Advanced Designer, Systems

About the role

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance.

Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.

Here, you’ll work with talented teams that move fast, think boldly and collaborate with purpose to deliver results. We aim high, champion the best ideas and win together, earning the trust of our employees, creators, partners and audiences every day.

If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO!

Avalanche is a Warner Bros. Games studio located in downtown Salt Lake City nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. We’ve been in the video game business since 1995, creating interactive experiences for fans of the world’s largest franchises. Join the team behind the blockbuster open world, action RPG Hogwarts Legacy as we create what’s next!

About the role

Join the team behind 2023’s smash hit Hogwarts Legacy! Avalanche Software, a division of WB Games Inc., is seeking an Advanced Systems Designer with a strong background and passion for designing systems that work together to create engaging experiences for players. The ideal candidate brings new ideas to our games, finds ways to expand upon existing systems, and understands how game systems and mechanics drive player behavior.

We’re looking for someone who thinks about the player’s experience from beginning to end with an eye toward keeping them engaged and satisfied. This position involves direct collaboration with design leadership, narrative design, producers, and peers across every discipline.

*Position is classified as hybrid with onsite days weekly at our Avalanche studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Relocation provided for qualified candidates living our of the area.

The Daily

• Design, prototype, and implement gameplay systems focused on progression, leveling, rewards, loot, economy, open world activities, gear, crafting, and collections.
• Design and communicate the gameplay systems and reward loops needed to achieve the desired player experience.
• Collaborate with other designers and disciplines to integrate systems into narrative and gameplay goals.
• Partner with design leadership to help define pillars, player experience goals, and feature plans that support the broader vision for the game and build on established gameplay systems.
• Translate high-level creative direction, team feedback, and cross-discipline conversations into clear design documentation, specs, and implementation plans.
• Work closely with discipline leads and stakeholders across the studio to gather input, vet proposals, and align gameplay systems with the broader needs of the project.
• Maintain the vision for the systems and drive the team towards achieving that vision through collaboration and decision making,
• Work closely with production to prioritize features and keep milestones on track.
• Help improve tools, pipelines, and documentation for implementation and iteration, and share those processes with the team.
• Partner with the broader team to tune and refine systems based on leadership & peer feedback, playtest results, and data analysis.
• Analyze open world gameplay design and create additional content based on design parameters and guidelines

The Essentials

• Advanced gameplay and systems design experience, with the ability to own large or complex features from concept through polish.
• Demonstrated ability to define feature direction and turn broad creative goals into clear design plans and documentation.
• Experience designing progression, reward, loot, economy, mini-games, gear, crafting, and/or collection systems for action RPG or open-world games.
• Contributed to multiple shipped titles and participated in a full dev cycle from concept through release.
• Experience with Unreal Engine 5, including Blueprint and other gameplay implementation tools.
• Experience working with SQL and database tools.
• Excellent collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and provide clear guidance to designers, engineers, and artists.
• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize feedback from multiple stakeholders into coherent design proposals and implementation specs.

Nice to have

• Degree in Computer Science or similar experience with C++ programming

Some Important Details

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.