Senior Combat Designer

uk remote or west midlands based – birmingham/ full-time, contract

please note: we welcome applicants that prefer to work from home, so please get in touch!

role and purpose:

we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced senior combat designer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and refining engaging, responsive, and challenging combat experiences that are central to our title’s gameplay. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams including design, animation, and engineering to ensure that our combat systems are intuitive, immersive, and rewarding for players.

this position is ideal for someone who is not only passionate about combat design but also dedicated to enhancing player experience through innovative mechanics and gameplay systems. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in both first-person shooter (fps) and third-person melee combat systems, across both pve and pvp environments.

responsibilities:

• develop, prototype, and iterate on core combat mechanics, including player controls, enemy ai, and weapon systems.
• design and balance combat features such as character abilities, weapon interactions, combo systems, and difficulty scaling.
• ensure that combat systems align with the overall game vision and enhance the player’s experience and engagement.
• design and implement combat systems for first-person ranged and melee combat, as well as third-person melee combat, ensuring fluidity, responsiveness, and depth.
• work closely with game designers, level designers, animators, and engineers to ensure cohesive and polished combat interactions.
• participate in cross-functional reviews and playtests, providing actionable feedback and refining combat elements to achieve high-quality gameplay.
• collaborate with the narrative and audio teams to ensure that combat feels immersive and is well-integrated into the game’s world and story.
• conduct regular playtests to gather feedback, identify issues, and drive iterative improvements in combat mechanics.
• analyse player data and feedback to balance combat elements, ensuring that difficulty, responsiveness, and pacing align with player expectations.
• use data-driven decision-making to optimise and adjust combat mechanics, ai behaviours, and damage models for an engaging and fair experience.
• implement combat mechanics and prototypes using industry-standard tools and engines (e.g. Unity, unreal engine).
• collaborate with the engineering team to address technical challenges and ensure smooth gameplay experiences.
• create and maintain thorough design documentation for combat systems, detailing mechanics, user inputs, and design intentions.
• stay up to date with current trends and best practices in combat design, especially in genres similar to our projects.
• propose new and innovative approaches to combat that differentiate our games and enhance player satisfaction.
• contribute to a culture of creativity and experimentation, encouraging the team to explore unique ideas in combat design.
• participate in staff interviews, onboarding, mentorship programs and performance reviews, fostering skill development and growth.

requirements:

• proven track record of successful combat design project contribution. Portfolio can demonstrate expertise in designing combat mechanics for at least one published title.
• strong familiarity with game engines (e.g. Unreal engine, unity) and combat prototyping tools, as well as a working knowledge of scripting and/or visual scripting.
• deep understanding of combat mechanics, including first-person shooters, third-person melee combat, enemy behaviours, ai design, player abilities, and controls.
• excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• lead by example, keeping an enthusiastic attitude for the project whilst motivating and supporting a diverse team
• strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to balancing and optimising combat systems.
• a keen understanding of player psychology and engagement, with the ability to design combat that is both challenging and satisfying for players.
• strong attention to detail, with a commitment to…