Contract Senior Systems Designer (Unannounced Project)

At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 21 million players worldwide.

ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine.

ArenaNet is looking for a Contract Senior Systems Designer with expertise in progression and rewards to help define and implement high-quality features and systems that support gameplay and player progression for an unannounced project built in Unreal Engine 5. This is an advanced role where you’ll be asked to own complex iteration, work collaboratively with multiple disciplines, and establish and maintain quality and technical standards for our content.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Collaborate - Partner with Content Design, Technical Design, UI/UX, Art, and Engineering to deliver cohesive, high-quality player-facing features and systems.

• Plan - Work with Systems and Product Leads to support development timelines and goals for content completion.

• Implement - Use Unreal Engine 5 tools and scripting systems to build and iterate on new gameplay features.

• Iterate - Work with Designers, Engineers, and Technical Designers to establish and perfect content delivery pipeline and tools.

• Listen - Participate in playtests and incorporate feedback to improve pacing, clarity, balance, and player engagement.

• Polish - Iterate on features based on player feedback, data, internal playtests, and design reviews to ensure gameplay moments are polished, intuitive, and aligned with the overall player experience.

• Exemplify - Be an example for the team of the quality bar, how to work effectively within constraints, and how to be a professional within the industry.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL

• 5+ years of experience in game development with a focus on live service or multiplayer game systems, including progression, rewards, and player engagement features.

• 1 or more AAA games shipped in a systems-focused role.

• Pre-production game design experience.

• Experience implementing gameplay systems using Unreal Engine 5. Strong experience working on interfaces using UMG.

• Strong understanding of player behaviors, core gameplay loops, game economies, and progression systems.

• Ability to implement and iterate content using engine tools, scripting systems, or visual scripting.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills when working with cross-disciplinary teams.

• Data-informed and goal/result-driven mindset.

This is a 12-month contract position.

Applications will be accepted until Monday, April 27th at 10am PT. If the deadline is extended, the posting will be updated accordingly. If the position is filled before this date, the posting will be removed.

This contract position is paid hourly, with additional overtime compensation when applicable. While we’re providing the full range for transparency, our target hiring rate generally falls between the minimum and midpoint of that range.

This role is eligible for benefits through our third-party employing agency, which may include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, and flexible and dependent care spending accounts.

Hourly Pay Range
$53.53—$80.29 USD

Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.