thatgamecompany - Lead Systems Designer (Economy and Engagement Focus)

• 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: • 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 • 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 • 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