Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)
thatgamecompany, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90079
Overview
Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)
We are a small studio dedicated to crafting unique and high-quality interactive experiences, and we are looking for a talented
Lead Systems Designer
to guide and shape the holistic design of our game economy, core features, and player engagement. You’ll combine leadership with direct hands-on contributions, helping to refine the structure and our gameplay experiences while managing a small team of designers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of systems thinking, live game design, and practical implementation with an intense player focus — someone who can lead a feature from concept to live operations as well as refine existing systems.
Responsibilities
Lead the design and evolution of core systems such as in-game economies (large and small), progression, rewards, and feature loops that drive long-term engagement
Design and implement interactive features and gameplay patterns with a focus on simplicity and relatability
Collaborate across disciplines — with engineering, art, and production — to ensure designs are holistic, feasible, and aligned with creative goals
Analyze player data and behavior to tune economies and experiences that inspire players to return for years to come
Mentor and manage a small number of designers, helping them grow and thrive in a collaborative environment
Drive and evangelize best practices in systems design, economy balancing, and live feature iteration
Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team
You Might Be a Fit If You
Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team
Have deep experience designing and tuning systems for live games, including progression mechanics, currencies, economies, and player engagement loops
Are skilled in both conceptual design and hands-on implementation (e.g., using scripting or prototyping tools to bring systems to life)
Think holistically about feature ecosystems and their impact on player motivation and long-term retention
Thrive in small, collaborative teams and are comfortable wearing multiple hats
Have experience mentoring or managing other designers, even in a flat or hybrid leadership model
Care deeply about the player experience and designing systems that are meaningful, ethical, and fun
Must-Haves
Extensive experience with live games and economy design
Strong background in systems design, meta systems, and player progression
Experience balancing game systems based on player feedback and analytics
Ability to understand complex variable-driven relationships and how to use them to create simple, relatable gameplay
Experience working in 3D engines (Unity, Unreal, or similar)
Code literacy to read and understand scripts and do minor tweaks
Familiarity with multiplayer and online game systems
Nice-to-Haves
Proficiency in scripting languages or light programming (e.g., C#, C++, or visual scripting)
Seek adventure and uncertainty in exploring experimental and risky game concept
Familiarity with rapid iteration and data-informed design decisions
Experience integrating monetization thoughtfully within player-centric systems
Have a desire to create meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire players
A strong desire to work directly with data scientists to create a deep understanding of players that helps everyone create better player experiences
Perks
Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Two Weeks Winter Break
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents from day one
Pet Insurance
Compassionate leave for family care
Pre-tax wellness stipend
Pre-tax work from home stipend
Access to a 401(k) plan with company match
Mental health resources including Headspace and EAP
Discount portal for everyday goods and services
Employee inclusion and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together + FDX
Support for personal professional development
We look forward to meeting you!
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S or Canada. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
The salary range for this position is $98,000 USD to $176,000 USD annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the Company’s compensation practices.
Employees in this position are eligible to participate in the Company’s standard employee benefit programs, which currently include medical, dental, vision, 401k, and paid time off.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)
We are a small studio dedicated to crafting unique and high-quality interactive experiences, and we are looking for a talented
Lead Systems Designer
to guide and shape the holistic design of our game economy, core features, and player engagement. You’ll combine leadership with direct hands-on contributions, helping to refine the structure and our gameplay experiences while managing a small team of designers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of systems thinking, live game design, and practical implementation with an intense player focus — someone who can lead a feature from concept to live operations as well as refine existing systems.
Responsibilities
Lead the design and evolution of core systems such as in-game economies (large and small), progression, rewards, and feature loops that drive long-term engagement
Design and implement interactive features and gameplay patterns with a focus on simplicity and relatability
Collaborate across disciplines — with engineering, art, and production — to ensure designs are holistic, feasible, and aligned with creative goals
Analyze player data and behavior to tune economies and experiences that inspire players to return for years to come
Mentor and manage a small number of designers, helping them grow and thrive in a collaborative environment
Drive and evangelize best practices in systems design, economy balancing, and live feature iteration
Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team
You Might Be a Fit If You
Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team
Have deep experience designing and tuning systems for live games, including progression mechanics, currencies, economies, and player engagement loops
Are skilled in both conceptual design and hands-on implementation (e.g., using scripting or prototyping tools to bring systems to life)
Think holistically about feature ecosystems and their impact on player motivation and long-term retention
Thrive in small, collaborative teams and are comfortable wearing multiple hats
Have experience mentoring or managing other designers, even in a flat or hybrid leadership model
Care deeply about the player experience and designing systems that are meaningful, ethical, and fun
Must-Haves
Extensive experience with live games and economy design
Strong background in systems design, meta systems, and player progression
Experience balancing game systems based on player feedback and analytics
Ability to understand complex variable-driven relationships and how to use them to create simple, relatable gameplay
Experience working in 3D engines (Unity, Unreal, or similar)
Code literacy to read and understand scripts and do minor tweaks
Familiarity with multiplayer and online game systems
Nice-to-Haves
Proficiency in scripting languages or light programming (e.g., C#, C++, or visual scripting)
Seek adventure and uncertainty in exploring experimental and risky game concept
Familiarity with rapid iteration and data-informed design decisions
Experience integrating monetization thoughtfully within player-centric systems
Have a desire to create meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire players
A strong desire to work directly with data scientists to create a deep understanding of players that helps everyone create better player experiences
Perks
Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Two Weeks Winter Break
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents from day one
Pet Insurance
Compassionate leave for family care
Pre-tax wellness stipend
Pre-tax work from home stipend
Access to a 401(k) plan with company match
Mental health resources including Headspace and EAP
Discount portal for everyday goods and services
Employee inclusion and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together + FDX
Support for personal professional development
We look forward to meeting you!
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S or Canada. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
The salary range for this position is $98,000 USD to $176,000 USD annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the Company’s compensation practices.
Employees in this position are eligible to participate in the Company’s standard employee benefit programs, which currently include medical, dental, vision, 401k, and paid time off.
#J-18808-Ljbffr