Starform is hiring: Game Designer in Seattle

About Starform:

At Starform, we create immersive, multiplayer games that bring players together in exciting ways. Our current project, Metalstorm, is a 5v5 team-based air combat shooter, filled with intense, skill-driven gameplay. We believe that extraordinary games come from talented people with creative ideas, can-do attitude and a desire to collaborate to bring great ideas to life. Our game designers are a central part of game creation, shaping gameplay experiences that resonate with players for years to come.

About the Role

As a Game Designer at Starform, you will spearhead the design efforts for individual features, and support and develop captivating multiplayer gameplay experiences with exceptional longevity. You'll collaborate closely with a cross-functional team, striking a balance between creative ingenuity and structured execution within the product vision. We foster an environment where teamwork and individual initiative converge, empowering designers to contribute their unique perspectives and iteratively refine their ideas into polished, engaging gameplay.

Responsibilities:

• Design Stuff: Design and execute the design and tuning of gameplay systems, content, and mechanics that create a resonant and enduring experience for Metalstorm players.
• Innovate Within our Framework: Infuse fresh, creative ideas while strategically leveraging established design methodologies and systems.
• Foster Cross-Discipline Collaboration: Partner closely with fellow designers, developers, and artists to bring Metalstorm’s gameplay to life, ensuring alignment with the team’s vision of fun, balanced, and immersive experiences.
• Engineer for Exceptional Gameplay: Champion a refined “feel” in gameplay, ensuring interactions and mechanics are responsive, engaging, and polished.
• Iterate and Evolve: Continuously refine designs based on playtest feedback, data analysis, and team insights to achieve and exceed high-quality standards.
• Prioritize the Player Experience: Maintain a player-centric perspective, making design decisions that prioritize a fun, accessible, and enduring experience.

What We’re Looking For:

• Growth Mindset: You're intrinsically motivated to continuously learn and expand your design expertise, staying abreast of industry trends and emerging genres.
• Ownership: You assume full ownership of your work, from ideation to implementation, flourishing in a collaborative, small-team environment where your contributions have a direct and visible impact.
• A Mastery of “Game Feel”: You possess a nuanced understanding of “game feel” and are dedicated to crafting interactions that are fluid, responsive, and satisfying.
• Collaborative Spirit: You thrive in a team setting, effectively communicating ideas, adapting to feedback, and recognizing that exceptional games are born from the synergy of shared insights and constructive dialogue.
• Values-Aligned: Our studio values resonate with you; you want to have significant impact and your passion shows. You actively engage with Metalstorm as a player and are proactive in identifying areas for improvement.
• Design Acumen and Insight: You articulate your design choices with clarity and precision, possess a deep understanding of the elements that contribute to enjoyable gameplay, and demonstrate a capacity for critical analysis of both successes and challenges in your previous work.
• Portfolio of Distinction: Your portfolio showcases a collection of professional or personal projects that exemplify your design skills, creativity, and technical proficiency. For team-based projects, clearly delineate your individual role and contributions.
• Passion for the Craft: You possess a genuine passion for game design, consistently seeking opportunities to elevate the quality bar.
• Impact-Driven: While experience is valued, we prioritize candidates who demonstrate exceptional design sensibilities, a keen eye for quality, and a data-informed approach to crafting features and gameplay with remarkable longevity.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: You proactively seek and act on feedback, leveraging player insights and data analytics to validate assumptions and inform design decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience working on shipped games or live operations, ideally in multiplayer or action-oriented titles.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating game design expertise and a keen eye for gameplay and systems quality.
• Excel proficiency.
• Proficiency with design tools and familiarity with analytics to assess and refine designs.
• Experience with Unity UI Prefabs and scripting experience are pluses.