Lead Systems Designer

Job Title: Lead Systems Designer

Requisition ID: R025759

Job Description:

Your Platform

Sledgehammer Games is a leading developer in the video game industry, best known for its work on the Call of Duty franchise. Since its founding in 2009, the studio has delivered iconic titles like “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare,” “Call of Duty: WWII,” and most recently, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.” We combine cutting-edge technology with creative vision to produce games that resonate with players worldwide. With a focus on creating high-quality multiplayer experiences and captivating single-player campaigns, we continue to shape the future of first-person shooters.

We are looking for passionate and talented individuals to join our studio team in Toronto, Canada. In this role you will partner closely with our teams at our other studio locations in the United States and Australia in the creation of epic content for some of the biggest games in the world. If you’re ready to be part of a dynamic and collaborative environment where your skills can make a real impact, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us.

This role will be studio based at our Toronto, Canada location with flexible working support.

Sledgehammer Games is part of the Activision family and is wholly owned by Microsoft. To learn more about our studio, please visit us at www.sledgehammergames.com or search for Sledgehammer Games on your favorite social media platform.

Your Mission

As a Lead Systems Designer, you will build gameplay direction and lead a team of designers to ensure its success. You will facilitate ownership of all gameplay systems and determine changes or improvements to the game. As part of our leadership team, you will help maintain high quality standards and expectations across the project.

Reporting into the Toronto Creative Director, the Lead Systems Designer will also work with Studio Leadership to establish mandates for future SHG projects.

The ideal candidate will be a person who can build effective relationships across the studio, work with a variety of partners in a constructive manner, build & inspire a strong team, and nurture the next generation of talent as they deliver content that meets SHG’s standards.

• Act as the systems design leader for all content produced by the Toronto Design team.
• Lead by example in the hands-on creation of content as part of the team’s output.
• Work with franchise owners within other Activision studios to ensure content developed by SHG Toronto fits with franchise creative pillars.
• Partner with the recruitment team to identify key hires, taking an active role in building the core team.
• Interpret high-level vision into clear guidance for the team, holding regular reviews and providing iterative feedback to meet the required quality bar.
• Mentor and lead the game design team, taking an active interest in their development.
• Work with user research during playtests to identify iterative improvements and changes.
• Rally the team and create visible, wide-spread support for direction.
• Communicate progress and resolution of issues with the ability to set guidelines for peers and support teams.
• Represent the team’s work at global SHG all-hands meetings when required.
• Build effective working relationships with key creative and production stakeholders across SHG, helping to ensure consistency of output from the studio.
• Over time, become a key creative leader at the studio with a highly visible presence at team all-hands and other studio events, visiting the Foster City, UK, and Melbourne teams when required.
• Promote the studio’s ‘One Sledgehammer’ philosophy, to help ensure members of the Toronto team feel truly part of the wider studio. Proactively raise any issues regarding team cohesion with studio Leadership.

Minimum Requirements

• 8+ years of industry experience working in the field of game design on AAA titles.
• Expansive knowledge of game design with appreciation and understanding for the other disciplines.
• Ability to pitch concepts clearly and concisely, and which demonstrate critical thinking.
• Experience working with proprietary engines and toolsets.
• Solid understanding of game design with ability to clearly discuss modern trends.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Hunger for gaming (especially online) with a broad range of game experience.
• An egoless attitude that welcomes feedback and criticism, and enjoys working in a collaborative, iterative, and agile process.
• An analytical approach and the ability to break down complex problems into consumable and relevant pieces for others.
• Experience taking major AAA console and PC games from concept to completion.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills.

Extra Points

• 2+ years of experience as a lead systems designer, with at least one shipped title in this position.
• Prior experience working on a games-as-a-service product.
• Experience working on projects involving multiple internal and external partners, and with established franchises where close collaboration with publishing owners is required.

Our World

At Activision, we strive to create the most iconic brands in gaming and entertainment.We’redriven by our mission to deliver unrivaled gaming experiences for the world to enjoy, together. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Crash Bandicoot™, Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™, and Guitar Hero®. As a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and products, our “press start” is simple: delight hundreds of millions of players around the world with innovative, fun, thrilling, and engaging entertainment experiences.

We’renot just looking back at our decades-long legacy;we’reforging ahead to keep advancing gameplay with some of the most popular titles and sophisticated technology in the world. We have bold ambitions to create the most inclusive company as we know our success comes from the passionate, creative, and diverse teams within our organization.

We’rein the business of delivering fun and unforgettable entertainment for our player community to enjoy. And our future opportunities have never been greater – this could be your opportunity to level up.

Ready to Activate Your Future?

The video game industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

Sledgehammer Games is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.