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Salary: USD 144,200 - 215,000 / annual
Scopely is seeking a Principal Systems Designer to lead the design and implementation of core systems for an unannounced F2P mobile-first live-service game built on a globally recognized IP, currently in pre-production.
In this hands-on individual contributor role, you will own the design and implementation of complex progression, combat scaling, economy, and reward systems from initial concept through shippable release. You'll work closely with the Director of Systems Design and broader systems and gameplay teams to transform ambiguous zero-to-one problems into well-instrumented, production-ready systems.
Key responsibilities include:
- Designing and building core systems including progression, combat scaling, economy, and rewards through the full development lifecycle
- Partnering with gameplay designers to ensure combat abilities, RPG progression, and scaling create a cohesive player experience
- Building and maintaining quantitative models, simulations, and tuning tools that define loot tables, costs, XP curves, and stat scaling
- Implementing and iterating on systems directly in Unity and supporting design tools
- Creating clear design documentation that enables designers, engineers, and producers to execute effectively
- Collaborating with engineering to define tools and pipelines for efficient systems authoring and balancing
- Using playtest results and analytics to evaluate system performance and drive evidence-based iteration
- Evaluating system proposals constructively, identifying design risks and opportunities for improvement
You bring 8+ years of experience owning complex progression, economy, or combat-adjacent systems through development, launch, and live operations. You have strong technical capability including spreadsheet modeling and implementation experience in Unity, Unreal, proprietary engines, or scripting environments. Deep understanding of RPG progression mechanics, power curves, stat growth, and gear/ability scaling is essential. You excel at quantitative analysis, translating ambiguous design problems into clear documentation, and collaborating across disciplines. Experience with F2P collector games, multiplayer action RPGs, and licensed IP is a plus.
