Senior Game Designer – 12 Month Contract in Runcorn

d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co‑development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. Our studio, part of the global Keywords Studios Group, works on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement. The d3t studios are based near Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear) and Madrid. We provide a professional and supportive working environment, pride ourselves on an anti‑crunch ethos and a mentoring culture, and have been awarded ‘Best Places to Work’ by gamesindustry.biz. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider’ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 and 2024.

Our Design team is expanding and this exciting opportunity is for a Senior Game Designer on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract (initially). The role is based in one of our UK studio sites (Daresbury or Newcastle) and operates on a hybrid working basis: three days per week in the studio (Wednesday, Thursday, and another day of your choice). The Design team at d3t is an agile and close‑knit group of cross‑disciplinary designers, geared fully for co‑development: we work across a broad array of projects and own core design on the full spectrum of game types and genres, from the first sketches to the final shipped design. Our expertise covers everything from broad feature design, fast‑moving creative ownership, and specialist design expertise in areas such as technical design, level design, combat, systems, narrative, and much more.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Become a key part of the Game Design team, contributing and owning game features, components, and broad‑spectrum design for AAA co‑dev videogame projects across a wide range of genres.
• Exhibit excellent design know‑how across the whole development process, from the first Post‑It note to the final shipping design.
• Be agile and flexible, able to adapt quickly to new design problems, and build within a broad spectrum of areas and genres as a busy co‑development team requires.
• Participate in ideation, prototyping, refining, and finishing design features alongside internal teams and external client resources.
• Design, iterate, test, and ship your work across PC and console, maintaining a high degree of quality throughout.
• Exercise good design practices and procedures, holding yourself and the team to high production and quality standards.
• Be the owner and champion of design work with both internal and external stakeholders, presenting and discussing work with confidence and trust.
• Collaborate with production and Design leadership to provide accurate task estimations and assist with schedule balancing.
• As a co‑developer, good time management and prioritisation are a must.
• Above all, work within a diverse and close‑knit team in a respectful, constructive manner at all times, acting as a model of respect and professionalism for others.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

• 5+ years of experience, with proven released projects in a senior design or equivalent position.
• Strong hands‑on experience in a major modern engine (e.g., UE5 blueprints).
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of broad design work and feature ownership, ideally across multiple genres.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including some presentation skill.
• Ability to organise and structure your own work and that of the team.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations with a flexible and professional attitude.
• Hungry to learn and expand your areas of expertise.
• A calm, positive and professional attitude alongside excellent time‑management and organisational skills.
• Team player, with the ability to work as part of a diverse, fast‑moving team.
• Passion, energy, and infectious enthusiasm for videogames and development.
• Great attitude: we value cultural fit, creativity, and positivity here.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Ability to work in other engines outside of Unreal: Unity, Decima, Frostbite, or proprietary engines.
• Experience working with industry‑standard tracking and documentation tools like Jira and Confluence, or equivalents.
• Some experience in client‑facing roles, including pitching experience.

STUDIO BENEFITS & PERKS

• 25 days holiday (+ bank holidays & up to 5 days extra for length of service)
• Company Pension Scheme
• Eye Care Scheme
• Anti‑crunch ethos – a professional, fun and supportive working environment
• Income Protection
• Discretionary Annual Bonus
• Free Parking
• Company Socials, Monthly Lunches & Annual d3t Events
• Breakout Areas – filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences

Interviews will be held by video call.

d3t is strongly committed to protecting your personal information. By sending your CV/Resume, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and consent to your data being managed and retained in accordance with our data privacy and retention policy. We will keep your personal details on file for 6 months and they will not be kept longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it is being retained. If you prefer that your personal details are not retained then please advise.