[Hiring] Senior Mission Designer @Insomniac Games

Role Description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. This is a 6-month contract.

Insomniac is looking for a Contract Senior Mission Designer. This contract role is accountable for the quality and on-time delivery of one or more full mission experiences, including:

• Initial pitches
• Block out
• Scripting
• Combat encounters
• Narrative integration

The Designer will work closely with a Mission Director and collaborate with a multi-disciplinary pod to create world-class open-world and/or linear experiences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for the design, implementation, iteration, and polish of one or more open world or linear missions.
• Works under the direction of a Mission Director and Game Director to adapt initial Creative Briefs into full missions.
• Continuously aligns Mission work with directional feedback or changes.
• Collaborates with a multi-disciplinary pod to create an initial creative pitch, build the full mission layout, and integrate combat, gameplay, and narrative into a full Mission experience.
• Learns and uses internal proprietary tools for 3D layout work and technical scripting.
• Drives quality and iteration on assigned work by gathering and responding to feedback proactively.
• Iterates on all aspects of mission design throughout production to reach high levels of polish in execution.
• Collaborates with the combat team to create compelling combat encounters through use of layout, enemy composition, and scripting.
• Works closely with a writer and the narrative team to integrate the larger narrative into the mission.
• Creates narrative moments directly in gameplay and compelling narrative for the mission itself.
• Works closely with Environment Artists to ensure layout and mission construction meets the constraints and quality targets of both departments.
• Prototypes novel gameplay mechanics or sequences as needed.
• Collaborates directly with Gameplay Programmers to create mission-specific gameplay when needed.
• Communicates regularly with Development Managers, their Mission pod, and the rest of the game team to broadcast Mission status, major changes, and dependencies.
• Creates Mission documentation as needed to build understanding and buy-in across the team.
• Addresses bugs and gameplay issues to assure a stable and polished product.
• Proactively keeps all assigned missions in a playable state at each stage of development.
• Iterates and improves on areas like player comprehension, narrative clarity, gameplay tutorials, difficulty, and accessibility.
• Creates a safe, supportive, and creative work environment that exemplifies our studio values.
• Other creative or production duties that pertain to mission design as needed.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of professional game design experience, with at least one shipped title as a Level or Mission Designer.
• Experience in Mission/Level Design in 3rd Person games preferred.
• Proven expertise in level/mission development from initial pitch to ship.
• Expertise in 3D block out, composition, and flow, using software such as Maya or game engines.
• High proficiency with modern game engines, such as Unreal or proprietary engines.
• Proven experience in scripting and prototyping directly.
• Strong skills in written, verbal, and visual communication across disciplines.

Requirements

• Intermediate knowledge and experience with level editing tools and scripting (Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar editors).
• Intermediate knowledge of Maya or other major 3D modeling programs.
• Adobe Illustrator experience and UE4 Blueprint scripting skills are a plus.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• This is a flexible role that can be remote, with varying pay ranges based on geographic location.
• Estimated base pay range for this role is $70 — $80 USD hourly.