Senior Game Designer - Mobile Games (Systems, UX & LiveOps)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Game Designer - Mobile Games (Systems, UX & LiveOps)

Company: UserWise Services

Location: Romania

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Game Design Operations / Live Operations

Date Posted: March 26, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and refine core gameplay loops, systems, and features for mobile games, focusing on player engagement and retention.

• Own the player experience across User Experience (UX), progression systems, and long-term player retention strategies.

• Develop and manage the in-game economy and monetization systems to ensure sustainable revenue generation and player satisfaction.

• Translate high-level product goals into clear, production-ready design specifications for cross-functional teams.

• Leverage AI-assisted tools to accelerate design iteration, content creation, and overall production efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated at the intersection of creative game design and operational execution, emphasizing the delivery and scaling of mobile games. The "Operations" aspect focuses on the systematic design, implementation, and continuous improvement of game systems and player engagement models, particularly within a LiveOps context. The emphasis on AI-assisted tools highlights a forward-thinking, efficiency-driven approach characteristic of modern GTM and product operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, document, and iterate on core gameplay loops, meta-systems, and specific game features that drive player engagement and enjoyment.

• Define and optimize player progression paths, ensuring a compelling long-term experience that encourages continued play and investment.

• Architect and balance in-game economies, including virtual currencies, itemization, and reward structures, to support monetization goals and player satisfaction.

• Create detailed design specifications, wireframes, and flowcharts for features, ensuring clarity and feasibility for engineering, art, and QA teams.

• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, artists, and QA testers to ensure timely and high-quality feature delivery within an agile development environment.

• Proactively utilize AI-powered design tools to rapidly prototype, test, and refine game mechanics and content.

• Analyze player behavior data, game performance metrics, and LiveOps feedback to identify areas for improvement and inform design decisions.

• Contribute to the strategic planning and execution of LiveOps events, content updates, and monetization campaigns to maximize player retention and revenue.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are directly aligned with a Senior Game Designer role focused on operationalizing game design principles for mobile, particularly casual and hybrid-casual markets. The emphasis on "owning" systems and collaborating with cross-functional teams for "shipping quickly" points to an operations-centric execution model. The use of AI-assisted tools signifies an operational strategy to enhance speed and iteration cycles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in game design, with a significant focus on mobile game development.

Required Skills:

• Systems Design: Expertise in designing complex, interconnected gameplay systems, progression mechanics, and meta-game structures.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of mobile UX principles, player journey mapping, and creating intuitive user interfaces.

• LiveOps Strategy: Experience in planning, executing, and optimizing live game events, content updates, and in-game promotions.

• Economy & Monetization Design: Proficiency in designing balanced in-game economies, virtual currencies, and effective monetization strategies (e.g., IAPs, ad integration).

• Production-Ready Design Documentation: Ability to translate product goals into clear, concise, and actionable design documents, wireframes, and user flows for development teams.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with engineering, art, QA, product management, and marketing teams.

• Data Analysis & Iteration: Comfort and proficiency in analyzing game data (e.g., player behavior, retention metrics, conversion rates) to inform design decisions and drive iterative improvements.

• AI-Assisted Tools: Familiarity and willingness to use AI-powered tools for design, content generation, and rapid prototyping.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with specific mobile game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.

• Knowledge of A/B testing methodologies for feature and monetization optimization.

• Familiarity with game analytics platforms (e.g., GameAnalytics, Amplitude, Firebase).

• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-ownership, low-bureaucracy environment.

• Understanding of market trends in the free-to-play mobile game space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping" and "execution focus" suggests a need for candidates who can not only design but also ensure their designs are implemented efficiently and effectively. The mention of "casual or hybrid casual" games narrows the scope of relevant experience, and the "5-10 years" experience level indicates a need for seasoned professionals capable of independent ownership and strategic input.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies of mobile games designed and shipped, highlighting your specific contributions to core systems, UX, economy, and LiveOps.

• System Design Examples: Provide examples of complex game systems you designed, including documentation (e.g., flowcharts, diagrams) that illustrates their mechanics, interdependencies, and player impact.

• Economy & Monetization Designs: Present designs for in-game economies and monetization strategies, demonstrating balance, player progression integration, and revenue potential.

• UX/UI Flow Examples: Include examples of user flow diagrams, wireframes, or UI mockups that illustrate your approach to intuitive and engaging player experiences.

• LiveOps Event Design: Demonstrate your experience with designing and implementing LiveOps events, including examples of event mechanics, rewards, and player engagement strategies.

Process Documentation:

• Design Documentation Standards: Evidence of ability to produce clear, comprehensive, and production-ready design documentation that facilitates efficient development.

• Iterative Design Process: Documentation or explanation of how you use data and player feedback to iterate on designs and improve game systems post-launch.

• System Integration Workflows: Examples of how your designed systems integrate with other game mechanics, progression, and monetization features.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Game Designer role with an operational focus, the portfolio is critical. It needs to demonstrate not just creativity, but the ability to translate that creativity into producible, scalable, and profitable game systems. The emphasis on "production-ready designs" and "data-driven iteration" means the portfolio should showcase a structured, results-oriented approach.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Tax-Free USD Salaries: Competitive compensation paid in US Dollars, exempt from local taxes in Romania.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous paid leave to ensure work-life balance and employee well-being.

• Performance Bonus: Opportunity to earn bonuses based on individual and company performance, aligning incentives with business outcomes.

• Annual Performance Reviews: Regular reviews to discuss career progression, provide feedback, and adjust compensation.

• Global Team Collaboration: Opportunity to work with a diverse, international team, fostering a rich learning environment.

• AI-Assisted Workflow: Access to cutting-edge AI tools designed to enhance productivity and creativity.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility to accommodate different time zones within the global team structure. The focus is on results and execution rather than strict adherence to traditional office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "tax-free USD salaries" is a significant benefit, making the estimated range highly attractive. The focus on performance bonuses and annual reviews indicates a results-driven compensation structure, common in operations and GTM roles where impact is directly measurable. The flexible working hours align with a remote, execution-focused environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mobile Game Development & Publishing (with a focus on AI-assisted production and scaling).

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the description suggests a growing, agile team rather than a large, established studio. The focus on "high-speed" and "AI-driven workflows" implies a lean, modern operational structure.

Founded: Not specified, but the company is actively working on established franchises, indicating some level of operational maturity and market presence.

Team Structure:

• Agile & Cross-Functional: The team operates with a high degree of cross-functional collaboration, integrating design, product, engineering, art, and QA.

• Ownership Model: Team members are expected to take end-to-end ownership of their systems, features, and UX, fostering accountability and autonomy.

• Global Distribution: The team is distributed globally, bringing diverse perspectives and enabling continuous operation.

• AI Integration: AI tools are a core component of the workflow, integrated into daily tasks for efficiency and speed.

Methodology:

• AI-Driven Production: Leveraging AI for rapid iteration, content creation, and design assistance.

• Lean & Agile Execution: Prioritizing speed, efficiency, and minimal bureaucracy to achieve rapid development cycles.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Using player data and performance metrics to guide design choices and LiveOps strategies.

• Outcome-Focused: Emphasis on achieving tangible results and shipping products rather than adhering to rigid processes.

Company Website: https://userwise.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: UserWise is positioning itself as a disruptor in game development, combining traditional game design expertise with advanced AI technology and an operational model focused on speed and efficiency. This culture is crucial for candidates to understand, as it values autonomy, rapid execution, and a results-oriented mindset over traditional hierarchical structures.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Game Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level of expertise. It requires not only design proficiency but also the ability to independently own significant aspects of game development and live operations. The emphasis on "end-to-end" ownership and driving outcomes aligns with a progression towards lead or principal designer roles, or specialization in specific operational areas like LiveOps management.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on "low bureaucracy" and "high ownership" suggests a relatively flat reporting structure. The Senior Game Designer will likely report to a Lead Designer, Head of Design, or a Product Lead, with close collaboration across all development disciplines. The focus will be on direct contribution and impact rather than hierarchical advancement.

Operations Impact: The Senior Game Designer will have a direct and significant impact on the company's success by:

• Revenue Generation: Designing and optimizing monetization systems and economies that directly drive revenue.

• Player Retention & Engagement: Creating compelling gameplay loops and progression systems that keep players engaged and reduce churn.

• Product Scalability: Ensuring game systems are designed for efficient scaling and live operations, enabling rapid growth of player bases.

• Production Efficiency: Utilizing AI and agile methodologies to accelerate development cycles and increase the number of high-quality game bets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in LiveOps: Deepen expertise in LiveOps strategy, event design, and player lifecycle management.

• Lead/Principal Designer Roles: Advance to leadership positions, guiding design teams and shaping the strategic direction of game projects.

• Product Management Transition: Leverage system design and outcome-focused experience to move into product management roles within the gaming industry.

• AI in Game Design Mastery: Become a leader in leveraging AI tools and workflows for game development and optimization.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Gain broader experience in areas like data analysis, community management, and marketing through cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here is less about climbing a traditional ladder and more about developing specialized operational expertise and demonstrating leadership through impact. The company's focus on AI and rapid iteration suggests opportunities to become a thought leader in emerging game development methodologies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role operates within a distributed global team, eliminating the need for a physical office presence.

Office Location(s): The role is open to candidates located in Romania, indicating that while the company is global, there might be specific regional considerations or hubs for talent acquisition.

Workspace Context:

• High Autonomy: Team members are empowered to manage their own schedules and work environments to maximize productivity.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on communication and project management tools (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence, project management software) to facilitate seamless collaboration across distances.

• AI-Powered Workflow: Access to and integration of AI tools directly into the design and production process, shaping the day-to-day work experience.

• Focus on Execution: The environment is geared towards rapid development and iterative improvement, with minimal emphasis on traditional office politics or bureaucracy.

Work Schedule:

• Approximately 40 hours per week. While the total hours are standard, the schedule is flexible, allowing individuals to adapt their working hours to suit their personal productivity peaks and accommodate collaboration with team members in different time zones. The emphasis is on delivering results and meeting deadlines rather than adhering to a rigid 9-to-5 structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature and emphasis on "low bureaucracy" and "high speed" define the work environment as highly self-directed and results-oriented. Candidates should be comfortable with asynchronous communication and proactive problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess relevant experience, skills, and alignment with the company's operational approach.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion focusing on your experience with mobile game systems design, UX, economy, and LiveOps. Expect questions about your approach to problem-solving and your ability to translate product goals into designs.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session where you will present and discuss specific case studies from your portfolio. Be prepared to explain your design decisions, the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable impact of your work.

• Technical/Design Challenge: You may be given a design exercise or a take-home challenge to assess your practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of mobile game mechanics and systems.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential colleagues from engineering, art, or product to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the agile, high-ownership team.

• Final Interview/Offer: A concluding discussion, potentially with senior leadership, to finalize the decision and discuss terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, the design solutions, and the quantifiable results (e.g., increased retention, revenue uplift, engagement metrics).

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Demonstrate your ability to design interconnected systems, not just isolated features. Use diagrams and flowcharts to illustrate complexity and dependencies.

• Emphasize Production Readiness: Show examples of design documentation that are clear, concise, and suitable for direct implementation by development teams.

• Focus on LiveOps: Include examples of how your designs have supported or been adapted for live operations, events, and ongoing player engagement.

• Address AI Usage: If possible, describe how you have used or would use AI tools to enhance your design process, iterate faster, or generate content.

• Tailor to the Role: Ensure your portfolio prominently features experience relevant to casual/hybrid-casual mobile games, systems design, UX, and monetization.

Challenge Preparation:

• Deconstruct Games: Practice deconstructing successful and unsuccessful mobile games, analyzing their core loops, progression, economy, and LiveOps strategies. Be ready to articulate learnings and apply them to new scenarios.

• System Design Scenarios: Prepare to design hypothetical game systems or features under time constraints. Focus on defining mechanics, player incentives, and potential issues.

• Data Interpretation: Be ready to interpret mock data sets or scenarios and explain how you would use that information to refine a game design or LiveOps strategy.

• Communication Clarity: Practice explaining complex design concepts clearly and concisely, as you will need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application, portfolio demonstration, and cultural fit, particularly regarding ownership and speed. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to prove their ability to deliver impactful, production-ready designs in a fast-paced operational environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engines: Unity (highly probable due to mobile focus and prevalence in casual/hybrid-casual). Unreal Engine is also a possibility.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD for UX/UI design and wireframing. Potentially specialized tools for economy balancing or system design.

• AI-Assisted Design Tools: Company-specific or industry-standard AI tools for content generation, level design assistance, narrative scripting, or rapid prototyping. Candidates should be open to learning and integrating these.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Game Analytics Platforms: GameAnalytics, Amplitude, Firebase Analytics, DeltaDNA, or similar platforms for tracking player behavior, engagement, retention, and monetization metrics.

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or in-house dashboards for presenting data insights.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello for task tracking and workflow management.

• Communication: Slack, Discord for team communication and collaboration.

• Version Control: Git (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) for managing game code and design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Unity is a strong assumption for mobile game design. The emphasis on AI tools suggests the company is at the forefront of integrating new technologies, and candidates should demonstrate adaptability and a willingness to learn. Familiarity with data analytics platforms is crucial for the "LiveOps" and "data analysis" aspects of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for systems, features, and outcomes from conception to live operations. This means proactively identifying issues and driving solutions.

• Speed & Execution: Prioritizing rapid iteration, efficient development, and timely delivery of features and updates. The focus is on shipping and improving, not just planning.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Relying on player data, performance metrics, and A/B testing results to inform design choices and optimize game systems.

• Collaboration & Communication: Working seamlessly with a global, cross-functional team, communicating clearly and effectively to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation: Embracing new technologies, like AI-assisted workflows, to find more efficient and effective ways to develop and scale games.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close partnership with engineering, art, QA, and product teams, with a shared understanding of goals and timelines.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing an agile development methodology with regular feedback loops and continuous improvement cycles.

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where ideas can be shared freely, and constructive feedback is welcomed to enhance designs and processes.

• Remote-First Mindset: Utilizing digital tools and clear communication protocols to ensure effective collaboration despite geographical distribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values are heavily skewed towards an operational efficiency model: high ownership, speed, and data-driven decisions. This is critical for candidates to align with, as it dictates how work is performed and how success is measured.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Iteration & Production Pressure: The fast-paced environment demands quick turnarounds on designs and the ability to adapt to changing priorities, which can be demanding.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Operational Constraints: Ensuring that creative design goals are met while adhering to technical limitations, development schedules, and monetization targets.

• Effective Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong communication and team cohesion within a globally distributed, remote-first team requires proactive effort.

• Integrating AI Tools Seamlessly: Learning and effectively integrating new AI-assisted workflows into established design processes can present a learning curve.

• Data Interpretation Complexity: Deriving actionable insights from vast amounts of player data requires strong analytical skills and the ability to translate data into design improvements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastery of AI in Game Design: Become a pioneer in leveraging advanced AI tools for game development and LiveOps, gaining highly sought-after expertise.

• Advanced LiveOps Strategy: Grow expertise in designing and managing complex LiveOps events, player lifecycle marketing, and long-term retention strategies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Expansion: Gain exposure to product management, data science, and marketing through close collaboration with these functions.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on lead roles, mentor junior designers, and influence the strategic direction of game projects.

• Industry Trend Expertise: Stay at the forefront of mobile gaming trends, particularly in areas of AI, monetization, and player engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a high-growth, innovative tech company. The growth opportunities are substantial, particularly for those who embrace the company's operational ethos and desire to specialize in cutting-edge areas of game development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Core Systems Design: "Describe a complex gameplay system you designed for a mobile game. What were the core mechanics, how did it integrate with other systems, and what was its impact on player retention or monetization?"

• LiveOps Event Design: "Walk us through the design of a successful LiveOps event you managed. What were the objectives, what mechanics did you implement, how did you measure success, and what did you learn from it?"

• Economy Balancing: "How would you approach designing an in-game economy for a free-to-play game? What are the key considerations for balancing virtual currencies, progression, and monetization?"

• AI Tool Integration: "How have you used or how would you use AI-assisted tools in your game design process to improve efficiency or creativity?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Ownership & Execution: "Describe a time you took full ownership of a feature or system and drove it to completion, especially when facing obstacles. How did you prioritize and execute?"

• Fast-Paced Environment: "How do you thrive in a high-speed, low-bureaucracy environment? Give an example of how you've adapted to rapid changes or tight deadlines."

• Data-Driven Design: "How do you use player data to inform your design decisions? Provide an example of how data led you to change or refine a game design."

• Collaboration: "Describe your experience working with remote, cross-functional teams. How do you ensure clear communication and alignment across disciplines?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly define the problem, your role, your solution, and the quantifiable results. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) if helpful.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the measurable outcomes of your designs – increased revenue, improved retention rates, higher engagement scores. Use specific metrics and data points.

• Illustrate Systems Thinking: Use visual aids (diagrams, flowcharts) to explain complex systems and their interdependencies.

• Highlight Production Readiness: Show examples of your design documentation and explain how it facilitated efficient development.

• Demonstrate LiveOps Experience: Clearly articulate your contributions to LiveOps, including event design, content updates, and ongoing player engagement strategies.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, challenges you encountered, and how you would approach similar problems in the future.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent, but also operational discipline, a data-driven mindset, and the ability to execute effectively in a fast-paced, remote environment. The portfolio is the primary tool to showcase these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-focused Game Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your experience in mobile game systems design, UX, economy design, and LiveOps, especially for casual or hybrid-casual games. Ensure case studies highlight measurable impact and your role in shipping features.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords related to "systems design," "LiveOps," "game economy," "player retention," "UX design," "mobile games," "AI-assisted tools," and "data analysis." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approach, and how you leverage data and AI tools. Prepare to present your portfolio case studies effectively, focusing on impact and production readiness.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UserWise's mission, their AI-driven approach, and their focus on speed and ownership. Understand their position in the mobile gaming market and their work on established franchises to better align your responses with their operational culture.

⚠️ 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.