Absurd Ventures · 12 hours ago
Principal Technical Gameplay Designer
Santa Monica, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$145K/yr - $165K/yr
5+ years expAbsurd Ventures is seeking a Principal Technical Gameplay Designer to own the design and implementation of compelling 3 C's gameplay. This role involves collaborating with design leadership, animators, engineers, and artists to deliver world-class moment-to-moment gameplay and player feel.
BroadcastingDigital MediaMedia and EntertainmentPodcastTV
Responsibilities
Own and drive implementation of all moment-to-moment player-feel gameplay in alignment with direction from a senior leadership team
Develop engaging combat mechanics, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, AI tactics, weapons, and camera systems
Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to prototype, iterate, and polish combat features from concept through ship
Author and maintain design documentation, ensuring clarity and alignment across departments
Analyze playtest data and player feedback to continuously refine and balance combat systems
Own combat encounters and pacing in collaboration with level and narrative design teams
Establish metrics and best practices for environment and encounter design to support optimal gameplay
Mentor junior designers and contribute to the evolution of team processes and best practices
Maintain high standards for quality, responsiveness, and fun across all combat elements
Qualification
Required
5+ years of experience in game design with at least 2 shipped titles, including one in a senior or lead role focused on combat
Deep understanding of player mechanics, animation-driven gameplay, enemy design, and AI behavior
High technical proficiency with Unreal Engine 5.0 and its suite of combat, AI, and animation systems tools
Strong prototyping skills with scripting languages or visual scripting systems (e.g., Blueprint, Lua, etc.)
Excellent communication, collaboration, and documentation skills
Passion for creating satisfying, intuitive, and deep combat systems across various player archetypes
Preferred
Experience designing melee combat systems, ranged combat, or hybrid mechanics
Background working on open-world or sandbox games
Experience planning player skill and progression systems
Knowledge of cinematic combat presentation and camera work
Experience working with motion capture and/or animation pipelines
Benefits
Vacation time
Sick time
Company holidays
Parental leave
Medical/dental/vision insurance
Life insurance
Disability insurance
401(k) matching
Company
Absurd Ventures
Absurd Ventures is an entertainment firm that creates new intellectual property across various channels.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
SmileGate
2024-12-03Corporate Round
Leadership Team
Wendy Smith
Chief Operating Officer
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2025-11-25
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