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Principal Game Designer, Combat & Controls - Unpublished R&D Project

Los Angeles, USA💼 Full-time🗓 2026-09-04 → 2026-09-26

Core

Shape and evolve future gameplay through hands-on design leadership in early-stage R&D, focusing on combat, controls, and player empathy.

Role type

Principal Game Designer (Combat & Controls)

Builds

Early-stage prototype gameplay systems for an unpublished R&D product

Domain

Video Games / Game Design

Deliverable

product features

Required skills

Combat design, controls design, targeting systems, camera systems, gameplay feel, prototyping, ambiguous problem solving, cross-disciplinary partnership, design framework creation, mentorship

Preferred skills

Twin-stick controls expertise, AI-native tools adoption, engine-level scripting, strategic feature leadership

Technologies

Engine-level tools, scripting languages

Responsibilities

Maintain holistic vision for combat and controls while driving design execution; prototype and iterate on difficult gameplay problems; partner with PMs, engineers, and artists to create playable experiences; define design frameworks and quality bars; lead cross-disciplinary conversations on tradeoffs; mentor other designers; contribute to broader gameplay direction

Seniority

Principal, hands-on IC with mentorship

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