Systems Designer (Senior+/Lead)

At Velan Studios, we foster a culture of curiosity. Our games embrace diversity and are fueled by the adventurous spirit of our team. We are the creative minds behind titles like Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, Knockout City, Hot Wheels Rift Rally, Midnight Murder Club as well as the VR game Bounce Arcade, and our journey continues! Our studio's mission is to pioneer groundbreaking gaming experiences and reimagine play in new ways. We're committed to pushing the boundaries of traditional gaming, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, and revolutionizing the industry one game at a time.

Are you an experienced systems designer with experience making RPG or survival systems? Are you able to turn player fantasies into compelling stats, skills, and crafting systems? If you are comfortable with architecting and fine-tuning systems at the intersection of numerical formulas, creative goals and gameplay balance we would like to talk to you! Velan Studios is looking for a Principal Systems Designer to help lead our journey in creating a new ARPG based on a premiere fantasy IP. Senior Systems designers with relevant experience who are ready to take on higher-level challenges are encouraged to apply!

Responsibilities

• Your duties will include ownership of complex systems such as crafting, itemization, XP and stats.
• Create and maintain high level paper designs
• Drive iteration based on playtest feedback and game maturity
• Implementing key systems in partnership with engineering teams.
• Project Lead role based on project *

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience designing and balancing systems and features
• At least one shipped title with survival or RPG-style systems
• General scripting proficiency
• Proficiency in handling numerical data in spreadsheets and data tables

Big Plusses

• Experience in previous lead design roles
• Familiarity with programming in object-oriented languages

*What is expected of a Design Lead at Velan?

Lead roles are assigned on a per-project basis and not tied directly to the level of a designer’s position. You will not only drive the design and best practices that relate to your area of expertise but also represent all aspects of it in interdisciplinary discussions regarding scope, planning, tools, features and team updates.

As the project matures, you will also help drive hiring and mentoring of any additional design staff that might be needed within your field to accomplish project goals in a timely manner and to a high level of quality. As a design lead you will also be expected to help assess their performance and aid in their career development.

Job Location & Compensation Info

This is a hybrid or onsite position. Hybrid is 3 days a week in studio. Our studio is located in Troy, NY.

The salary for this position is typically within the range specified below per year. Please note that the actual base pay may vary based on factors such as your qualifications, skills, experience, and other relevant considerations.

Salary Range:
Senior $80,000.-$120,000. USD
Specialist $100,000.-$150,000. USD

Velan Studios is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about a role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to submit a General Application. Velan Studios is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion, diversity, and providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. We seek to create a work culture that matches the diversity of our players.