New

Director, Product Development

United States, Los Angeles, CA

Why PlayStation?

PlayStation isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Today, we’re recognized as a global leader in entertainment producing The PlayStation family of products and services including PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation®Plus, acclaimed PlayStation software titles from PlayStation Studios, and more.

PlayStation also strives to create an inclusive environment that empowers employees and embraces diversity. We welcome and encourage everyone who has a passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to explore our open positions and join our growing global team.

The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.


Join the award-winning team that created God of War

Santa Monica Studio is seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Product Development to play a critical leadership role in the successful operation and delivery of our studio’s game development projects. This position blends high-level studio leadership with hands-on production and development management, ensuring alignment between creative vision, production execution, and business objectives.  

This role requires a strong leader who can balance business, creative, and operational priorities, ensuring that the studio delivers high-quality games while maintaining a strong, sustainable, and inclusive work environment.  

Responsibilities

Studio Leadership & Strategy  

  • Play a collaborative role with the rest of the leadership team to define and execute the studio’s vision, strategy, and operational goals
  • Help develop the studio growth strategies, including talent planning, team expansion, and external development partnerships
  • Represent the studio both internally and externally, fostering strong relationships with publishing, platform, and industry partners

Game Development & Production Leadership  

  • Own the production strategy for game development, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest quality standards
  • Establish and refine production methodologies, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and risk mitigation across projects
  • Drive cross-functional collaboration between design, engineering, art, QA, and publishing to ensure seamless execution
  • Lead milestone reviews, ensure alignment on goals, and proactively address development roadblocks
  • Champion an agile and iterative development approach while balancing creative aspirations with production realities

People & Team Leadership  

  • Build, lead, and mentor high-performing production teams, fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and growth
  • Partner with HR to define and execute career development, talent acquisition, and retention strategies
  • Promote a healthy, inclusive work environment that emphasizes work-life balance, psychological safety, and long-term team sustainability

Collaboration & Stakeholder Management  

  • Serve as a key liaison between development teams, publishing, finance, and corporate leadership, ensuring alignment and transparency
  • Work closely with creative and technical leadership to balance artistic vision with production constraints and business objectives
  • Manage relationships with external development partners, outsourcing vendors, and co-development teams to scale production efforts effectively

Qualifications & Experience

  • 15+ years of experience in game development leadership, with a strong background in production, project management, or studio leadership
  • Proven track record of leading AAA or high-profile game development projects from pre-production to launch
  • Deep expertise in development methodologies, scheduling, risk management, and live operations
  • Strong understanding of game development disciplines, including design, engineering, art, and publishing
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and align teams
  • Experience working with publishing and executive teams to drive alignment on business and development priorities
  • Passion for gaming, player-focused development, and building world-class teams

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience managing remote and hybrid teams
  • Familiarity with a variety of business models, multi-platform development, and global release strategies
  • Background working in or with global organizations and managing international teams
  • A track record of mentoring future leaders and fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace

What We Offer

  • A pivotal leadership role in one of the industry's most exciting and successful studios
  • Competitive compensation, bonus structure, and benefits
  • A collaborative, inclusive, and growth-minded studio culture
  • Opportunities to shape the future of award-winning IP and original titles

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At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. 

In addition, this role is eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.

 

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.

$227,000 - $340,600 USD

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond. 

PlayStation is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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