PitStop Productions are looking for a highly motivated Game Designer to join their growing team of creative developers and support their in-house visual effects team, Penelope VFX in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
This exciting opportunity would suit a talented creative who is dedicated to pursuing a career in the games industry and wants the chance to work as part of a diverse, caring, and growing team on a range of indie and AAA titles.
* We are an independent audio and visual production team running multiple projects worldwide.
* Over the past 25+ years, we have grown our reputation and team, making us renowned for delivering reliably high-quality work.
* We are on an exciting business growth journey
* We have a friendly and supportive team, who have built up a culture of really looking out for each other
* We encourage collaborative working and sharing of skill sets across all levels.
* Provide game design support to current and future projects within the Penelope VFX team, working with other creatives across multiple disciplines to meet the project vision.
* Work within Unreal Engine using existing animation, gameplay, audio and other bespoke blueprint systems to fulfil the game direction and enhance the gameplay experience.
* Coordinate workloads both independently and within a wider team by prioritising tasks and working within time constraints to meet set deadlines.
* Problem solve and devise creative solutions to complex challenges that can arise within game development, including bug fixing and unique platform optimizations.
* Troubleshoot and resolve issues in collaboration with external development teams, while maintaining excellent standards of communication.
* Learn and adopt client workflows to support the game design of projects across multiple levels.
* Assist the wider department by offering specialist support to other teams with relevant project requirements.
* Continue to develop current skill sets and show willingness to widen creative skills and knowledge as needed to support the Penelope VFX team and other internal departments.
* Proficiency with blueprint systems, tools, visual scripting and workflows within Unreal Engine 5.
* Awareness of programming languages including C++ with the ability to create blueprint systems within Unreal Engine.
* Knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 systems including Metahumans, Niagara, animation Blueprints and Control Rig.
* Ability to coordinate and adhere to directed game vision by creating levels, utilising new mechanics and collaborating with other departments.
* Strong verbal and written communication skills with experience creating detailed and comprehensive game design documentation.
* An awareness of the 3D game asset pipeline and an understanding of asset optimisation within Unreal Engine 5.
* Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a dynamic team, following agile methodologies and prioritising workloads to meet deadlines.
* Resilient and confident team player who is able to develop upon feedback and provide constructive criticism to others when necessary.
* Proven commitment to self and professional development to widen skillset and support the growth of other areas.
* Strong understanding of the game production pipeline with emphasis on cross-department dependencies and collaboration.
* Must hold a relevant Game Design related Bachelor’s Degree or working towards.
* Proven experience with version control software including Perforce and GitHub with knowledge of file and system setup, management and optimisation.
* Knowledge of using and creating audio systems within Unreal Engine 5 to work with existing gameplay and animation systems.
* Strong understanding of the relationships of dependencies between departments and an awareness of technical requirements in game design.
* Strong understanding of profiling, memory management, and performance optimisation across created assets and systems, and knowledge on how common performance issues occur and are resolved.
* Fundamental understanding of colour theory, environmental direction, and visual storytelling within level design.
* Ability to convey a narrative through effective game design and enhance the player experience.
* 3D design and animation skills using industry standard software including 3DS Max, Maya, Blender, Substance and Zbrush is a plus.
* Knowledge of playtesting and bug tracking in Unreal Engine 5 with the ability to create event and issue reports in tracking software such as Jira.
* General knowledge of the Adobe CC suite.
* Working towards or hold a Master’s degree in a relevant game design field.
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday
Working pattern: 9.30am – 6pm (including unpaid hour for lunch)
Contract length: Freelance. Preferred 5 days per week availability for a 2-3 month period until the end of June 2024.
£90 per day starting rate plus a £5 travel supplement for every worked day.
Location: Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Please ensure you are willing to commute or in order to attend the office.
We’re an equal opportunities workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.
Please apply by sending your CV and a short covering letter, detailing why you want to work for PitStop Productions, along with your portfolio to jobs@pitstopproductions.co.uk .
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