Experienced Game Designer

Schell Games is a highly talented group of artists, programmers, producers, and game designers led by game industry veteran Jesse Schell.  We're the largest full-service education and entertainment game development company in the United States.  Since 2002, we've worked with world-class clients and partners to create interactive experiences that engage and inspire players of all ages across all platforms.  Presently, we are focused on virtual reality, augmented reality, location-based experiences, and social games.

Do you like to work on innovative projects in a motivating, friendly atmosphere? Would you agree that games can engage and inspire?

If you answered "YES!" to both questions, you might be a fit for our studio!  

EXPERIENCED GAME DESIGNER

We are looking for an Experienced Game Designer with multidisciplinary skills and a passion for game design.  Our game designers combine diverse perspectives from many fields such as entertainment, early childhood development, psychology, architecture, history, economics, anthropology, and much more.  They take great pride in crafting experiences that delight and engage for both entertainment and educational goals.  An ideal candidate thrives on the energy and excitement of collaborative creativity with a passionate team and is eager to explore a breadth of game design skills.  Game designers also thrive on designing elegant gameplay systems using game design principles and game engine knowledge.  They love the idea of working on wildly different projects of all shapes and sizes.  If you think you are this designer, we would like to hear from you.

Game Designers at Schell Games may find themselves responsible for:

• Features: Design, prototyping, and iteration of gameplay mechanics that realize the vision of the client, the project director, and lead designer
• Systems: Leverage game engine knowledge to build game systems that are effective, efficient, and optimized
• Content: Outline content needs for gameplay systems, work within multidisciplinary teams to scope, pipeline, and implement content in game
• Balance: Iterate, balance, and adjust gameplay elements based on internal and playtest feedback
• Prototyping: Using tools to prototype new experiences and ideas, evaluating prototypes, working with team to determine next steps
• Documentation: Draft, maintain and review internal design documentation, including feature specifications and implementation guides
• UX: Work with UX designers/artists to design, implement, playtest, and polish elegant UI flow and player experience for game systems
• Playtest: Analyze data and player feedback to continually optimize existing game experience
• Synthesis: Provide direction to the game team by engaging the team’s skills and experience and focusing effort
• Concept Creation: Draft client or internal pitches for a variety of game genres and RPFs

EXPECTATIONS OF AN ADVANCED ROLE AT SCHELL GAMES:

You consistently seek out best practices from experts within and outside of the studio and incorporate them into your work. Your craft skills allow you to deliver on the team's vision. You clearly understand how your work affects your colleagues and the experience you are building. Although you are still learning how to be an expert, your teams benefit greatly from your growing expertise.

You communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. You build relationships, communication channels, and efficiency within your team. You seek feedback, and address it consistently and effectively.

You excel in your project role. You advocate on behalf of the guest and understand how that translates to project goals and constraints. You're comfortable working within our development methodologies and explore different ways to make your team more effective. 

Others look to you to help make decisions on the team. You are able to constructively work through conflict with members of your team.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be located in the Pittsburgh area for the role and expected to be in the office Tuesday-Thursday, with 3 extra WFH days per month
• 3-5 years of experience in a cross-disciplinary game development team environment
• Ability to work collaboratively to support all team members
• Ability to utilize Unreal and/or Unity game engines to create prototypes, iterate on gameplay features, and produce content
  • Preference for working knowledge in both Unreal and Unity
• Demonstrate working technical knowledge of Unreal/Unity processes, source control standards, and basic scripting best practices 
• One or more published games for evaluation
• Demonstrated excellence in designing and implementing compelling gameplay, gameplay systems, or user development tools
• Demonstrable development expertise beyond game design
• Strong knowledge of prototyping best practices
• Rapid iteration experience

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated collaboration skills
• Experience with Virtual Reality & other emerging entertainment technologies
• Experience or desire to work on transformational or educational games
• Experience with mobile or touchscreen games
• Experience in location-based entertainment

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

• Degree in entertainment technology, computer science, or other related technical or gaming field

DEI COMMITMENT:

Our studio is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive work environment that ensures that all applicants and team members are treated with dignity and respect.  We will not tolerate any type of discrimination or harassment directed at any applicant or employee because of their sex, gender, gender identity, race, color, religion, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, veteran, family or parental status or any other protected group characteristic.  This equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy applies to all aspects of employment including recruitment, hiring, promotions, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training.

Prohibiting discrimination and harassment is only one part of the equation. “Diversity makes us strong” is more than just something we say.  We value diversity in all forms because it is essential to our success, and we want every member of our team to feel their best creative self.  Our development environment and social culture are based on welcoming, respecting, and celebrating differences among our team members and our players.  We rely on each person to add their own unique skills and perspective to our culture.  Every member of our team is responsible for making the studio as inclusive and equitable as possible.

Candidate selected for this position will be subject to standard employment verification and criminal background check upon offer of contingent employment.

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