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 the Creative Director, Lead Gameplay Designer, Lead Environment Artist and Art Director to develop the foundations of worldbuilding for a new IP. 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 Environment team.

Qualifications

• Deeply creative with a great sense of what makes a game or level fun
• Expert level proficiency within Photoshop/Illustrator, and other 3rd party software used in level layout and 2D design
• 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.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English required
• Must submit work samples - finished levels and/or blockout levels demonstrating composition and gameplay

Responsibilities

• Work with the Lead Gameplay Designer to establish best practices for spatial design, flow and world dynamics
• Lead your team to create level layouts using simplified geometry in collaboration with quest designers, writers, and artists
• Collaborate with all development disciplines to shepherd various level design constructs through the iterative process, from inception to final
• Mentor more junior level designers and serve as a bastion for the discipline within the company

Preferred Skills

• Technical background in programming or scripting
• Background in Architectural Design
• Experience developing Open World games
• Passion for creating rich narrative experiences

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Lead Gameplay Camera 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.

In this role, you will collaborate closely with the Art Director, Lead Designer and the Combat and Level Design teams to implement the unique camera vision of our game. The primary focus of the role will be the creation of in-game, player-controlled cameras and supporting development pipelines. You will also push the boundaries of your craft by exploring the latest emerging trends and creating solutions hand-tailored to player and business needs.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years’ experience implementing in-game cameras.
• Extensive experience with 3D Studio Max (preferred) or similar 3D package.
• Working knowledge of camera controls from various game engines, including scripting.
• Interest / background in photography.
• Maintain a strong animation and technical skill set.
• The ideal candidate is a self-sufficient, technical problem solver.
• Well-developed communication skills and strong work ethic.

Responsibilities

• Design, set up and tune player-controlled gameplay cameras and camera systems.
• Use script to set up camera behaviors. Layout and hook up camera action triggers in game.
• Support player navigation, traversal and combat with a keen eye for the combination of composition and usability.
• Work closely with the combat and level teams to help create a smooth and seamless player experience.

Preferred Skills

• 5+ years of industry experience, with at least one shipped AAA title
• Working experience as a Cinematographer in games, film or television

Overview

The Senior Product Manager will analyze data and work with development teams to create 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, while maintaining the creative vision.

If you love digging into data, working with talented cross-discipline teams, and delivering best-in-class experiences to players, this position may be right for you.

Qualifications

• 3+ years as a monetization designer/product manager or similar role in the gaming industry of a live title with MTX goals
• Excellent knowledge of the monetization strategies and tactics of both past titles and emerging trends
• Must be an avid game player
• Outstanding analytical and formal thinking, able to break problems down in their key variables and identify the relations between them
• Able to speak to the prioritization of features by leveraging data
• Knowledge and understanding of game design fundamentals
• Strong understanding of the content creation pipelines
• Ability to work independently and as part of a deeply collaborative team
• Excellent organization skills, detail-oriented, and able to multi-task priorities under pressure
• Strong communication, writing, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and confidential environment
• Passion for making great game
• Proficient with project and communication tools such as Jira, Hansoft, Office, etc…
• Proficient with industry standard reporting and game management tools such as Tableau and Delta DNA

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with design and management teams to define target KPI's for monetization, engagement, and retention mechanics
• Identify, prioritize, and enact features/strategies/tactics, then analyze and memorialize the results
• Work with our BI team to analyze metrics, create reports which show the performing/underperforming aspects of the game economic model, why, and provide solutions to management to improve KPIs and overall LTV
• Provide weekly, monthly, quarterly status summaries to facilitate discussions around tactical improvements
• Drive new initiatives, events, and game features that monetize and re-engage players
• Contribute to the design of features and systems by providing guidance on their impact on player behavior and the economy
• Strong sensitivity to gameplay and social game design, understanding how to build needs and emotions in the context of a game
• Maintaining a deep knowledge of player behavior within the game across multiple player types, and implement selling strategies targeting each of the different tiers
• Review reporting on in-game currency usage, earning and purchasing, and manage and balance currency types
• Participate in forecasting efforts to ensure calendar events and product releases align with monthly targets

Overview

The Senior Systems Designer works with the Systems Lead and the rest of the project team to support the creation and maintenance of core game mechanics and non-combat systems.  They are responsible for mechanisms which retain players’ short term and long term interest in the product and in facilitating social interactions between players, while adhering to team values and best practices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience developing or maintaining systems in a shipped or live game
• Experience developing and playing MMORPGs
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word or equivalent
• Technical writing familiarity with close attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Familiarity with Agile development methodology and experience with Product Ownership a plus

Responsibilities

• Maintain numerous existing in-game systems as assigned (Examples: Achievements, Itemization, Crafting, Housing, Justice, Itemization, etc)
• Develop expertise on all in-game systems behavior and interdependencies including proprietary toolsets
• Create and maintain documentation for new and existing systems
• Coordinate work initiatives and priorities across multiple feature teams
• Function effectively as a leader and/or team member in collaborative, cross-disciplinary feature development teams
• Identify and develop opportunities for fair monetization and business practices
• Utilize business intelligence reporting to drive data informed decisions
• Provide, receive and integrate feedback on all aspects of game development
• Any other duties assigned by the Systems Lead, Lead Gameplay Designer and Creative Director

Overview

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

Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 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 flow

Responsibilities

• Design and script quests and gameplay for Elder Scrolls Online, with a focus on storytelling and pacing
• Includes working in our proprietary toolset 

Preferred Skills

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

Overview

The Content Designer will work with the content, world building, animation, audio, and gameplay teams to provide fun, and well-conceived stories/locations for players to experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1-2 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

Responsibilities

• Design and script quests/gameplay with a focus on storytelling and pacing
• Execute other game designs and design revisions when necessary
• Includes working in our proprietary toolset 
• Assist the Live team in developing and maintaining event-related content for The Elder Scrolls Online

Preferred Skills

• Experience with modular kits a plus
• Creative writing a plus

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is hiring a Systems Designer to work with the Systems Lead and the rest of the project team to support the creation and maintenance of core game mechanics and non-combat systems within The Elder Scrolls Online.  They are responsible for player retention mechanisms and facilitating in-game social interactions, while adhering to team values and best practices.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience developing or maintaining systems in a shipped or live game
• Experience playing MMORPGs
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word or equivalent
• Technical writing familiarity with close attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills    

Responsibilities

• Maintain numerous existing in-game systems as assigned (Examples: Achievements, Itemization, Crafting, Housing, Justice, etc)
• Develop expertise on all in-game systems behavior and interdependencies including proprietary toolsets
• Create and maintain documentation for new and existing systems
• Function effectively as a team member in collaborative, cross-disciplinary feature development teams
• Identify and develop opportunities for fair monetization and business practices
• Utilize business intelligence reporting to drive data informed decisions
• Provide, receive and integrate feedback on all aspects of game development
• Assist the Live team in developing and maintaining event-related systems for The Elder Scrolls Online
• Other duties assigned 

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with Agile development methodology a plus
• Viewable portfolio of previous work a plus

Overview

We are hiring an Encounter Designer to build interactive combat scenarios that engage small groups of players and support solo quest content in The Elder Scrolls Online. Our ideal candidate is passionate about storytelling in a multiplayer environment and finding new ways to delight and terrify players of all skill levels.

Qualifications

• 1+ years games industry experience
• Excellent storytelling and visual composition skills
• Experience playing massively multiplayer online games
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel or other data management software
• Motivated and organized, with strong attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Design and populate overland encounters in The Elder Scrolls Online
• Script AI combat behaviors and abilities in our proprietary toolset
• Stage monsters in new and interesting environments
• Communicate regularly with artists, writers, designers, and engineers
• Assist the Live team in developing and maintaining event-related encounters and supporting the live game

Preferred Skills

• 3+ years games industry experience
• Photoshop or other image editing software experience
• Programming or scripting experience
• Demonstrable mod experience
• Animation background
• Familiarity with ESO

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is seeking a Senior Mission 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.

A developer in this role serves as part of the level design team with a focus on level design in both 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.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of 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 design in a first or third person action game (or shooter)
• 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

Responsibilities

• Work with the narrative design team and systems design team in creating mission outline documents, which detail the structure, flow, and key moments of missions
• Work with level designers and world builders in creating the environments in which missions take place. Author the control scripts and implement key moments within these spaces
• Work with the narrative systems designer to implement narrative experiences in missions and find creative ways of delivering lore in gameplay
• 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 mission creation
• Work with the tools team to identify the ideal toolset with which to create missions

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 Senior Cinematics 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 work closely with narrative designers and gameplay content designers in creating in-game cinematics and player driven conversations with cinematic quality presentation. A developer in this role is responsible for scene choreography, camera setup, and some lighting setup for player driven conversations and in-game cinematics. The Senior Cinematics Designer will execute upon existing storyboards. Additionally, a developer in this role will help define the tools and workflow needs for creating cinematics and player driven conversations in a new, industry leading game engine.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of related experience       
• Deeply creative with a great sense of emotional delivery using in-game cinematics
• Excellent sense of cinematic principles and shot composition
• Excellent understanding of camera movement techniques
• Expert proficiency in non-linear editing
• Basic understanding of flow charts or node graphs
• Ability to do a basic block out of scene lighting appropriate to mood
• 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
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required

Responsibilities

• Help build a bank of modularized camera and lighting configurations with which to create player driven conversations and cinematic scenes
• Choreograph and sequence actors and props within player driven conversations
• Implement player-driven conversations into gameplay story moments
• Work with narrative designers in presenting characters and emotional moments using cinematic techniques
• Help determine the tools needs and optimal workflow for implementing cinematic moments

Preferred Skills

• Experience with real world cameras, lighting, and/or photography
• Experience in film or television production
• Experience developing Open World games
• Experience in creative writing

Overview

The Associate Product Manager will analyze data and work with development teams to create 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.

If you love digging into data, working with talented cross-discipline teams, and delivering best-in-class experiences to players, this position may be right for you. 

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Computer Science, Finance, Math, Statistics, Design, and/or related field
• 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

Responsibilities

• 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 to improve KPIs and overall LTV
• Drive new initiatives for monetizing and reengaging the customer base
• Work with the Product Management team to capture learnings and share best practices for LiveOps within the studio and company

Preferred Skills

• Previous game development experience preferred

Overview

ZeniMax Online Studios is looking for a Senior Encounter Designer to build interactive combat scenarios that engage small groups of players and support solo quest content in ESO. Our ideal candidate is passionate about storytelling in a multiplayer environment and finding new ways to delight and terrify players of all skill levels.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of related experience
• Excellent storytelling and visual composition skills
• Experience playing massively multiplayer online games
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel or other data management software
• Motivated and organized, with strong attention to detail

Responsibilities

• Design and populate overland encounters in the Elder Scrolls Online
• Script AI combat behaviors and abilities in our proprietary toolset
• Stage monsters in new and interesting environments
• Communicate regularly with artists, writers, designers, and engineers

Preferred Skills

• Photoshop or other image editing software experience
• Programming or scripting experience
• Demonstrable mod experience
• Animation background
• Familiarity with ESO