Senior Systems Designer - Echtra Studios

Who We Are:

Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment with a mission to connect the world through games and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). With massive global reach in more than 175 countries and regions, the combined diverse portfolio of popular game franchises has been downloaded more than 6 billion times on mobile, including Star Wars™: Hunters, CSR Racing™, Dragon City, Empires & Puzzles™, FarmVille™, Golf Rival™, Hair Challenge™, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells™, High Heels!™, Merge Dragons!™, Merge Magic!™, Monster Legends, Toon Blast™, Top Eleven, Toy Blast™, Two Dots, Words With Friends™, and Zynga Poker™.Founded in 2007, Zynga is headquartered in California with locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.zynga.com or follow Zynga on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or the Zynga blog

Position Overview

We are looking for a Senior Systems Designer to join our growing team and help craft Echtra’s next AAA PC and Console ARPG. As a Senior Systems Designer, you’ll be at the forefront of crafting engaging player skills, creating deep and interesting skill trees, and helping to expand on how players make meaningful choices throughout their experience. You will also be directly involved with helping refine our combat formula, enemy designs, itemization, and other systems.

You will leverage your deep expertise in game balance, player motivation, and core game loops to ensure the systems are not only balanced, but also allow for intentional exhilarating moments for “game-breaking” builds. Your creative input will be crucial in making progression and other systems feel impactful and memorable.

Echtra Games is a growing game studio in San Francisco with a team of veteran game developers and visionary newcomers who work both on-site and remotely. At Echtra, we value diversity and support work-life balance. We also have great benefits, an open vacation policy, and flexible schedules!

Key Roles and Responsibilities 

• Design, iterate on, and communicate the vision for game systems, including character progression, skills, and combat
• Prototype and implement player skills, passive abilities, and other systems using Unreal Engine tools
• Strategically balance systems and progression to create a captivating player experience.
• Create and manage implementation for game data, such as skill trees, combat formulas, stats, and attributes.
• Continuously research and analyze other games for inspiration that can make our designs even stronger.
• Collaborate with the Engineering and Art teams in the creation of tools and content.
• Align with licensors to deliver content that respects and builds on a franchise while creating a new, unique experience.

Desired Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of industry experience in a Game Design role with at least one shipped title.
• Experience with and passion for ARPG and looter shooter style games with a focus on progression systems and player choice.
• Experience working with Unreal Engine and implementing blueprints.
• Experience designing and/or implementing game progression systems, such as leveling, skill trees, or similar.
• Solid decision making and prioritization skills to create actionable tasks from various feedback.
• Strong understanding of how to effectively iterate on game systems and process feedback. 
• Experience using existing assets and functional components to create new gameplay.

What We Offer You: 

Zynga offers a world-class benefits package that helps support and balance the needs of our teams. To find out more about our benefits, visit the Zynga Benefits site

This is a fully remote role that may be based anywhere in the United States. Below are the expected salary and wage ranges for applicants based in locations where the pay transparency law is in effect:

Colorado: $75,100 and $111,160 per year

California: $80,100 and $118,560 per year

Illinois:  $80,100 and $118,560 per year

New York State (inclusive of New York City): $91,000 and $134,840 per year

Washington: $75,100 and $111,160 per year

Base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan, in addition to a full range of medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees will also receive 16 paid holidays per calendar year, unlimited discretionary time off, and will receive up to 6.5 sick days per calendar year. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an "at-will position" and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, which means we are committed to creating and celebrating diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds throughout our organization.  Employment with us is based on substantive ability, objective qualifications, and work ethic – not an individual’s race, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sex offenses, reproductive health decision, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing the necessary support and accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or impairments (subject to any local qualifying requirements) to ensure their full participation in the job application or interview process. Please contact us at accommodationrequest@zynga.com to request any accommodations or for support related to your application for an open position.

Please be aware that Zynga does not conduct job interviews or make job offers over third-party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or others.  Zynga also does not engage in any financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process, and will never ask a candidate for their personal or financial information over an app or other unofficial chat channel.  Any attempt to do so may be the result of a scamp or phishing attack, and you should not engage.  Zynga’s  in-house recruitment team will only contact individuals through their official Company email addresses (i.e., via a zynga.com, naturalmotion.com, smallgiantgames.com, themavens.com, gram.gs email domain).