Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027
Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027

Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027

Temporary 50000 - 70000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our team to design and implement innovative game systems for PlayStation titles.
  • Company: Sony Interactive Entertainment is a global leader in entertainment, known for PlayStation products and services.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a creative work environment, flexible hours, and the chance to work on award-winning games.
  • Why this job: Be part of a passionate team that values innovation and collaboration in game design.
  • Qualifications: Experience in systems design, with at least one AAA game shipped; strong analytical skills required.
  • Other info: This is a contract role until January 2027, requiring onsite work in Guildford.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 ÂŁ per year.

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Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStationVR, PlayStationPlus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.

Senior Systems Designer – contract until Jan 2027

We are Media Molecule, a multi-award winning game developer and part of the wider PlayStation Studios group. We have a history of creating outstanding games such as LittleBigPlanet, Tearaway and most recently, the BAFTA Award winning Dreams. Come join us at our gorgeous, newly refurbished studio in central Guildford!

We are looking for a talented Senior Systems Designer to join our creative Design team on a contract basis (inside IR35). With a passion for problem-solving, you will play a key role helping to implement our systems and balance progression whilst guarding our overall vision.

You will be working with an empowered team who inspires and challenges one another in a respectful and safe environment to achieve maximum results. This contract will require a minimum of 2 days per week onsite in the Guildford studio.

Your Responsibilities…

  • Apply your sharp systems knowledge to refine & implement robust & scalable systems, spot edge cases early and highlight potential issues or synergies with other systems
  • When necessary, create accessible prototypes & clear system user flows to illustrate your ideas and help inform design documentation
  • Use your insights to identify data points to validate a design’s success or failure, and the dials required to adjust accordingly
  • Own the balance of your systems and how they work within the overall game progression goals, in collaboration with the principal system designer and analytics team
  • Continuously play the game and contribute insights on how to improve it
  • Collaborate with Mm’s design and engineering teams to navigate technical limitations and proactively identify risks, and roadblocks. Propose innovative solutions and present progress against quality, scope and game vision alignment goals
  • Provide technical reference for the wider design team, evaluate features, settings and share best practices in production workflows
  • Rapidly respond to and iterate on player feedback & telemetry to increase the quality of the player experience, whilst maintaining the vision of the game
  • Champion a mindset of innovation and continuous improvement, proactively reviewing, improving and evolving Mm’s design tools, processes and pipelines

You will…

  • Have hands on systems design experience and technical knowledge, including schema creation, in-engine implementation & tuning
  • Be a strong critical and analytical thinker, with an eye for detail and opportunity, especially when it comes to tweaking the system or balancing for best effect
  • Have shipped or worked on at least one AAA console game, built on a custom engine
  • Economy balancing or modelling experience a bonus!
  • Be a self-starter with the ability to self- motivate and thrive in an agile environment
  • Have been through the User Testing process, championing it alongside data informed design
  • Be a great collaborator and communicator – you thrive when talking to the team, solving problems together and sharing the output of your combined work in a playable build

This is a broad role that will appeal to experienced designers who enjoy thinking about psychology, UX, progression & pacing, as well as the ability to communicate clearly with designers, producers and engineers.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Not Applicable

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Engineering and Information Technology

  • Industries

    Software Development, Consumer Services, and Entertainment Providers

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Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027 employer: Sony Interactive Entertainment

At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we pride ourselves on being a leading employer in the gaming industry, offering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that fosters creativity and innovation. Our Guildford studio is not only beautifully refurbished but also provides an empowering environment where employees can thrive, collaborate, and grow their skills while working on groundbreaking projects like Dreams. With a commitment to diversity and employee development, we ensure that every team member has the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and advance their career in a supportive setting.
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Contact Detail:

Sony Interactive Entertainment Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the games developed by Media Molecule, especially titles like LittleBigPlanet and Dreams. Understanding their design philosophy and gameplay mechanics will help you align your ideas with their vision during discussions.

✨Tip Number 2

Engage with the gaming community and gather insights on player feedback regarding systems design. This knowledge can be invaluable when discussing how to improve game progression and player experience in your interviews.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your previous experience with AAA console games, particularly focusing on any custom engines you've worked with. Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as this will demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your collaborative spirit by sharing examples of successful teamwork in past projects. Emphasising your ability to communicate effectively with designers, producers, and engineers will resonate well with the hiring team at PlayStation.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027

Systems Design Experience
Technical Knowledge
Schema Creation
In-Engine Implementation
Tuning and Balancing Systems
Critical Thinking
Analytical Skills
Attention to Detail
User Testing Process
Collaboration and Communication
Agile Methodologies
Data-Informed Design
Prototyping Skills
Game Progression Understanding
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 technical knowledge and hands-on experience with schema creation and in-engine implementation.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for game design and problem-solving. Mention specific projects or experiences that align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, such as collaborating with design and engineering teams.

Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Provide examples of how you've used data to inform design decisions in past roles. Highlight any experience with user testing and how it has influenced your design approach, as this is crucial for the role.

Demonstrate Collaboration: Illustrate your ability to work within a team by sharing anecdotes of successful collaborations. Mention how you’ve communicated effectively with designers, producers, and engineers to achieve project goals.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sony Interactive Entertainment

✨Showcase Your Systems Knowledge

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

✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills

Since the role involves working closely with design and engineering teams, share examples of past collaborations. Talk about how you navigated technical limitations and proposed innovative solutions while maintaining a positive team dynamic.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect questions related to schema creation, in-engine implementation, and tuning. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform design decisions and improve player experiences.

✨Emphasise Your Passion for Gaming

As a Senior Systems Designer, your passion for gaming is crucial. Be sure to convey your enthusiasm for the industry and how it drives your work. Discuss any AAA titles you've worked on and what you learned from those experiences.

Senior Systems Designer - contractor until Jan 2027
Sony Interactive Entertainment
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