Design Director / Directeur(trice) du design

Accountabilities:: Own and drive the overall design vision and delivery of tactical missions, overseeing every stage of development, from initial concepts and grayboxing to final implementation and polish. Define, establish, and maintain high creative and quality standards for mission layouts, breaching mechanics, combat encounters, objectives, gameplay pacing, and replayability. Design and develop engaging tactical missions that provide balanced and compelling experiences for both AI-controlled squadmates and five-player cooperative gameplay. Collaborate closely with AI, gameplay, and systems development teams to ensure that core FPS mechanics, enemy behaviors, squad commands, and player tools effectively support mission design objectives. Maintain a hands-on approach within Unreal Engine by building levels, creating prototypes, and iterating on mission layouts and combat encounters alongside the design team. Lead, mentor, and develop a team of level, mission, and encounter designers, providing clear creative direction, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional growth. Establish and maintain a strong creative vision across the design team, ensuring consistency, innovation, and high-quality execution throughout development. Plan, organize, and facilitate regular playtesting sessions, analyze player feedback and gameplay results, and translate findings into actionable design improvements. Partner with production teams to define project scope, establish priorities, manage resources, and deliver missions according to development milestones without compromising quality. Work collaboratively with art, audio, narrative, and engineering leads to create cohesive, immersive, and polished mission experiences. Communicate design objectives, creative decisions, and development progress effectively through documentation, design reviews, presentations, and regular discussions with studio leadership. Support a positive, transparent, and collaborative working culture by encouraging curiosity, knowledge sharing, and cross-functional teamwork. Requirements: At least 10 years of professional experience in video game design, including a minimum of 4 years leading level design or mission design teams. Proven experience shipping at least one first-person shooter (FPS) title in a lead or director-level position, with significant ownership of mission and level design. Expert knowledge of tactical mission design, including level layouts, breaching mechanics, combat encounters, objectives, gameplay pacing, and replayability. Demonstrated experience designing cooperative multiplayer gameplay and experiences involving AI-controlled companions or squadmates. Advanced hands-on proficiency with Unreal Engine, including level creation, Blueprint development, prototyping, and taking environments from initial graybox stages through final polish. Strong understanding of FPS gameplay systems, including weapon mechanics, movement, enemy AI behavior, and their impact on level and encounter design. Proven leadership and team management experience, with the ability to mentor designers, provide actionable feedback, establish creative standards, and guide teams toward successful delivery. Demonstrated ability to organize and facilitate playtesting sessions, interpret feedback, and implement meaningful gameplay improvements. Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage scope, prioritize deliverables, and meet production milestones while maintaining high creative standards. A portfolio or documented professional experience showcasing shipped games and significant contributions to mission and level design. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design vision, provide clear direction, and present ideas effectively to senior leadership and multidisciplinary teams. Strong collaborative mindset, creative problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to balance strategic leadership with hands-on development responsibilities. Additional Assets: Previous experience shipping a tactical shooter or squad-based first-person shooter. Experience developing live-service games or highly replayable mission structures, including procedural elements, gameplay modifiers, and tiered difficulty systems. Previous collaboration with AI engineering teams on squad commands, companion behaviors, enemy tactics, or other AI-driven gameplay systems. Experience establishing, building, and scaling a game design team for a new intellectual property (IP). Passion for innovative multiplayer experiences and a strong understanding of what makes tactical cooperative gameplay engaging and memorable. Benefits: Competitive annual base salary starting at CAD $165,000+, depending on experience and qualifications. Permanent, full-time employment opportunity. Flexible work arrangements, with the option to work remotely or from the studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, or Montreal, Quebec. Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and their families. Stock options, providing opportunities to participate in the company's long-term growth. Discretionary performance-based bonuses. Disability and life insurance coverage. Generous paid time off to support work-life balance. Unlimited sick and personal days. Additional studio-wide closure periods throughout the year. Career advancement opportunities within a creative and innovative game development environment. Access to training and professional development initiatives to support continuous learning and career growth. Opportunity to lead the design direction of an ambitious, unannounced tactical FPS for PC and console. Collaborative studio culture built around honesty, transparency, respect, curiosity, and creative excellence. Opportunity to mentor talented designers and make a significant impact on the development of a new gaming intellectual property.