[Hiring] Game Director @Blackbird Interactive

Role Description

Blackbird Interactive is seeking an experienced Game Director to lead the creative vision and overall execution of a third-person, modern military tactical shooter. This role is responsible for defining and delivering a cohesive player experience built around accessible team coordination of a four-person special operations fireteam, featuring dynamic tactical gameplay and strategic decision-making.

As Game Director, you will own the holistic player experience, from core gameplay and AI behavior to narrative tone, pacing, presentation, and overall product quality. You will align all disciplines around a clear vision: delivering a premium, focused experience that emphasizes tactical consequence, player agency, and immersion.

This role requires strong creative leadership across design, engineering, art, and audio, ensuring that every aspect of the game comes together into a cohesive, polished experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with project leadership and publishing stakeholders to define, reinforce, and execute the overall creative vision, translating it into clear cross-disciplinary priorities for a cohesive third-person tactical shooter experience.
• Provide direction and oversight across all disciplines (design, engineering, art, and audio) ensuring gameplay systems, AI behaviors, narrative tone, and presentation align with the core project pillars.
• Lead and support discipline leaders, fostering a collaborative, accountable culture focused on delivering a cohesive and complete product.
• Work closely with production to plan, scope, and sequence development efforts, identifying risks early and guiding tradeoffs to deliver a polished, high-quality experience.
• Establish quality bars and review processes across all aspects of the game, ensuring consistency, clarity, and fun.
• Contribute hands-on when needed to unblock teams, prototype solutions, or help guide features through critical development phases.
• Work with other directors on communication across disciplines, ensuring alignment as features evolve and maintaining clarity around creative intent and player experience goals.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in game development, with significant time in senior creative leadership roles (e.g., Game Director, Creative Director, or equivalent).
• Proven track record of leading and shipping high-quality titles with strong, cohesive creative vision.
• Deep understanding of third-person shooter gameplay, including camera systems (e.g., ADS), combat feel, and player feedback.
• Experience overseeing systems involving squad coordination, AI-driven teammates, and contextual player commands.
• Strong grasp of pacing and player experience design within tightly scoped, high-intensity gameplay formats.
• Demonstrated ability to align and lead cross-disciplinary teams toward a unified product vision.
• Strong production awareness, with experience balancing creative ambition against scope, schedule, and technical constraints.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire teams and drive clarity at all levels.

Pluses

• Experience working on or playing military shooters or other tactically grounded gameplay experiences.
• Familiarity with building premium experiences with strong replayability.
• Strong understanding of AI systems and player-AI interaction at a systemic level.
• Appreciation for blending cinematic presentation with responsive, player-first gameplay.
• Passion for delivering tightly crafted, immersive experiences with a high level of polish and cohesion.

Salary

$170,000 - $195,000 a year