Design Director

Cloud Imperium Games
Full-time•Manchester, United Kingdom

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Cloud Imperium Games

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Game Design Leadership / Creative Direction

Date Posted: 2026-07-27

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the overarching design vision and creative direction for "Star Citizen" and/or "Squadron 42," ensuring cohesive and innovative player experiences.

  • Architect and optimize content pipelines and design workflows to support efficient and high-quality game development.

  • Build, mentor, and manage a high-performing team of senior design professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

  • Drive the development of new game mechanics and experiences that push the boundaries of the established universe and project goals.

  • Collaborate closely with cross-functional departments, including engineering, art, UI/UX, and production, to deliver exceptional AAA gaming content.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for defining the creative and systemic direction of two highly ambitious AAA titles. The "Design Director" will be instrumental in translating the company's vision into tangible gameplay and content, requiring a strong blend of creative leadership, technical understanding, and people management skills. The emphasis on "content architecture" and "pipeline optimization" suggests a need for a structured approach to design execution within a complex development environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Define and champion the design vision, ensuring alignment with the overall creative direction and project objectives for "Star Citizen" and "Squadron 42."

  • Oversee the creation of new design concepts, mechanics, and experiences that extend and enhance the established universe, themes, and narrative frameworks.

  • Lead the recruitment, hiring, mentorship, and ongoing development of senior design team members, cultivating their skills and career progression.

  • Guide the design team through project changes, gameplay iterations, and evolving priorities, maintaining focus, morale, and a clear understanding of goals.

  • Collaborate with other department directors (e.g., Art, Engineering

Application Requirements

Requires a proven background in a design leadership position with experience shipping AAA content. Must be capable of building creative teams and optimizing design pipelines and workflows.