Associate Designer Jobs in Leander, TX (NOW HIRING)

What We Do:

At Gunfire Games, we're passionate about creating unforgettable worlds and experiences. With a legacy built on titles like Darksiders 3, The Remnant Series, and Chronos, we're driven by the future of game development. Our team thrives on innovation, collaboration, and honing our craft to its finest edge. We're looking for talented, passionate people to help shape the next chapter in our story.

Gunfire Games is seeking a Combat Designer (Associate, Mid-Level, Senior, or Principal) to focus primarily on designing and implementing engaging combat experiences for our upcoming titles. In this role, you will create and iterate on creature behaviors, enemy combat mechanics, AI systems, boss encounters, and animation-driven gameplay using Unreal Engine 5. You will help bring dynamic and memorable combat encounters to life while contributing to the overall player experience.

This role is primarily focused on combat design, with additional responsibility for related gameplay systems including NPC behaviors, ambient encounters, siege scenarios, and other supporting world interactions that enhance combat and player experience.

The ideal candidate has a passion for making characters feel alive and authentic, along with a strong understanding of combat design, animation fundamentals, AI behaviors, and gameplay systems. You should be comfortable working in-engine, using tools such as state machines and Blueprints to implement, tune, and iterate on combat-focused gameplay systems.

We're looking for a self-starter who is highly motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision, with expectations and scope scaling based on experience level.

A portfolio is required for consideration. Applications submitted without a portfolio will not be reviewed. This is a Combat Designer position, and candidates should demonstrate substantial experience designing or implementing combat systems, enemy behaviors, creature AI, boss encounters, or gameplay mechanics. Candidates whose portfolios focus primarily on narrative design, progression design, level design, environmental design, or other non-combat disciplines may not be considered.

Who You Are:

We are open to candidates across multiple experience levels. Responsibilities and expectations scale based on experience and scope of ownership.

Associate Level

• 0–2+ years of experience (professional, internship, or equivalent personal/indie work)

• Foundational understanding of combat design, AI behaviors, or gameplay systems

• Familiarity with Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5) and Blueprint scripting

• Demonstrates potential through portfolio work, with a focus on implementation

• Eagerness to learn, take feedback, and grow within a collaborative team

Mid-Level

• 2–5+ years of experience in combat or gameplay design

• Portfolio demonstrating implemented creature behaviors and combat encounters

• Strong working knowledge of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), including animation systems and state machines

• Proficiency with Blueprint scripting to implement gameplay systems

• Ability to own features from concept through iteration and polish

• Solid understanding of combat feel, AI behaviors, and animation fundamentals

Senior Level

• 5+ years of professional experience in combat or systems design

• Shipped at least one title with meaningful contribution to combat or AI systems

• Deep understanding of creature design, combat mechanics, and player experience

• Advanced experience with Unreal Engine systems, including optimization and technical constraints

• Ability to lead features, mentor other designers, and drive quality across systems

• Strong cross-disciplinary collaboration and problem-solving skills

Principal Level

• 8+ years of experience with a focus on combat systems or AI-driven gameplay

• Multiple shipped titles with significant ownership of combat or creature systems

• Proven ability to define and drive combat design vision at a system or project level

• Establishes best practices, pipelines, and long-term direction for combat design

• Mentors across the discipline and influences both creative and technical decision-making

• Balances high-level vision with hands-on execution when needed

All Levels Should Have:

• Strong technical understanding of Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5), especially animation systems and state machines

• Experience working with 3D game engines and understanding of game development pipelines

• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines

• Ability to iterate quickly without compromising quality

• Strong problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills

• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving development environment

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently

• Must be based in the U.S. and legally authorized to work without sponsorship

Bonus XP:

• Animation experience, especially related to creature behaviors

• Shipped a AA/AAA title (For Mid, Senior, Principal Levels)

• Experience iterating on work based on playtests and player feedback

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the hired applicant may be required to undertake additional tasks as may be reasonably expected to perform.

Pay range: $60,000 - $130,000. Title level and base pay offered will be based on candidate’s skills, experience, and other professional considerations.

Gunfire Games LLC is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran’s status (including protected veterans, as may be required by federal law), sexual orientation or any other category protected by law.

Gunfire Games LLC participates in E-Verify. All new hires are required to complete the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and provide documentation to confirm their identity and authorization to work in the United States.