At a Glance
- Tasks: Design engaging game features and collaborate with a passionate team on Football Manager.
- Company: Join Sports Interactive, a leader in game design with a focus on community engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, gym memberships, free games, and fun workplace events.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Why this job: Make an impact in the gaming world while working on your passion for football.
- Qualifications: Experience in game design, strong communication skills, and a love for football.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.
Sports Interactive is looking for a talented Game Designer to join the studio and work on the Football Manager franchise, as part of our Game Modes team. You will be responsible for creating and guiding the latest feature designs for Football Manager projects, with a focus on existing and potential new game modes. Typical activities will include designing features, systems, content, and interfaces, informed by data and our Community team. You will join an ambitious and passionate team who care deeply about delivering an outstanding Football Manager experience for our players.
The ideal candidate will be a dynamic, self‑motivated, and creative individual with a drive to connect with the community of players through engaging proposals and content. Great communication skills, solid design methodology and the ability to champion ideas from inception to live delivery at pace within a cross‑disciplinary team.
Key Responsibilities- Design engaging features and content to support existing and potential new game modes.
- Champion design quality across all game modes, including multiplayer, challenges, leaderboards, and social systems.
- Collaborate closely with UI/UX, Narrative designers and the Community team on feature proposals and definition.
- Document features and systems through detailed and rigorous technical specifications to guide implementation from engineering teams.
- Present design proposals to stakeholders across Game Modes team, Game Design and Game Direction, considering feedback from colleagues.
- Report on progress to the production team and Lead Game Designer.
- Propose key ideas and game improvements to production and design leads to help build a high‑quality live roadmap, considering community feedback.
- Champion the quality of the game through prototyping, playtesting and game reviews with cross‑disciplinary teams.
- Monitor player experience, engagement and retention through gameplay data.
- Implement content, tuned data and help balance systems directly in Unity when appropriate.
- Support the QA department to write detailed test plans for features.
- Systems‑driven game designer with an appreciation for depth, replayability and simulation‑heavy topics.
- Strong understanding of online service principles, including retention loops, content cadence, and player lifecycle management.
- Experience looking at engagement data and translating insights into actionable update plans.
- Autonomous and dynamic, able to be a champion for gameplay quality in a dispersed team.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration with UX/UI designers, software engineers, QA, artists, animators and producers.
- Passionate about both football and video game development.
- Familiar with Game and UX design best practices.
- Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to design.
- Good knowledge of Football Manager.
- Experience working with modern game development tools and engines such as Unity or similar.
- Proficient with Excel and/or other systems‑driven tools.
- Experience contributing to finished high‑quality projects in the simulation or management genre (no matter the scale), and/or projects related to football.
- Computer science, game design or other relevant educational background would be beneficial.
- Private Healthcare and Dental Plans.
- A range of Gym Membership options through our Benefits partners.
- Travel Insurance for yourself and your family.
- Subsidised mental health, therapy, and coaching sessions are available.
- Access to our on‑site physical and massage therapist services.
- Free access to games released under the SEGA Europe umbrella.
- Contributory Pension Scheme (up to 7% of annual salary).
- Regular events in collaboration with our partnered football clubs.
- Free onsite evening bar in our London HQ.
- A well‑stocked breakfast bar with cereals, fruits, teas, and coffees.
- Multiple clubs and societies to join e.g., book club and art workshops.
- Your club’s shirt personalised upon passing probation.
- Trophies and gift cards for length of service milestones.
- Cupcakes delivered on your birthday.
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.
Game Designer (Games Modes & Online Services) employer: Sports Interactive Limited.
Contact Detail:
Sports Interactive Limited. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Game Designer (Games Modes & Online Services)
✨Tip Number 1
Get your game face on! When you’re networking, be sure to connect with people in the gaming industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that who you know can sometimes be just as important as what you know!
✨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 or management games. We want to see your creativity and how you can bring ideas to life, so make it pop!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Before any interviews, do some mock sessions with friends or mentors. Focus on articulating your design process and how you’ve used data to inform your decisions. We want to hear how you champion quality and engage with the community!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Sports Interactive. Let’s get you in the game!
We think you need these skills to ace Game Designer (Games Modes & Online Services)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Football: When you're writing your application, let your love for football shine through! Mention any experiences or projects that connect your passion for the game with your design skills. We want to see how you can bring that enthusiasm into the Football Manager franchise.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and skills, especially those related to game design and online services. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see what you bring to the table.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since you'll be working closely with various teams, make sure to emphasise your collaboration skills in your application. Share examples of how you've successfully worked with others, whether it's UI/UX designers, engineers, or community teams. We love team players!
Tailor Your Application: Take the time to tailor your application specifically for this role. Reference the key responsibilities and skills mentioned in the job description, and explain how your background aligns with them. This shows us that you're genuinely interested in the position and have done your homework!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sports Interactive Limited.
✨Know Your Game Modes
Before the interview, dive deep into the existing game modes of Football Manager. Familiarise yourself with their mechanics and think about potential improvements or new features you could propose. This shows your passion and understanding of the franchise.
✨Data-Driven Design
Be prepared to discuss how you can use player engagement data to inform your design decisions. Think of examples where you've successfully translated insights into actionable plans in previous projects. This will demonstrate your systems-driven approach.
✨Collaboration is Key
Highlight your experience working with cross-disciplinary teams. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've collaborated with UI/UX designers, engineers, and QA teams to bring a project to life. Communication skills are crucial for this role!
✨Show Your Passion for Football
Let your love for football shine through during the interview. Share your favourite aspects of the game and how they influence your design philosophy. This personal connection can set you apart from other candidates who may not have the same level of enthusiasm.