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 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

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

ZeniMax Online Studios is looking for a Content Designer to work with the content, world building, animation, audio, and gameplay teams to provide fun and well-conceived stories/locations for players to experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and script quests/gameplay for ESO, with a focus on storytelling and pacing
• Execute other game designs and design revisions when necessary
• Includes working in our proprietary toolset

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience working in a designer capacity
• Storytelling experience
• Excellent sense of 3D game space and game flow
• Experience with designing, building, and populating game levels
• Experience scripting or programming complex interactivity
• Excellent communication and documentation skills
• Experience with MMOs

Preferred Skills

• Experience with modular kits
• Creative writing skills
• Experience in MMO development
• Leadership and mentoring experience

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is looking for a Senior Content Designer to work with the content, world building, animation, audio, VFX, and gameplay teams to provide fun, and well-conceived stories and locations for players to experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and script quests and gameplay for Elder Scrolls Online, with a focus on storytelling and pacing
• Execute other game designs and design revisions when necessary
• Includes working in our proprietary toolset
• Mentor junior designers on the team

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of experience working in a designer capacity
• Experience telling interesting stories within a provided framework
• Ability to clearly exchange and encourage communication across a multi-discipline team
• Experience with designing, building, and populating game worlds
• Experience scripting or programming complex interactivity
• Excellent sense of 3D game space and game flow

Preferred Skills

• Experience with modular kits
• Creative writing experience
• Experience in MMO development
• Leadership and mentoring experience

Overview

Zenimax Online Studios is seeking a Senior Writer 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.

Responsibilities

• Work with writers and other disciplines to create compelling characters, stories, and locations in the game environment
• Help develop the history and world of a new IP
• 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
• 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 Narrative Designer

Qualifications

• Demonstrable and strong skills as a writer and editor
• Minimum 3-5 years of writing and/or narrative design experience
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills
• Excellent narrative and dialogue 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 and crafting compelling stories
• Plays and understands modern video games
• Experience writing branching dialogue 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.

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a 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 major new IP.

This role will serve under the Lead Systems Designer to build gameplay systems and mechanics, and hone them to industry-leading quality. A developer in this role will serve as a project specialist in one or more areas of systems design and will collaborate with leads across all development disciplines in creating gameplay systems within their specialty.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Lead Systems Designer developing holistic gameplay and progression systems aimed at a compelling, immersive experience
• Design, create, and maintain documentation for gameplay systems and mechanics
• Focus and grow into a project specialist in one or more areas of game-wide systems design
• Collaborate with all development disciplines to bring gameplay systems from early vision to industry-shaping final implementation
• Mentor systems designers and help them grow in their careers

Qualifications

• Deeply creative with a great sense of what makes gameplay fun
• Minimum 2+ years of game design experience
• Ability to work collaboratively in a cross-discipline development environment
• Expert proficiency integrating imagery and text to deliver thorough, easy to understand design documents
• 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 in English required
• Working knowledge of scripting or programming
• An online portfolio which clearly demonstrates relevant work experience

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing 3rd person games
• Experience in industrial or product design
• Strong public speaking skills