Lead Content Designer - Echtra Games

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

Echtra Games is looking for a Lead Content Designer to join our growing team for a new AAA PC and Console ARPG. We are looking for a design leader who is dedicated to creating exceptional player-focused games that transport and immerse the audience. This leader will lead a team of talented designers fostering innovation and excellence, while playing a pivotal role in shaping our studio’s design strategy and ensuring its successful implementation. We are looking for an enthusiastic self-starter with a proven track record of leading and guiding design initiatives from inception to delivery, with a strong focus on player satisfaction, replayability, and fun.

Echtra Games is a small 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!

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Design team to ideate, define, and develop features that yield world-class experiences for our players
• Synthesize the needs of players and all development disciplines to identify problems and then research, analyze, design, execute and validate solutions
• You will oversee, mentor & coach the designers and take an active role in their career development and goal setting
• Review and provide constructive feedback on design work, ensuring high-quality output
• Set examples, guidelines, and best practices in Design for others in your game team
• Encourage a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and respect
• Identify key hires for the team, and take an active role in the recruitment process through onboarding and beyond
• Maintain a strong understanding of the game’s target audience and market trends to guide design choices

Requirements & Competencies

• An experienced veteran that fully understands the limitations and best practices of developing AAA games for PC and Console, including at least one leadership role and at least one action/role-playing title shipped in this position
• Proven experience in game design, with a focus on action RPGs or 3rd person shooters
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of managing and mentoring design teams
• Broad knowledge of all aspects of game design with a strong understanding of combat and encounter design, balance, difficulty, progression and reward, gameplay variety and usability.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work efficiently, and manage multiple design streams simultaneously
• Able to collaborate with proactive communication and a willingness to build consensus with competing perspectives
• Deep working knowledge of industry standard game engines (UE4/UE5 preferred)
• Highly engaged and experienced in collaborating and partnering with technical team members

Pluses

• Experience building games-as-a-service

What we offer you:

• Competitive salary, bonus plan and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• 401K Company Match Contribution (US)
• RRSP/DPSP company match contribution (Canada)
• Health coverage, dental, disability, critical illness, EAP, and life insurance (Canada)
• Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits (US)
• Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
• Global Fitness reimbursement program
• Global Wellbeing Program
• Financial wellness program with unlimited access to certified financial planners
• Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
• Family planning support program
• Generous paid parental, pregnancy-related disability, caregiver, and compassionate leaves
• Subsidized Back-up child care (US)
• Zynga happy hours and frequent employee events
• Flexible working hours on many teams
• Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
• Work with cool people and impact millions of daily players

We will consider all qualified job-seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $114,400 and $169,300 per year.

However, 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, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. 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).