Design

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Senior Level Designer to join our studio for the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.

A developer in this role serves as part of the level design team with a focus on creating levels both in open world and “linear” spaces, combat encounter design, and scripting. This role will work closely with narrative and gameplay systems team members in creating story-focused missions which feature thrilling gameplay, challenging combat, and memorable player experiences. A key part of this role involves designing the workflow and establishing best practices for mission creation on a new, industry-leading engine.

Responsibilities

• Work with world builders in creating the environments in which missions take place
• Script and implement key moments within these spaces
• Work with the narrative design team and systems design team in creating content outline documents which detail the structure, flow, and key moments of experiences
• Craft memorable combat encounters, and work with combat systems designers in honing these experiences to perfection
• Create fun gameplay spaces focused on the game’s core mechanics
• Help determine the optimal workflow for content creation
• Work with the tools team to identify the ideal toolset with which to create content

Qualifications

• 3+ years related experience
• Deeply creative with a great sense of what makes gameplay fun
• Excellent sense of gameplay pacing
• Excellent level design skills
• Good grasp of scripting or coding
• Experience with combat encounter design in a AAA game
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-discipline development environment
• Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven and focused on iteration and polish
• Strong understanding of the discrete elements game levels and combat experiences are built from, and the ability to problem solve both holistically and on a per-component basis
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing Open World games
• Combat systems design experience for third or first person games
• Background in architecture or paper/board game design

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Lead Technical Designer to join our studio for the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.

This role will architect and implement gameplay systems and mechanics, and hone them to industry-leading quality. Aside from designing technically complex gameplay systems, a developer in this role will collaborate closely with project engineers, artists, animators, and other designers to bring gameplay to life.

Responsibilities

• Oversee tech design team and direction of project vision
• Design and create modular gameplay components which will be used to propagate gameplay features throughout the world
• Write script components to facilitate gameplay implementation in an entity component system (ECS) based engine
• Collaborate with feature teams on the designs of systems and mechanics with a focus on usability and implementation approach
• Help establish script implementation standards and best practices
• Work with engineers on expanding the capabilities of the scripting system
• Contribute script and gameplay modules to shared libraries

Qualifications

• 6+ years related experience 
• Expertise in programming or developing in a visual scripting system
• Solid gameplay design fundamentals with an understanding of what makes gameplay fun
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-discipline development environment
• Familiarity with the many types of assets from which a game is built
• Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven and focused on iteration and polish
• Strong understanding of the discrete elements game systems are built from, and the ability to problem solve both holistically and on a per-component basis
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required
• An online portfolio which clearly demonstrates relevant work experience

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing Open World games
• Familiarity with third-person action or roleplaying games
• Experience in animation, UI programming, creating or using shaders, or FX systems
• Strong public speaking skills

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Lead Level Designer to join our studio for the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.

This role will collaborate with design and art leadership of the project to drive level design vision and execution on a major area of the game. This will include the creation of well-composed, functional and fun 3D spaces that challenge existing norms and establish a composition that will serve as the foundation for a growing level design and environment team.

Responsibilities

• Drive a critical area of the project’s design
• Build consensus on the level design feature set execution across disciplines
• Alongside fellow design leadership, establish best practices for spatial design, flow and world dynamics, and combat spaces
• Lead your team to create level layouts and flows in collaboration with writers, world builders, and artists
• Mentor more junior level designers and serve as a bastion for the discipline within the company
• Support the leadership team in establishing and role modeling positive processes
• Define quality standards for the team through hands on execution and documentation
• Help determine the optimal workflow for content creation and partner with the tools and tech team on tools development

Qualifications

• 5+ years related experience, including management
• Deeply creative with broad gameplay design knowledge and expert level design proficiency
• Ability to drive collaboration and consensus across multiple disciplines
• Strong organization, verbal, and written communication skills
• Experience with combat, open world, or mission design in a AAA game
• Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven and focused on iteration and polish
• Strong methodology and problem-solving ability
• Previous work experience with 3D world and level building tools such as UE4, Unity, etc.
• Scripting experience, either in visual or other forms

Overview

Zenimax Online is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Writer to collaborate with our talented team of creative professionals to bring the characters and stories of the Elder Scrolls Online to life.

Responsibilities

• Work with other writers and content designers to create compelling characters and stories in the game environment
• Write and iterate on compelling dialogue for characters
• Write and edit compelling quest, lore, and story text
• Write in-game backstories for the world, its locations, and its inhabitants
• Assure fictional consistency utilizing established lore for the Elder Scrolls
• Complete all work to required specifications and quality by established deadlines
• Quickly master the proprietary, in-game writing/editing tool
• Guide and mentor other team members
• Perform other writing and fiction duties that may be assigned by Lead Writer

Qualifications

• Demonstrable and strong skills as a writer and editor
• 3+ years of writing and/or narrative design experience
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills
• Excellent narrative and dialog writing skills
• Strong ability to collaborate and thrive as part of a creative team
• Ability to work independently in a highly confidential environment
• A passion for games, fantasy, and crafting compelling stories
• Plays and understands modern video games, especially MMOs
• A strong understanding of the lore and story of Elder Scrolls is highly desired

Portfolio: Please include links to your work and clearly indicate your contributions, as well as provide a writing sample demonstrating your talent and proficiency with dialogue and storytelling. Resumes without writing samples will not be considered. A writing test will also be required to consider qualified applicants.

Overview

The Senior Combat designer works with the Combat Lead and the rest of the development team in the creation and maintenance of core combat mechanics, character abilities, and combat itemization. They are responsible for maintaining and improving the health of the combat experience including balance, bug fixing, system improvements, and development of new features.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Combat Designer in developing and executing plans to improve and expand the combat experience
• Adhere to guidelines and restrictions for combat gameplay as defined by the Lead Combat Designer and Creative Director
• Take ownership of the development of specific combat features and improvement efforts, from ideation through delivery to players
• Maintain clear and concise documentation for all mechanics, balance, and systems they are responsible for
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the state of combat on the live servers and incorporate that knowledge into development effort
• Mentor other designers on the Combat team to improve their design, technical, and communication skills
• Actively seek internal and external feedback regarding the Combat product, and work with leadership to identify response actions
• Specific areas of responsibility include:                    ​
  • Maintenance and iteration of combat-centric systems such as character stats, progression, itemization rules, and player onboarding
  • Creation and maintenance of character mechanics, abilities, and items with an eye toward game balance
  • Proposing and shepherding the development of new gameplay systems

Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years combat design experience on a shipped or live online multiplayer game
• Deep expertise in action and RPG combat systems, and what makes them satisfying
• Experience designing for both a casual and competitive audience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive within a collaborative environment, and both give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to think logically and break down complex problems, with a strong focus on attention to detail
• Confidence working in an environment where specific processes are in place to maintain live game integrity
• Experience with scripting tools or languages
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

Overview

Zenimax Online Studios is looking for a Senior Monetization Designer to join The Elder Scrolls Online team. Monetization Designers on ESO are responsible for working with teams to ensure we follow fair and effective monetization practices.

Responsibilities

• Author and shepherd designs for new, monetized products and features from concept to delivery
• Use multiple toolsets to implement features that integrate seamlessly with other game systems
• Advise feature teams on best practices to ensure any monetization and business goals are effective and fair to the player
• Work with Product Management to execute on monetization strategies
• Use live game metrics as well as current industry trends and practices to improve existing and future monetization practices

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience developing and maintaining gameplay systems, game features, or monetized stores for a shipped game
• Experience playing MMORPGs and games as a service
• Experience with Microsoft office or similar products
• Experience with game development tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Familiarity with agile development
• Understanding of monetization practices of several types of games and products and how these practices interact with the game or product as a whole

Overview

We are seeking a UI/UX Designer to join the UI team for The Elder Scrolls Online. The UI/UX Designer works with the Lead UI Designer, Visual UI Designer, and UI Engineering team to support the development of both new and existing features. They are responsible for taking charge of the user interface design component of what defines a player's experience within a variety of game systems and gameplay, while both maintaining and improving established design paradigms and patterns.

Responsibilities

• Work within cross disciplinary teams and define UI layouts and flows for new systems
• Deliver comprehensive documentation that defines how players will interact with new systems, from conceptual flowchart and wireframe stages to high fidelity mockups
• Actively support the development of features by providing ongoing feedback towards the development and necessary documentation efforts
• Work with our QA team to communicate the desired behaviors and experience for them to test new features against
• Provide UI design support for ongoing triage of existing systems
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of existing game systems in ESO and how players interact with them

Qualifications

• Portfolio with examples of your design process, from early conceptual steps to final delivery
• 3+ years of UI/UX design experience on a shipped game
• Proficiency in UI prototyping software (Axure, Sketch, Balsamiq, Justinmind, Adobe products, etc.)
• A strong understanding of usability and user centered design processes
• Experience working directly with engineers to achieve desired design goals within technical constraints
• Strong visual design skills
   

Preferred Skills

• Direct relevant experience working on an MMO or RPG 
• Familiarity with The Elder Scrolls Online and other online RPGs 
• Able to effectively communicate with UI Visual Designer and Concept Artists about assets and textures
• Familiarity with Agile development methodology and experience with Product Ownership

Overview

The Combat designer works with the Combat Lead and the rest of the development team in the creation and maintenance of core combat mechanics, character abilities, and combat itemization in The Elder Scrolls Online. They are responsible for maintaining and improving the health of the combat experience including balance, bug fixing, system improvements, and development of new features.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Lead Combat Designer in devising and executing plans to improve and expand the combat experience
• Collaborate within inter-disciplinary product teams to develop and iterate upon combat-centric features
• Adhere to guidelines and restrictions for combat gameplay as defined by the Lead Combat Designer and Creative Director
• Maintain clear and concise documentation for all mechanics, balance, and systems they are responsible for
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the state of combat and content on the live servers, and incorporate that knowledge into development effort
• Actively seek internal and external feedback regarding the Combat product, and work with leadership to identify response actions
• Specific areas of responsibility include:
  • Maintenance and iteration of combat-centric systems such as character stats, progression, and itemization rules
  • Creation and maintenance of character mechanics, abilities, and items with an eye toward game balance

Qualifications

• Combat design experience on a shipped or live game
• Deep knowledge of action and RPG combat systems, and what makes them satisfying
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to thrive within a collaborative environment, and both give and receive constructive feedback
• Ability to think logically and break down complex problems, with a strong focus on attention to detail
• Experience with scripting tools or languages
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Senior Player Movement Systems Designer to join our studio for the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.

This role will serve under the Lead Systems Designer to design and tune player movement systems and mechanics, and hone them to industry-leading quality. A developer in this role will serve as a player movement mechanics specialist and will collaborate with leads across all development disciplines in creating supporting gameplay systems to use player movement mechanics in many exciting gameplay scenarios.

Responsibilities

• 5+ years related experience
• Design, create, and maintain documentation for player movement systems and mechanics
• Tune new and existing movement mechanics to emphasize fluid and fun traversal
• Build test spaces where movement mechanics can be prototyped, tuned, and combined in fun ways to represent the range of possibilities player movement systems bring to gameplay
• Work with the Lead Level and Combat Designers in defining metrics and use cases for player movement
• Work with animators to pre-vis player moves and generate ideas for new moves
• Work with the gameplay engineering team in implementing movement mechanics and their supporting tuning and debugging features
• Work with the Principal Encounter Designer in building movement mechanics for combat gameplay
• Work with the camera team to emphasize momentum and action in movement while showing clear gameplay options
• Serve as the project point of contact for all movement mechanics and systems
• Collaborate with all development disciplines to bring player movement systems from early vision to industry-shaping final implementation

Qualifications

• Deeply creative with a great sense of what makes movement in gameplay fun
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-discipline development environment
• Some knowledge of animation systems
• Expert proficiency integrating imagery and text to deliver thorough, easy to understand design documents
• Excellent understanding of the design fundamentals of visual language, building challenge, and teaching mechanics
• Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven and focused on iteration and polish
• Strong understanding of the discrete elements game systems are built from, and the ability to problem solve both holistically and on a per-component basis
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of scripting or programming
• An online portfolio which clearly demonstrates relevant work experience

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing Open World games
• Experience in animation
• Experience with level design
• Strong public speaking skills

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Senior PvP Designer to work with the Lead PvP Designer and the rest of the project team in the development of our next AAA game. This is a chance to join an experienced group of developers in pre-production for a new IP.

This role will collaborate with PvP design leadership to help drive the vision and execution on a major feature of the game. This will include the concepting and prototyping of fun, innovative multiplayer combat spaces; fully detailed PvP-centric designs for new game modes, metasystems, progression and social features; and prototyping, iteration and implementation of these features.

Responsibilities

• Drive critical areas of the PvP design
• Help establish best practices for PvP design
• Design and prototype fun, dynamic PvP combat spaces
• Design and implement innovative, appealing PvP game modes
• Design PvP metasystems (progression, social features, etc.)
• Create and maintain documentation for new and existing systems
• Clearly and effectively pitch new modes and features using multi-media tools
• Develop expertise on all in-game systems behavior and interdependencies including proprietary toolsets
• Provide feedback and suggestions regarding the optimal workflow for content creation and tools development
• Function effectively as a team member in collaborative, cross-disciplinary feature teams
• Provide, receive, and integrate feedback on all aspects of PvP development
• Utilize analytics to drive data informed decisions
• Mentor and act as a resource for junior designers

Qualifications

• 5+ years related experience in PvP design (gameplay and level design experience)
• At least 3 shipped titles in the AAA console/PC space
• Highly creative and innovative thinker
• Broad range of knowledge of PvP games
• Ability to understand not just how a game works, but why it works
• Ability to drive collaboration and consensus across multiple disciplines
• Ability to execute high-level direction in a timely manner
• Strong organization, verbal, and written communication skills
• Comfortable with a development schedule that is playtest-driven, focused on iteration/polish
• Strong methodology and problem-solving ability
• Technical writing familiarity with close attention to detail
• Self-motivated and results-driven
• A positive attitude that welcomes feedback and criticism, and enjoys working in a collaborative, iterative, agile process

Preferred Skills

• Previous experience with 3D world and level building tools such as UE4, Unity, etc.
• Scripting experience, either in visual or other forms
• Experience with software to aid in design documentation (MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, Confluence, etc.)
• Prior experience working on in a live-service environment
• Familiarity with Agile development methodology 

Overview

The Associate Product Manager will work cross-functionally to create and implement content, features, and experiences that drive engagement and monetization for Elder Scrolls Online. Successful candidates will have a passion for good gameplay paired with successful monetization strategies, the ability to parse and act on data, and a drive for simple, flexible, and scalable gaming systems.

We are seeking a self-starter who relishes the challenge of finding innovative solutions to enhancing KPIs. This individual is player-focused but also understands and can deliver on business goals. The ideal candidate loves digging into data, working with talented cross-discipline teams, and delivering best-in-class experiences to players.

Responsibilities

• Itemize virtual goods offerings, rewards, and events using in-house tools and work with other disciplines to ensure smooth and timely releases
  
• Develop and manage the economy/monetization components of our games
  
• Develop and manage a roadmap of offerings, updates, and events with business forecast goals
  
• Provide development teams with acceptance criteria to ensure core monetization, retention, and engagement KPI goals are met
  
• Work with other teams to ensure the success of offerings, updates, events, and features
  
• Manage the pricing of virtual goods and balance paid currencies of the game economy
  
• Work with our BI team to analyze metrics and provide solutions to management in order to improve KPIs
  
• Drive new initiatives for monetizing and re-engaging the customer base
  
• Work with the Product Management team to capture learnings and share best practices for LiveOps within the studio and company

Qualifications

• Previous game development experience preferred
  
• Bachelors in Computer Science, Economics, Finance, Math, Statistics, Design, or related field or equivalent experience preferred
  
• Understanding of game design and monetization fundamentals
  
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills
  
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  
• Excellent organization skills and ability to multi-task priorities
  
• Strong communication and writing skills
  
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and confidential environment
  
• Passion for making great games