Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Design engaging gameplay features for the iconic Football Manager franchise.
- Company: Join Sports Interactive, a leading gaming studio under SEGA Europe.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, flexible gym options, and free access to games.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team creating authentic football experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in game design, strong communication skills, and a love for football.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for mentorship and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The gaming studio behind: âš½ Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive (SI) became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever-growing audience across an increasing variety of platforms.
To support our growth, we welcome the opportunity to connect with passionate people with the drive to match our ambitions and initiative to realise your individual potential.
Location: Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E15 2GW
Contract: Fixed Term contract for 12 months
Position Overview
Sports Interactive are looking for talented Mid/Senior Game Designers to join the studio and work on the Football Manager franchise, with opportunities available on both a permanent and a fixed-term contract basis. As a Senior Game Designer, you will be responsible for taking ownership of and driving the latest feature designs for Football Manager projects. Typical activities will include features definition, systems, and interfaces; aiming to feed our football simulation with more quality, depth and authenticity.
You will join an ambitious and passionate team who care deeply about delivering an outstanding Football Manager experience for our players. As a Senior member of the team, you will exemplify design excellence and delivery.
The ideal candidate will be a pro‑active, self‑motivated, and creative individual, with outstanding communication skills, solid design methodology, and the ability to drive features from inception to delivery at pace within a cross‑disciplinary team.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and design engaging, complex gameplay features and systems from concept to release to deliver the highest quality Football Manager experience
- Define feature goals, player experience, constraints, and success criteria in collaboration with design and creative leadership
- Collaborate closely with UI/UX and Narrative designers on feature proposals and definition
- Produce and maintain high quality documentation and champion upcoming design features with UI/UX Design, Engineering, QA and Communications
- Pro‑actively identify design risks and opportunities, proposing solutions and improvements
- Contribute to the wider game vision, proposing key ideas and game improvements to creative leadership to help shape the feature roadmap
- Assist in developing qualitative design methodologies such as test plans, prototyping, user‑testing, analytics and iterative development
- Implement content, tune data and help balance systems directly in Unity when appropriate
- Mentor and support less experienced designers through feedback, reviews and knowledge sharing
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Systems‑driven game designer who has an appreciation for complexity, depth, and simulation‑heavy topics
- Autonomous and dynamic, able to be a key driver for gameplay quality in a dispersed team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with game designers, UX/UI designers, software engineers, artists, animators and producers
- Passionate about both football and video game development
- Well versed with Game and UX design best practices for PC
- Exceptional attention to detail and a methodical approach to design
- Good knowledge of Football Manager
- Experienced of a full development cycle releasing at least one commercial simulation game, or a project with systems‑heavy focus
- Experience within a ‘Senior’ role including mentorship and/or people management would be beneficial
- Experience working with modern game development tools and engines such as Unity or similar
- Expert‑level with Excel and/or other data‑driven tools
- Proficient with Miro, PowerPoint and the Atlassian suite (Confluence, Jira, Jira Product Discovery)
- Computer science, game design or other relevant educational background would be beneficial
Benefits of Working at Sports Interactive:
- Private Healthcare and Dental Cover.
- Contributory Pension Scheme (employer contributions up to 7% of annual salary).
- Eligibility to participate in the company’s discretionary bonus scheme.
- Access to life assurance and income protection Cover.
- Access to Travel Insurance for yourself and your family.
- Confidential mental health, therapy and coaching support with subsidised access.
- Flexible gym and fitness options via our benefits platform.
- Access to on‑site physiotherapy and massage services.
- Free onsite evening bar in the Sports Interactive London HQ.
- A well‑stocked breakfast bar with cereals, fruit, tea and coffee.
- Free access to games released under the SEGA Europe umbrella.
- Regular events and experiences in collaboration with our partnered football clubs.
- Multiple clubs and societies to join (including book club, art workshops and more).
- Personalised football shirt upon passing probation.
- Trophies & gift cards for length of service milestones.
- Cupcakes sent to you on your birthday.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from any relevant candidate irrespective of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. SI is proudly a Disability Confident Committed employer, and we are dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Our studio has disabled access and facilities but please ensure you advise us if you require any other reasonable adjustments to be made to support you during the recruitment process.
Mid to Senior Game Designer (12-month FTC) in London employer: SEGA
Contact Detail:
SEGA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Mid to Senior Game Designer (12-month FTC) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Connect with folks in the gaming industry on LinkedIn or at local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for football and game design! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially any projects related to simulation games. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching Sports Interactive and their games. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their vision for Football Manager. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t just apply through job boards; head over to our website and submit your application directly! It shows initiative and gives you a better chance of standing out in the crowd.
We think you need these skills to ace Mid to Senior Game Designer (12-month FTC) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Gaming: When you're writing your application, let your love for gaming shine through! Talk about your favourite games, especially Football Manager, and how they inspire your design ideas. We want to see that you’re not just a designer, but a gamer at heart.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and skills. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Highlight Your Collaboration Skills: Since we work closely with various teams, make sure to mention your experience collaborating with others. Share examples of how you've worked with designers, engineers, or artists in the past. We love team players who can communicate effectively!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our awesome team at Sports Interactive.
How to prepare for a job interview at SEGA
✨Know Your Football Manager Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in the Football Manager franchise. Play the game, understand its mechanics, and be ready to discuss your favourite features and how you would improve them. This shows your passion and knowledge, which is crucial for a role at Sports Interactive.
✨Showcase Your Design Process
Be prepared to talk about your design methodology. Bring examples of past projects where you’ve taken features from concept to release. Highlight your ability to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and how you’ve tackled design challenges. This will demonstrate your experience and problem-solving skills.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Brush up on your technical skills, especially with tools like Unity and Excel. Expect questions that assess your understanding of game design principles and your ability to implement complex systems. Being able to discuss your experience with data-driven tools will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions that show your interest in the company and the role. Inquire about the team dynamics, upcoming projects, or how they measure success in game design. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.