Combat Designer (Senior+)

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 a combat designer who obsesses over hitboxes, iframes and animation interrupts? Do you have experience collaborating with VFX artists and animators to deliver visceral, engaging and intuitive combat? If making sword swings, shield blocks and boss encounters feel “just right” is your jam, we’d love to hear from you about helping us make a great new ARPG based on a premiere fantasy IP! 

Velan Studios is entering pre-production on this forthcoming title and we are looking for an experienced Combat Designer who can drive critical early-stage design decisions and then lead the implementation of compelling combat design throughout the project. 

Responsibilities 

• Creating compelling combat design for playable classes
• Defining the combat behaviors of enemies, allies and bosses
• Collaborate closely in cross-discipline teams
• Implementing key systems in partnership with engineering teams
• Working closely with the Game Director and other Lead Designers to shape and implement compelling combat designs.

Requirements

• 5+ years of design experience
• At least one shipped title as a combat designer in action, RPG or fighting genres
• General scripting proficiency
• Solid cross-disciplinary communication skills

Big Plusses 

• Experience in isometric ARPG combat
• Experience designing co-op Boss encounters
• Experience in a lead or sub-lead role on a mid- or large-size development project.

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

V elan 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.