Lead Level Designer (Apex Legends)

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Notice

This position is no longer open.

Requisition Number: 159543

Position Title: Principal Game Designer I

External Description:

We’re looking for an experienced Lead Level Designer who will lead the effort of developing maps for Apex Legends. As a lead you will oversee the design of maps from concept to final stages of polish. You will also directly manage a team of designers, developing their skill sets and supporting their career paths. We’re imagining a creative leader who is passionate about developing exciting gameplay spaces, who can invent and deliver, and who values fun gameplay as much as we do.

What’s it like to be a Lead Level Designer at Respawn?

Creative Influence - You will have the opportunity to develop the vision for new maps and collaborate with other accomplished developers to deliver compelling levels that our players will love to play. As the lead level designer, you will provide influence and leadership – both within the design team and across development. As part of a lean, focused team you will have the opportunity to shine here.

Leading a Team - While reporting to the Game Design Director, you will lead a team of designers to push boundaries and explore new gameplay in Apex Legends. As a people manager you will develop and mentor your team members, create opportunities for challenge and growth, as well as nurture an inclusive, positive team environment. You will help establish the quality bar, vision, and best practices for your team to develop a creatively exciting game. You will serve as a coach and adviser, provide constructive feedback, manage performance, and carry through with meaningful conversations such as monthly one-on-ones and quarterly check ins.

Collaboration - You will advocate for your team’s best interests while also considering the impact on and priorities of other groups. Making games is a group effort and you will work closely with other departments that are experts in what they do. Teamwork is very important to our success.

Feel - Our studio puts a big emphasis on fun gameplay. We want responsive, immersive gameplay that just feels right. Every detail matters - whether it’s the way a player experiences traversing across a cliffside, the way embodying a character can make a player feel powerful and smart, to how an astonishing gameplay moment can leave a player breathless; it’s all crafted with purpose. All disciplines in game development are accountable to the gameplay a player experiences - and as a Lead Designer you will be a key partner in ensuring our game feels good and is fun to play.

Values - As a lead you will help set an example of and nurture good designer and team values. You will seek opportunities to make improvements and iterate for the best outcome possible. We also hold all team members to a high standard of good conduct and nurture an inclusive environment that values positive teamwork.

What do we look for in Lead Level Designer candidates?

Relevant Design Sensibilities and Insight - In this role you will be able to leverage your strong understanding of developing exciting gameplay spaces. When we meet you, we’d love for you to be able to articulate why you made the decisions you’ve made in your own designs - what worked well, what you would change in hindsight, and what you learned. We also value your ability to analyze and break down, from a designer’s perspective, the aspects that work well or don’t work well in games you’ve played and why. We also want to hear about challenges and wins you’ve experienced while leading the work of others.

You Have Accomplishments You Are Proud Of - You have experience making a significant impact and you have achievements that you feel good about, such as developing hands-on gameplay/game design received well by players, directing the work of others to help bring out the best in their work, and solving team and individual issues as a people manager. You have also likely had failures that you’ve learned from, which have helped you course correct or make better decisions in the future. Your experience matters but so does your potential, and you will have the opportunity to achieve new accomplishments you are proud of with us.

Passion - Ideally you are passionate about our game and can develop and maintain a deep understanding of gameplay, world/lore, events, future goals, and how these intersect and relate to one another. Our team is constantly sharing inspiration and working to raise the quality bar. No one is phoning it in here – our team loves what they do and it shows in their work.

Teamplayer – You will collaborate closely with other leads and developers across all disciplines. We look for leaders who demonstrate openness to team members’ ideas, considering suggestions and tailoring their work towards what’s best for the game.

Ideally, you also will have...

5+ years of relevant, professional game design experience with at least one shipped title.

The ability to inspire and motivate through vision, communication, and delivery.

Experience leading and managing people.

Ability to guide a design team’s work to meet AAA quality.

Good taste and a strong sense of player perspective..

Ability to pitch game design concepts in a clear, detailed manner.

Deep understanding of level design process including editing packages, level flow, engagement, structure, pacing, environmental storytelling, testing, etc.

Passion for the play experience, with a wealth of knowledge across a wide range of games.

If this opportunity sounds like a great fit for you, please submit your resume and portfolio and we will get back to you once we have reviewed.

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Community / Marketing Title: Lead Level Designer (Apex Legends)

Company Profile:

We are a global team of creators, storytellers, technologists, experience originators, innovators and so much more. We believe amazing games and experiences start with teams as diverse as the players and communities we serve. At Electronic Arts, the only limit is your imagination.

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About Electronic Arts

Everything we do is designed to inspire the world to play. Through our cutting-edge games, innovative services, and powerful technologies, we bring worlds with infinite possibilities to millions of players and fans around the globe.

We’re looking for collaborative and inclusive people with diverse perspectives who will enrich our culture and challenge us. We take a holistic approach with our benefits program, focusing on physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support our people through every chapter of life. We provide comprehensive benefit packages and support for a balanced life with paid time off and new parent leave, plus free games and so much more. Our goal is to provide a safe and respectful workplace that empowers you to thrive in both work and life.

Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.

Days Open: 240

Can this position be remote?:

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About Electronic Arts