Game Designer III - VALORANT, Competitive Systems

As a Senior Game Designer, you will design, tweak, and optimize the player experience. Your analytical skills, player insight, and creativity aid in crafting in- and out-of-game experiences that engage and surprise players. You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and work with every tool at hand to innovate and iterate player-focused designs that'll delight millions around the world.

VALORANT is Riot’s take on a character-based tactical shooter (for more info on VALORANT click here!). As a Game Designer III working on the Competitive Systems team you will design and deliver world class competitive and ranked systems.  You will deeply understand what motivates competitive players and understand how to craft systems that are competitively sound and satisfying to compete in. You will be responsible for designing solutions that solve design problems for players across different platforms and how to balance for their unique player experiences. You will report to the Lead Metasystems Designer.

• Design Competitive and Ranked Systems that value players’ continued investment in VALORANT.
• Design and support matchmaking services to ensure players compete in fair matches.
• Work with other disciplines to take content and features from conception to our players’ hands.
• Seek opportunities for new design spaces in collaboration with Product Managers and Design Leadership. 
• Create and provide multiple potential designs and solutions. Articulate trade-offs and risks between different options with a clear understanding of content and product level goals.
• Playtest VALORANT and help push for continued improvements for existing designs and fresh prototypes.

• 5+ years of experience in professional Game Design
• Shipped or worked on at least one AAA+ online competitive game
• Can create and improve complex systems with attention to the player impacts and downstream effects
• Proven ability to articulate decision making frameworks with other designers and team members

• Deep level of understanding, passion, and engagement with online competitive games.
• Experience developing online matchmaking or ranked systems.
• Familiarity with online shooters, especially VALORANT and/or tactical shooters
• Views potential 'charged' player feedback as an opportunity to better understand and improve the product. 
• Experience balancing competitive integrity with satisfying game systems.
• Experience developing on multiple platforms, PC, Mobile, and Console.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!

Riot has a focus on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy, in addition to other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application.

It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

• Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
• Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
• Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
• Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.