Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)

Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus) Reports to: Design Lead We are a small studio dedicated to crafting unique and high-quality interactive experiences, and we are looking for a talented Lead Systems Designer to guide and shape the holistic design of our game economy, core features, and player engagement. You’ll combine leadership with direct hands-on contributions, helping to refine the structure and our gameplay experiences while managing a small team of designers. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of systems thinking, live game design, and practical implementation with an intense player focus — someone who can lead a feature from concept to live operations as well as refine existing systems. What you'll do here: - Lead the design and evolution of core systems such as in-game economies (large and small), progression, rewards, and feature loops that drive long-term engagement - Design and implement interactive features and gameplay patterns with a focus on simplicity and relatability - Collaborate across disciplines — with engineering, art, and production — to ensure designs are holistic, feasible, and aligned with creative goals - Analyze player data and behavior to tune economies and experiences that inspire players to return for years to come - Mentor and manage a small number of designers, helping them grow and thrive in a collaborative environment - Drive and evangelize best practices in systems design, economy balancing, and live feature iteration - Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team You Might Be a Fit If You: - Help improve and extend internal design tools and pipelines to empower the full design team - Have deep experience designing and tuning systems for live games, including progression mechanics, currencies, economies, and player engagement loops - Are skilled in both conceptual design and hands-on implementation (e.g., using scripting or prototyping tools to bring systems to life) - Think holistically about feature ecosystems and their impact on player motivation and long-term retention - Thrive in small, collaborative teams and are comfortable wearing multiple hats - Have experience mentoring or managing other designers, even in a flat or hybrid leadership model - Care deeply about the player experience and designing systems that are meaningful, ethical, and fun - Don't mind taking an assessment/proprietary test during the interview process. Must-Haves: - Extensive experience with live games and economy design - Strong background in systems design, meta systems, and player progression - Experience balancing game systems based on player feedback and analytics - Ability to understand complex variable-driven relationships and how to use them to create simple, relatable gameplay - Experience working in 3D engines (Unity, Unreal, or similar) - Code literacy to read and understand scripts and do minor tweaks - Familiarity with multiplayer and online game systems Nice-to-Haves: - Proficiency in scripting languages or light programming (e.g., C#, C++, or visual scripting) - Seek adventure and uncertainty in exploring experimental and risky game concept - Familiarity with rapid iteration and data-informed design decisions - Experience integrating monetization thoughtfully within player-centric systems - Have a desire to create meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire players - A strong desire to work directly with data scientists to create a deep understanding of players that helps everyone create better player experiences Perks: - Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Two Weeks Winter Break - Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job—there’s no waiting period before they kick in. - Pet Insurance for those who need it too. - Compassionate leave for employees w