a top-tier third-person action RPG experience featuring a high-profile licensed IP. This full-time, remote position offers an opportunity to join the Quest Design team, creating memorable gameplay experiences that blend combat and narrative into engaging, highly polished Quests.
You will own Quests from concept through implementation, collaborating closely with Narrative, Game Design, Engineering, Art, Animation, Audio, and Production to deliver compelling gameplay experiences that capture the fantasy of the IP while maintaining strong pacing, readability, and replayability.
Key Responsibilities
Design, prototype, and own Quests from concept through implementation, creating memorable gameplay experiences that blend combat, narrative, and objectives.
Author paper designs, gameplay flows, and Quest layouts, iterating through stakeholder feedback before implementation and blockout.
Create, evolve and implement reusable gameplay scenarios with varying objectives types that can be leveraged across multiple Quests.
Design and balance Quest structure, including gameplay pacing, encounter sequencing, objective flow, and combat challenge.
Implement and iterate on Quests in Unity using gameplay scripting and data-driven tools, ensuring implementation aligns with design intent.
Collaborate closely with Narrative, Game Design, Art, Engineering, Audio, and Production through regular reviews and cross-discipline handoffs.
Create and maintain clear design documentation, gameplay metrics, design pillars, and implementation specifications that support efficient development across the team.
Playtest Quests, gameplay systems, and new mechanics, incorporating feedback and verifying that content meets design intent and quality standards.
Requirements
5+ years of experience in Quest Design, Mission Design, Level Design, Gameplay Design, or equivalent game design roles in the game industry.
Demonstrated experience owning levels from concept through implementation, including gameplay planning, iteration, cross-discipline collaboration, and final delivery.
Proficiency implementing gameplay using Unity or comparable game engines (Unreal), including gameplay scripting and data-driven systems.
Strong understanding of player guidance, gameplay readability, pacing, encounter sequencing, scene composition, layout flow and overall player experience.
Experience designing and balancing combat encounters, including encounter composition, pacing, enemy placement, challenge, and gameplay flow using playtest feedback and iteration.
Strong documentation skills with the ability to produce both detailed implementation specifications and concise, executive-friendly summaries.
Excellent problem-solving skills with a deep understanding of player experience, gameplay pacing, readability, and Quest flow.
Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across other design disciplines.
Ability to be proactive and independently own work through peer review, playtesting, iteration, and final implementation while maintaining a high quality bar.
Nice-to-Have Qualifications
Experience designing Quests or Missions for third-person action games, action RPGs, or narrative-driven gameplay experiences.
Experience creating reusable gameplay scenarios, encounter templates, or modular Quest content that can be leveraged across multiple gameplay experiences.
Strong understanding of data-driven gameplay systems and configuration tools used to drive Quest logic, progression, rewards, and gameplay behaviors.
Experience evaluating new gameplay mechanics and integrating them into existing Quest frameworks while maintaining consistency with overall game design.
Experience contributing to gameplay metrics, level design standards, design pillars, or cross-team development processes.
Experience collaborating with licensors or working on established IPs.
Familiarity with industry-standard development tools such as Unity, Jira, Confluence, Miro, Git, and Perforce.
Compensation and Benefits:
Salary range: $110,000 - $145,000 USD
Unlimited PTO (used responsibly and subject to business needs)
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
401(k) with company match
Fully remote work
Smile Break is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the country in which they reside. Visa sponsorship is not currently available for this position.

Work arrangement
Yes