Lead Game Designer

Company: Sphere Entertainment
Location: Burbank
Posted on: September 14, 2023

Job Description:

Role Summary:
As a Lead Designer at MSG Sphere Studios you develop entertainment thats equal
parts video game, amusement park ride, and spectacle. Your target platform is The Sphere a
massive 16K 4D theater with beam-formed audio and the mobile phones of our guests. You build
from specifications and team objectives and iterate to eventual production-quality deliverables. Youre part of a veteran cross-functional team and learning from each other every day. The Lead Designer will be working closely with other departments to develop systems, tools, and game content that scales to 10,000+ players.
You should be excellent at rapidly prototyping ideas and capable of turning a design specification from paper into a high quality, playable game system.
You will be expected to encourage, mentor, and lead the level design team towards creating highly tuned player-first experiences. You will be a trusted gatekeeper for performance, efficiency, and quality, while providing your team with guidance, goals, opportunities, and resources.
A successful Lead Designer will also have a strong, multi-genre design sense and an ability to create compelling content that millions of fans are going to love.

Specific Functions/Activities Summary:
Work closely with the Creative Director and others to create immersive and compelling gameplay
Maintain design documentation and enforce structure, such as naming conventions
Manage and help develop the careers of the companys other designers
Develop prototypes and designs that clearly articulate the vision and requirements of game play features
Partner with your cross-disciplinary team to see those designs come to life
Work extensively in Unreal Blueprints
Create and implement new content including levels, epic set pieces, and experiences
Be able to implement robust, performant, and fun game systems
Manage the delivery of assets for your level or feature, including asset creation
Work with external development teams and feedback on work received
Work with other designers, artists and engineers to collaborate daily on systems and content; collaboration is key
Document systems, define best practices, and communicate pertinent information to the rest of the team
Manage designers and create a positive culture within the group Qualifications:
Minimum of 5 years in full-cycle AAA game development Highly proficient with the Unreal Engine
Mentorship experience with at least one title from concept to final delivery
Experienced in current generation industry-standard tools and workflows, such as Maya, Substance Painter and physically based rendering (PBR)
Ability to interpret and transform abstract ideas and concepts into compelling work
Working knowledge of industry standard concepts and processes
Track record of working collaboratively between different departments
Aware of memory and technical constraints while working, and can balance creative intent with performance
A passion for games DESIRED SKILLS:

Minimum 5 years professional experience in Design Shipped 2+ AAA game titles Expertise in the Unreal Engine
Experience with first or third person shooter game design
Experience with quest design, especially involving multiple cooperative players
Experience with Live Support and Post-Launch/Seasonal content releases
A passion for developing a robust and enjoyable design culture
Game knowledge and an understanding of the design principles behind games
Able to collaborate with engineers, artists and designers
Ability to work well in a fluid, changing environment as creative challenges evolve
Proficient in modern creator packages such as Maya, Max, Modo, ZBrush, 3DCoat, Mudbox, and Photoshop
Strong leadership and mentoring abilities and interpersonal skills
Ability to act effectively in a dynamic development environment
Strong collaborative and proactive skills with the ability to communicate with a broad range of people
Capable of working on own initiative, identify problems and offer practical solutions
Ability to find creative solutions for challenging tasks NICE TO HAVE: Experience working in a position with job responsibilities similar to the above listing, with a team of at least 3 game designers in a professional setting
Expertise and passion in one or more of the following areas: AI, Animation, General Gameplay, Tools
Experience working on networked Cooperative or Competitive Multi-player game experiences
End to End life cycle game development
Proficient in C/C++
Traditional art skills including sketching, illustration, and painting
The ability to work with detailed concept art or reference art/ materials
Experience with Houdini is a big plus SUBMISSION/PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS: Cover Letter (optional)
Portfolio demonstrating relevant skills Only digital artwork submissions such a website, blog, or online album will be accepted. Education:
At MSG, we recognize the importance of upskilling employees talents and strengths so they can drive their careers forward. We are proud to offer a robust set of tools and resources to help employees understand their interests and purpose, harness their talents and obtain the skills they need to reach the next step in their careers. Growth and longevity for our employees are top priorities here.

Company Overview:
Sphere Entertainment Co. is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at www.sphereentertainmentco.com.

EEO Statement:
At MSG we value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! MSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, MSG complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations.

Keywords: Sphere Entertainment, Burbank , Lead Game Designer, Other , Burbank, California