Principal AI Designer

At Hangar 13 we have the best of both worlds: the fast moving, creative mentality of a start-up backed by the stability and global impact of a major publisher. Each of us is empowered to take ownership, move ideas forward, and enact change. No matter where you are in Hangar 13, everything you do impacts your project, your team, the studio and—most importantly—the games we make. At Hangar 13 you play a pivotal role in building and defining not only fantastic games but the studio itself. Hangar 13 is an internal 2K development studio that creates influential AAA video game experiences across all major platforms. The studio is based in four locations around the world: Brighton (UK), Brno & Prague (Czech Republic) and across the US, working collaboratively as one team. Each of our locations provides the opportunity to work with some of the most talented developers in the industry, on creatively challenging and exciting projects, in a diverse and welcoming environment. Our focus is on making the highest quality games with sustainable, healthy development plans; to tell stories that engage players through worlds and experiences that keep them hooked from start to finish. We strive to be a studio where our team members know they can make a difference and grow professionally alongside creating games they are proud of. Join our team and help craft the development of Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily.

What We Need

Hangar 13 is in search of an experienced and highly skilled AI Designer who has a passion for creating engaging AI Systems and Behaviours that provide great gameplay and really help sell the fantasy of the game. You enjoy analysing AI and Player behaviours and want to create novel gameplay experiences.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Ownership of some of the AI behaviours and features from prototype to shipping
• Own the feature development for AI game design, combat and non-combat NPC’s in the game
• Craft new archetypes that fit the vision of a Mafia game, from creative and technical design prototypes to enemy behaviours and abilities
• Evangelise core gameplay features to the rest of the team and help develop best practices for the designers to utilise in their content
• Ensure that players can understand AI intention and plan their combat accordingly
• Analyse, validate and incorporate feedback from the team and external user testing
• Collaborate in cross-discipline pods to implement, tune and balance combat
• Author and maintain design documentation

What We’re Looking For:

• A deep understanding of game design principles and the role of AI in gameplay loops
• Understanding of how AI, tactical space and player verbs combine to create unique moments
• Experience working with Unreal Engine
• Passion for creating complex, balanced systems and linking those to desired player experiences
• Keeps up to date with current industry trends, features and techniques related to the execution of engaging AIs
• Has proven ability to create fun, engaging combat or non-combat NPC’s in a previous role
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration is second nature, and you know how to use diverse opinions to bring the best out of your features
• Shipped one or more AAA game titles in an AI Design role or similar
• Ability to drive prioritisation and scheduling of work for owned feature(s)
• Creative problem-solving skills, able to consider both the details and the bigger picture
• Can independently understand and solve technical challenges related to your features
• Strong documentation skills, proficiency with Wiki systems or Confluence is a plus
• Strong collaboration skills, able to work well with team members from other subject areas and in other locations

Hangar 13 prides itself on the diversity of its team members, partners, and communities. For this reason, we remain committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all aspects of the employment relationship, from recruitment and hiring through compensation, benefits, discipline and termination. As an equal opportunity employer, we are also committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application and/or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need to request reasonable accommodation.