Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Housemarque

Location: Helsinki, Finland

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Design Leadership / Game Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic vision and long-term evolution of Housemarque's Design craft, aligning it with ambitious game development goals and studio growth.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Design Leads and senior designers, fostering leadership capabilities and ensuring talent succession.

• Own the holistic health and growth of the Design organization, encompassing recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee retention strategies.

• Establish and refine shared design principles, best practices, and quality standards to cultivate a unified design language and facilitate effective collaboration.

• Champion the optimization of design tools, workflows, and processes to enhance designer efficiency, remove friction points, and continuously improve operational excellence within the craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a strategic operations leadership role within the game development context, focusing on the "craft" of design rather than direct project-level design execution. The emphasis is on building capabilities, processes, and talent pipelines for the design discipline, which aligns with Revenue Operations and GTM Operations principles of enabling teams and optimizing workflows for business outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the overarching strategy for Housemarque's Design discipline, ensuring its continuous evolution to meet the escalating ambitions of our games and studio.

• Provide expert leadership, coaching, and development for Design Leads and other senior design talent, cultivating robust leadership capabilities and a strong succession plan across the craft.

• Manage the end-to-end growth and health of the Design organization, including strategic hiring, effective onboarding, performance evaluation, career path development, and proactive talent retention initiatives.

• Institute and advance a set of shared design principles, industry-leading best practices, and rigorous quality standards to establish a cohesive operational framework and empower confident decision-making among designers.

• Advocate for and implement essential tools, optimized workflows, and streamlined processes that empower designers to operate at peak efficiency, systematically identifying and eliminating operational friction and driving continuous improvement in how the design craft functions.

• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, Game Directors, and Design leadership to deeply understand project-specific needs and ensure the Design craft is fully resourced and equipped to manifest their creative visions.

• Foster strong cross-disciplinary collaboration with other craft leaders, promoting integrated ways of working and cultivating a studio-wide environment characterized by high levels of teamwork and mutual support.

• Represent the Design discipline in studio-wide strategic planning sessions, adeptly balancing talent allocation and resource deployment across diverse teams, projects, and development lifecycle phases to optimize overall studio output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strategic, people-focused, and process-oriented approach, typical of senior operations leadership roles. Emphasis on "craft," "discipline," "workflows," and "processes" indicates a need for strong operational thinking and execution in a creative industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected, though equivalent practical experience in a senior design leadership role will be strongly considered.

Experience: Extensive experience (10+ years) in leading and developing design teams within AAA, PC, or console game development environments is essential. A proven track record of successfully coaching senior designers and Design Leads, building high-performing teams, and nurturing future leaders is critical.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to define and drive long-term strategy for a design discipline, aligning with studio ambitions and evolving industry trends.

• Design Craft Management: Deep understanding of game design principles and the ability to establish and evolve shared design standards, best practices, and quality benchmarks.

• People Leadership & Development: Proven experience in coaching, mentoring, and developing senior design talent, building strong leadership capabilities, and managing career progression.

• Organizational Health: Ownership of the Design organization's growth, including strategic hiring, effective onboarding, performance management, and talent retention.

• Process & Workflow Optimization: Championing and evolving the tools, workflows, and processes that enable efficient designer operations and remove friction.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Ability to partner effectively with Creative Directors, Game Directors, and other craft leaders to achieve shared creative and production goals.

• AAA Game Development Acumen: Comprehensive understanding of modern game development pipelines, tools, engines, and production workflows within AAA, PC/Console environments.

• Communication & Influence: Highly collaborative and empathetic communicator adept at building trust, influencing through expertise, and creating alignment across diverse stakeholders and seniority levels.

• Project Planning & Resource Management: Skill in representing the design discipline in studio-level planning, balancing talent and resources across teams and projects.

• Problem-Solving & Ambiguity Navigation: Ability to balance creative ambition with production realities, guiding teams through complexity and competing priorities.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience leading a Design discipline across multiple concurrent projects, teams, or development phases.

• Proven experience in scaling or transforming a Design organization, including establishing career frameworks, craft standards, or innovative new ways of working.

• Direct experience working on high-quality action, action-adventure, or complex systems-driven games.

• Background within a first-party studio or an environment requiring significant cross-studio collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of strategic vision, operational execution, and strong people leadership, which are hallmarks of senior operations roles. The preference for experience in scaling organizations and transforming ways of working directly speaks to the operational improvement aspect of this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated ability to articulate and implement a strategic vision for a design discipline, showcasing how this vision translated into tangible improvements in team performance, process efficiency, or talent development.

• Examples of developing and refining design workflows, tools, or processes that enhanced designer productivity, collaboration, or output quality, ideally with measurable impact.

• Case studies illustrating successful leadership in building, coaching, and developing design teams, highlighting approaches to talent acquisition, performance management, and career progression.

• Evidence of establishing and upholding design principles, best practices, or quality standards, demonstrating how these frameworks supported consistent creative execution and cross-team alignment.

• Documentation or examples of strategic planning contributions, showcasing how design resource needs were balanced against project demands and studio-wide objectives. Process Documentation:

• Documented examples of developing or optimizing design workflows, outlining the phases from initial concept to implementation and measurement of impact.

• Evidence of implementing new tools, technologies, or methodologies to improve design team efficiency and collaboration, including the rationale and outcomes.

• Processes for establishing and maintaining design quality standards, including how feedback loops were integrated for continuous improvement and stakeholder alignment.

• Frameworks for managing design talent, such as career pathing, performance reviews, and professional development plans, demonstrating a structured approach to team growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: While traditional portfolios for designers focus on visual or functional output, for a Head of Design role in an operations context, the portfolio should emphasize strategic planning, process improvement, and team development. This aligns with operations roles where demonstrating strategic impact through process optimization and team enablement is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for senior leadership roles in game development in Helsinki, Finland, and considering the extensive experience required (10+ years), the estimated annual salary range for a Head of Design is expected to be between €100,000 and €150,000. This range accounts for the strategic nature of the role, leadership responsibilities, and the cost of living in Helsinki.

Benefits:

• Nordic Work-Life Balance: A core company value emphasizing sustainable work practices and a healthy equilibrium between professional and personal life.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, skill enhancement, and career advancement through training, workshops, and industry events.

• Personal Development Time: Dedicated time and resources to support individual growth and exploration of new ideas relevant to the design craft and leadership.

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Standard benefits package likely including health insurance, dental care, and potentially wellness programs.

• Competitive Pension Plan: A robust retirement savings plan aligned with Finnish employment standards.

• Relocation Assistance: Support for candidates relocating to Helsinki, if applicable.

• Studio Perks: Access to studio facilities, team events, and a creative work environment.

Working Hours: The role is expected to adhere to a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility to accommodate project needs and operational demands. The emphasis on Nordic work-life balance suggests a culture that respects personal time and discourages excessive overtime.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimate is based on typical senior leadership compensation in the Finnish tech/gaming sector, adjusted for the specific role and experience level. Benefits are inferred from the company's stated values and standard industry offerings.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development, specifically AAA console and PC gaming, with a strong focus on action and action-adventure genres. Housemarque is a prestigious studio known for its technical prowess and distinctive visual style.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Housemarque joined PlayStation Studios in 2021. Post-acquisition, it's likely a medium-sized studio, possibly ranging from 100-300 employees, allowing for specialized craft leadership while maintaining agility. This size is conducive to impactful individual contributions and direct leadership engagement.

Founded: Established in 1995, Housemarque has a long and rich history rooted in the Finnish demoscene, evolving into a globally recognized game developer. This longevity suggests a stable, experienced, and resilient company culture.

Team Structure:

• The Design discipline will likely be structured with Design Leads managing specific game features or systems, reporting up to the Head of Design.

• This role will report to a higher-level executive, such as a Studio Director, Head of Development, or Chief Creative Officer, providing strategic direction for the entire design function.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, with strong partnerships expected with Art Directors, Technical Directors, Production Leads, and other craft leaders to ensure cohesive game development. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design Strategy: While creative vision is central, decisions regarding design strategy, team structure, and resource allocation will be informed by data, performance metrics, and studio objectives.

• Agile/Iterative Workflow Planning: Game development at this level typically employs iterative development cycles, emphasizing flexibility, continuous feedback, and adaptation.

• Process Optimization & Automation: A key focus for this role will be identifying and implementing improvements in design workflows, tools, and automation to enhance efficiency and quality.

Company Website: https://housemarque.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is derived from the provided description, focusing on its industry, history, and relationship with PlayStation Studios. The inferred team structure and methodology are based on standard practices for senior leadership roles in AAA game development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a specialized craft. It represents a significant step beyond individual contributor or lead roles, focusing on strategic oversight, organizational development, and the enablement of an entire discipline. The role requires a blend of deep technical/craft understanding and executive-level operational and people management skills.

Reporting Structure: The Head of Design will likely report to a Studio Director, Head of Development, or Executive Producer, acting as the primary strategic leader for the Design discipline within Housemarque. They will manage a team of Design Leads and senior designers, influencing the creative and operational direction of all game design efforts.

Operations Impact: This role has a profound impact on the studio's ability to deliver high-quality, genre-defining action experiences. By optimizing design processes, fostering talent, and ensuring strategic alignment, the Head of Design directly contributes to the studio's overall productivity, creative output, innovation capacity, and ultimately, its commercial success and reputation. They are instrumental in shaping the studio's future design capabilities.

Growth Opportunities:

• Organizational Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale a world-class design organization, potentially expanding the discipline's scope and influence within PlayStation Studios.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the studio's overall creative and development strategy, contributing to the direction of future game titles.

• Mentorship & Executive Development: Develop and mentor a new generation of design leaders, preparing them for greater responsibilities and contributing to their professional growth.

• Industry Recognition: Represent Housemarque at industry events, contributing to thought leadership in game design and leadership.

• Broader PlayStation Studios Involvement: Potential to collaborate on initiatives or share best practices across other PlayStation Studios, leveraging a wider network and resource pool.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis focuses on positioning this role within a senior operational leadership framework, emphasizing its strategic impact and growth potential beyond typical game design progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Housemarque operates from a physical studio location in Helsinki, Finland. This suggests a collaborative, on-site work environment conducive to team interaction, brainstorming, and hands-on development. The mention of "Nordic work-life balance" implies a structured yet supportive office culture.

Office Location(s): Helsinki, Finland. This vibrant European capital offers a high quality of life, a strong tech and gaming ecosystem, and excellent connectivity.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The on-site nature fosters spontaneous interactions, team meetings, and a shared sense of purpose, crucial for creative disciplines like design.

• Tools & Technology: Designers will have access to industry-standard hardware, software, and potentially proprietary tools essential for AAA game development, supported by IT infrastructure.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct engagement with peers, leads, and cross-functional teams (Art, Code, Production) are abundant, facilitating a cohesive development process.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week, combined with the emphasis on Nordic work-life balance, indicates a professional environment that values efficiency and output over excessive hours. While project deadlines may require occasional flexibility, the culture likely supports sustainable working practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is tailored to an on-site, AAA game development studio, highlighting aspects relevant to collaboration, resources, and work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership background, and alignment with the role's strategic and operational requirements.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion focused on your leadership philosophy, experience in building and developing design teams, strategic thinking, and understanding of AAA development pipelines. Expect questions about team structure, talent management, and process optimization.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Creative Directors, Game Directors, and other craft leaders to evaluate your collaboration style, ability to influence, and understanding of interdisciplinary dependencies.

• Case Study/Presentation: Potentially a presentation of a strategic initiative or a hypothetical scenario requiring you to outline your approach to developing a design discipline, managing talent, or optimizing workflows within a given timeframe.

• Final Interview: A conversation with senior studio leadership to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and long-term impact on the studio.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Focus: Your portfolio should emphasize your strategic leadership and operational impact, not just individual design contributions. Showcase how you've built teams, improved processes, and driven discipline-wide growth.

• Case Study Structure: For any strategic initiatives presented, use a clear structure: the challenge/opportunity, your strategy and approach, the implementation, and the measurable results (e.g., improved efficiency, talent retention, quality uplift).

• Metrics & ROI: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Demonstrate how your leadership actions led to tangible benefits for the design team and the studio.

• Leadership Philosophy: Be prepared to articulate your philosophy on design leadership, team development, and fostering a strong design culture.

• Company Alignment: Tailor your presentation to Housemarque's values, their games (e.g., action-focused, narrative-driven), and their position within PlayStation Studios.

Challenge Preparation:

• Strategic Planning Exercise: Be ready to outline your approach to developing a 3-5 year strategy for the Design discipline at Housemarque, considering studio growth, technological advancements, and market trends.

• Talent Management Scenario: Prepare for questions or a scenario about how you would address issues like low morale, skill gaps, or retention challenges within a design team.

• Process Improvement Proposal: Think about how you would assess current design workflows and propose improvements for efficiency, collaboration, or tool adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process is designed to assess strategic leadership, operational execution, and people management skills, common for senior roles in operations. The portfolio guidance emphasizes demonstrating impact through strategy and process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engines: Deep familiarity with industry-standard engines such as Unreal Engine and potentially proprietary engines used by Housemarque for their AAA titles. Understanding how design integrates with engine capabilities is crucial.

• Design Software: Proficiency with a range of design and prototyping tools is expected, though the specific stack will vary. This could include 3D modeling software (e.g., Maya, Blender), concept art tools (e.g., Photoshop, Procreate), and potentially specialized game design tools.

• Project Management & Collaboration: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar platforms for managing tasks, workflows, documentation, and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• In-Game Analytics Tools: Understanding of how design decisions are informed by player data and performance metrics. Familiarity with tools that track player behavior, engagement, and progression within games.

• Performance Dashboards: Ability to interpret and leverage data from dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or custom studio solutions) to monitor design team performance and project health.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, an understanding of how player feedback loops and community engagement can inform design strategy might be relevant.

• Workflow Automation: Familiarity with concepts and tools for automating repetitive tasks within the design pipeline, improving efficiency and reducing manual effort.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack listed are typical for a AAA game development studio, with a focus on how design operations leverage these to create and optimize games. The emphasis is on understanding how these tools support the design craft and its operational efficiency.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Craft: A commitment to pushing the boundaries of game design and striving for the highest quality in every aspect of the design discipline.

• Nordic Work-Life Balance: A foundational value that promotes sustainable work practices, respects personal time, and encourages employee well-being.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-disciplinary teamwork is paramount for success.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing data and player insights to guide strategic decisions and validate design choices, ensuring a player-centric approach.

• Continuous Improvement: A proactive mindset focused on identifying opportunities for process optimization, skill development, and innovation within the design craft.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A strong emphasis on seamless collaboration between Design, Art, Engineering, Production, and QA to ensure a cohesive and high-quality game experience.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: Encouraging open, honest, and respectful feedback loops within the design team and across disciplines to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting practices that facilitate the sharing of best practices, learnings, and innovative techniques across the design organization and the wider studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values are inferred from the company description and general industry best practices for reputable game development studios, with a specific nod to the stated Nordic work-life balance and PlayStation Studios affiliation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Operations: As Housemarque continues to grow and evolve, scaling the Design discipline to meet increasing project demands while maintaining quality and culture will be a key challenge.

• Balancing Creative Ambition with Production Realities: Navigating the inherent tension between ambitious creative visions and the constraints of time, budget, and technical feasibility.

• Evolving Technology & Tools: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in game engines, development tools, and design methodologies to ensure the team remains at the forefront of the industry.

• Talent Acquisition & Retention: Attracting and retaining top-tier design talent in a competitive global market, particularly for specialized AAA roles.

• Cross-Studio Integration: Effectively collaborating and aligning design strategies and processes with other PlayStation Studios, potentially requiring adaptation to different workflows or standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Development Programs: Access to executive and leadership training tailored for managing large creative teams and driving strategic initiatives.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend leading game development and design conferences (e.g., GDC) to gain insights, network, and bring back best practices.

• Mentorship & Executive Coaching: Receiving guidance from experienced leaders within PlayStation Studios or through external coaching to enhance strategic and operational capabilities.

• Specialization in Action/Systems Design: Deepening expertise in the specific genres and design philosophies that define Housemarque's success.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed within the context of senior leadership in a growing AAA game studio, emphasizing strategic, operational, and people-development aspects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and articulate a long-term strategy for the Design discipline at Housemarque, considering our focus on action games and our position within PlayStation Studios?" (Preparation: Research Housemarque's current games, studio history, and PlayStation's broader strategy. Outline a framework for strategic planning, including market analysis, talent assessment, and technology trends.)

• "Describe your approach to developing and coaching Design Leads. What are the key elements of building high-performing leadership teams within a creative discipline?" (Preparation: Detail your leadership philosophy, methods for identifying leadership potential, coaching techniques, and strategies for fostering accountability and growth.)

• "How do you balance creative ambition with production realities? Provide an example of a time you helped a team navigate complexity and competing priorities to deliver a successful outcome." (Preparation: Prepare a STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) story that highlights your problem-solving skills, strategic thinking, and ability to manage ambiguity in a game development context.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for the Design discipline at Housemarque in the next 3-5 years?" (Preparation: Demonstrate an understanding of the company's current standing, industry trends, and potential growth areas. Connect your answer to your strategic vision.)

• "How would you foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within the Design team and across other disciplines at Housemarque?" (Preparation: Discuss your experience with agile methodologies, feedback loops, knowledge sharing initiatives, and building strong cross-functional relationships.)

• "How do you measure the success and impact of a Design discipline and its leaders?" (Preparation: Outline key performance indicators (KPIs) related to team health, output quality, project delivery, talent development, and strategic alignment. Discuss how you would track and report on these metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Strategic Impact: Highlight initiatives where you led organizational change, process improvements, or talent development that had a measurable positive effect on design output or team efficiency.

• Structure Your Narratives: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic solution, the implementation steps, and the quantifiable results. Use visuals where appropriate to illustrate process flows or team structures.

• Demonstrate Leadership Philosophy: Weave your leadership principles and values throughout your presentation. Show how you empower teams and foster a culture of excellence.

• Engage and Discuss: Be prepared for in-depth Q&A. Use the presentation as a springboard for a dialogue about your approach and how it aligns with Housemarque's needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions and preparation advice are tailored to assess strategic leadership, operational acumen, and people management skills relevant to a Head of Design role in a AAA game studio.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Greenhouse.

• Tailor Your Resume for Leadership & Operations: Emphasize your experience in strategic leadership, team development, process optimization, and managing design organizations within AAA game development. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio for Strategic Impact: Prepare a presentation or portfolio that highlights your strategic vision, operational improvements, and people leadership successes. Focus on case studies demonstrating how you've built, led, and optimized design teams and processes.

• Research Housemarque's Games and Culture: Understand their game portfolio (Returnal, SAROS), their visual style, and their stated values (e.g., "gameplay always comes first," Nordic work-life balance). Prepare to discuss how your leadership style aligns with their culture.

• Prepare for Strategic & Leadership Discussions: Anticipate questions about your long-term vision for the Design discipline, your approach to talent management, and how you would foster collaboration and excellence within a creative studio environment. Practice articulating your leadership philosophy and strategic thinking.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.