Microsoft Lead Game Designer 

United States, Washington 

150311652

Embody our and

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Art, Game Design, or related field AND 6+ years relevant internship/work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 6+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 4+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR equivalent experience.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience working on AAA games in the capacity of Design Director, Design Lead, or equivalent design leadership role, leading a design team through all phases of development.
• Associate's Degree in Art, Game Design, or related field AND 12+ years relevant internship/work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 12+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR Master's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Game Design, or related field AND 8+ years related work experience (e.g., game development and design, systems design, content production)
  • OR equivalent experience
• Have shipped at least 1 title released to consumers.
• Comprehensive understanding of games—especially the FPS and action genres—gameplay mechanics and systems, competitive and social player psychology, combined with the demonstrated ability to identify, analyze, and rectify game design and gameplay issues.
• Knowledge of standard industry game engines, design toolsets, and production pipelines.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:

• Collaborate with 343’s Studio Design Director and other key stakeholders to define future Halo experiences.
• Lead the creative expansion and refinement of Halo’s narrative, map design, player experience, systems design, character, and sandbox gameplay elements with an eye towards delivering deep and immersive games.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with all development disciplines to ensure a best-in-industry production process that avoids silos and reinforces a unified product vision.
• Set clear design goals and deliverables, focusing the design team on achieving a high-quality, cohesive experience for all players, on all platforms.
• Create clear design documentation and review design team documentation for creative alignment, consistency, and completeness.
• Be a partner with cross-disciplinary performance, user research, community, support, competitive insights, and marketing teams to deliver high quality, player focused content and features.
• Be a consistent source of clarity, positive energy and an exemplar of Microsoft and Xbox values.