Senior Systems Designer

Senior Systems Designer

Guildford Freelance 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Go Premium
S

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our creative team to design and implement engaging game systems.
  • Company: Work with a multi-award winning game developer known for innovative titles.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working with a minimum of 2 days onsite in Guildford.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and innovation in game design.
  • Qualifications: Must have experience in systems design and at least one AAA game shipped.
  • Other info: Ideal for those passionate about UX, progression, and collaborative problem-solving.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Overview

We are working with a multi-award winning game developer who have worked on multiple award-winning games. We are looking for a talented Senior Systems Designer to join the creative Design team on a contract basis (inside IR35). With a passion for problem-solving, you will play a key role in implementing our systems and balancing progression whilst guarding the overall vision. This contract will require a minimum of 2 days per week onsite in the Guildford studio.

Responsibilities

  • Apply your systems knowledge to refine and implement robust, scalable systems, spotting edge cases early and highlighting potential issues or synergies.
  • Create accessible prototypes and clear system user flows to illustrate your ideas and support design documentation.
  • Use insights to identify data points that validate a design’s success or failure, and determine the dials required to adjust accordingly.
  • Own the balance of your systems and how they integrate into overall game progression goals, collaborating with the principal system designer and analytics team.
  • Continuously play the game and contribute actionable insights for improvement.
  • Work closely with design and engineering teams to navigate technical limitations, proactively identifying risks and proposing innovative solutions.
  • Provide technical reference for the wider design team, evaluating features, settings, and sharing best practices in production workflows.
  • Rapidly respond to and iterate on player feedback and telemetry to enhance the player experience while maintaining the game vision.
  • Champion innovation and continuous improvement, proactively reviewing and evolving design tools, processes, and pipelines.
  • Have hands-on systems design experience and technical knowledge, including schema creation, in-engine implementation, and tuning.
  • Be a strong critical and analytical thinker with an eye for detail, particularly in system tweaking and balance.
  • Have shipped or worked on at least one AAA console game, ideally built on a custom engine.
  • (Bonus) Bring economy balancing or modelling experience.
  • Be a self-starter, able to thrive in an agile environment.
  • Have experience with User Testing, championing it alongside data-informed design.
  • Be a great collaborator and communicator who thrives when solving problems with the team and sharing results in playable builds.

This is a broad role that will appeal to experienced designers who enjoy thinking about psychology, UX, progression, and pacing, while also being able to clearly communicate with designers, producers, and engineers.

Employment details

  • Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
  • Employment type: Contract
  • Job function: Design
  • Industries: Computer Games

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Senior Systems Designer employer: Skillsearch

Join a multi-award winning game developer in Guildford, where creativity and innovation thrive. As a Senior Systems Designer, you'll be part of a collaborative team that values problem-solving and continuous improvement, offering you the chance to work on cutting-edge projects while enjoying a supportive work culture. With opportunities for professional growth and the chance to influence game design at a high level, this role is perfect for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the gaming industry.
S

Contact Detail:

Skillsearch Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Systems Designer

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in game design, particularly in systems design. Understanding current methodologies and tools used in the industry will help you speak confidently about your ideas during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Engage with the gaming community, especially forums and social media groups focused on game design. Networking with other professionals can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during your application process.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of your previous work, especially any AAA titles you've contributed to. Be ready to explain your role in system design and how you tackled challenges, as this will demonstrate your hands-on experience.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your passion for player experience by playing games similar to those developed by the company. Take notes on their systems and mechanics, and think critically about what works and what doesn’t, as this will help you articulate your insights during discussions.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Systems Designer

Systems Design
Prototyping
User Flow Creation
Data Analysis
Game Progression Balancing
Collaboration with Design and Engineering Teams
Technical Knowledge in Game Development
In-Engine Implementation
Schema Creation
Critical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Player Feedback Iteration
Agile Methodologies
User Testing Experience
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Skills
Economy Balancing or Modelling Experience

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in systems design, particularly any work on AAA console games. Emphasise your problem-solving skills and any specific projects that showcase your ability to implement scalable systems.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for game design and detail how your experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Mention your familiarity with user testing and data-informed design, as well as your collaborative approach.

Showcase Your Portfolio: If you have a portfolio of previous work, include it in your application. Highlight projects where you’ve created prototypes or contributed to system design, especially those that demonstrate your analytical thinking and attention to detail.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to systems design and be ready to discuss your experience with schema creation and in-engine implementation. Be prepared to share insights from your previous projects and how you’ve tackled challenges in game design.

How to prepare for a job interview at Skillsearch

✨Showcase Your Systems Knowledge

Be prepared to discuss your experience with systems design in detail. Highlight specific projects where you implemented robust and scalable systems, and be ready to explain how you identified edge cases and potential issues.

✨Demonstrate Prototyping Skills

Bring examples of accessible prototypes or user flows you've created in the past. This will help illustrate your design ideas and show your ability to support documentation effectively.

✨Discuss Data-Driven Design

Prepare to talk about how you've used data points to validate design success or failure. Share examples of how you've adjusted systems based on player feedback and telemetry to enhance the overall player experience.

✨Emphasise Collaboration and Communication

Highlight your experience working closely with design and engineering teams. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated technical limitations and proposed innovative solutions while maintaining clear communication throughout the process.

Senior Systems Designer
Skillsearch
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

S
  • Senior Systems Designer

    Guildford
    Freelance
    36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-09-05

  • S

    Skillsearch

Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>