Thatgamecompany

Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)

Remote - US

No sponsorshipDetected 166 days ago

C++C#UnityUnreal EngineLeadershipMentoring

About the role

You'll combine leadership with direct hands-on contributions, helping to refine the structure and our gameplay experiences while managing a small team of designers.
Employees in this position are eligible to participate in the Company's standard employee benefit programs, which currently include the following: medical, dental, vision, 401k, and paid time off.

Lead the design and evolution of core systems such as in-game economies (large and small), progression, rewards, and feature loops that drive long-term engagement
Design and implement interactive features and gameplay patterns with a focus on simplicity and relatability
Collaborate across disciplines - with engineering, art, and production - to ensure designs are holistic, feasible, and aligned with creative goals
Mentor and manage a small number of designers, helping them grow and thrive in a collaborative environment
Drive and evangelize best practices in systems design, economy balancing, and live feature iteration
Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team
This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of systems thinking, live game design, and practical implementation with an intense player focus - someone who can lead a feature from concept to live operations as well as refine existing systems.
Support for personal professional development

Extensive experience with live games and economy design
Experience balancing game systems based on player feedback and analytics
Experience working in 3D engines (Unity, Unreal, or similar)
Familiarity with multiplayer and online game systems
Proficiency in scripting languages or light programming (e.g., C#, C++, or visual scripting)
Experience integrating monetization thoughtfully within player-centric systems
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S or Canada.

Think holistically about feature ecosystems and their impact on player motivation and long-term retention
Thrive in small, collaborative teams and are comfortable wearing multiple hats
Have experience mentoring or managing other designers, even in a flat or hybrid leadership model
Care deeply about the player experience and designing systems that are meaningful, ethical, and fun
Don't mind taking an assessment/proprietary test during the interview process.

The salary range for this position is $98,000 USD to $153,000 USD annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus.

Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Two Weeks Winter Break
Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company.
Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job-there's no waiting period before they kick in.
Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
Pre-tax wellness stipend
Pre-tax work from home stipend
Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

We are a small studio dedicated to crafting unique and high-quality interactive experiences, and we are looking for a talented Lead Systems Designer to guide and shape the holistic design of our game economy, core features, and player engagement.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

This listing is sourced directly from Thatgamecompany's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.