Associate Designer

Job description

The Studio We are a video game development studio with offices in Guildford, UK and Utrecht, Netherlands. Sitting within the heart of thriving communities of game developers and publishers, we focus on quality and excellence, and our partners and players are always at the front of everything we do. Games are not just about gameplay. We believe in the importance of balancing every single aspect of a game that you, as a player will interact with; what you see, how you play and how it makes you feel. It couldn’t be a more exciting time to join us as we embark on a new unannounced project, pushing the boundaries of all aspects of the game to create a truly AAA experience. The Role Working under the direction of the Chief Creative Officer and Senior Designers, you will play a key role in shaping the player experience across all stages of development. Your responsibilities will span design documentation, game balancing, level prototyping in 3D engines, and the creation and management of game scripts and data. This is a highly collaborative role - you'll work closely with multi-disciplinary teams and adapt to evolving priorities as projects progress. As an Associate Designer, you will: - Produce clear, concise, and detailed design documentation for key game features - Prototype and iterate on level layouts using white-box techniques in 3D game engines - Contribute to game balancing, scripting, and data management - Present ideas, concepts, and features confidently to cross-functional teams - Collaborate closely with designers, artists, engineers, and producers across all stages of development Requirements What we’re looking to see on your CV: - Solid understanding of the game development process from concept through ship - A strong portfolio showcasing both personal and team projects, supported by clear documentation that demonstrates your design thinking and process from brief through to final execution - Proficiency with level editors - Unreal Engine, Unity, or a proprietary engine preferred - Comfortable working with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 2D art packages - Strong communication skills, both written and verbal and an ability to communicate ideas visually through sketches, diagrams, or mock-ups - Broad and deep knowledge of games across genres and platforms - Able to adapt quickly to shifts in design direction or development process - Tell us more about your hobbies and interests – great designers care about and seek inspiration for more than just games Bonus Points For - A degree in Game Design or equivalent practical experience - Some work experience in a commercial game studio - Experience shipping a title in Unreal Engine, Unity, a proprietary engine or equivalent is a strong plus - A keen interest in level design particularly - An interest or background in racing games Some things to note before applying - We're not able to offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance for this role, so you'll need to already be based in the UK with the right to work here. - This is an on-site role at our Guildford studio, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office. - Start date: July - September 2026, but we're flexible and happy to work with you. - Application deadline: Friday 5th June 2026. You will hear back on your application after this closing date, and if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this role earlier. Interview process We want the process to be clear and transparent, so here's what you can expect from your interview process: - A welcome call with Bethany, our Recruiter - A brief task to be completed in your own time - Meetings with our 2 Lead Designers - An in-person interview with our Design Team at the Guildford studio - A final stage with our Chief Creative Officer and CEO Benefits What you can expect from us: - International AAA game projects - Access to cutting-edge hardware - Flexible/hybrid working (we work 3 days per week on site) - Great increasing holiday benefits including Christmas Shutdown - Discretionary bonus scheme - Private Healthcare Plan including dental and optical support, mental health, online GP - Pension Plan - Life Assurance - Flu Jab Vouchers - Regular Team Incentives and Social Events - Access to a well-stocked fridge and snack cupboard - Opportunities to work with our Netherlands office