Lead Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Designer

Company: Side

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Game Design & Development Operations

Date Posted: August 15, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive design vision and execution for high-profile co-development projects, serving as the primary design partner for both internal teams and client stakeholders.

• Lead the creation of engaging, high-quality player experiences by collaborating closely with engineering, art, production, and QA teams.

• Provide creative leadership, mentorship, and constructive feedback to a multidisciplinary team of designers.

• Master the intricacies of Unreal Engine for advanced gameplay, systems, and level design implementations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at a senior level, indicated by the "Lead Designer or Design Director" phrasing and the 10+ years of experience. The emphasis on client partnership and driving design vision suggests a significant level of autonomy and strategic input, typical of senior operations or leadership roles within a service-oriented development environment. The focus on Unreal Engine and FPS/action genres specifies the technical and creative domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design vision and strategic execution across multiple co-development projects, acting as the main design liaison between internal teams and external clients.

• Champion gameplay, systems, level, and technical design initiatives from initial concept through final delivery, ensuring alignment with project goals and client expectations.

• Foster a collaborative environment by working hand-in-hand with engineering, art, production, and QA departments to translate design concepts into compelling player experiences.

• Offer robust creative leadership, providing mentorship, guidance, and performance feedback to designers across various disciplines, promoting professional growth and skill development.

• Actively prototype, validate, and iterate on core gameplay features, progression systems, level layouts, and player engagement mechanics to refine and optimize the player experience.

• Conduct detailed reviews and enhancements of gameplay flow, combat encounters, boss mechanics, and overall game balance, with a specialized focus on FPS and action-oriented gameplay.

• Proactively identify potential design risks, devise solutions for complex production challenges, and maintain a high standard of design quality throughout the entire development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic leadership and hands-on execution, common in senior design operations roles. The mention of "client stakeholders," "co-development projects," and "production challenges" highlights the operational aspect of managing external partnerships and development pipelines, requiring strong project management and communication skills beyond pure creative design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Computer Science, Interactive Media, or a related field is typically expected for this level of responsibility. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in game design, with a significant portion spent in lead or director roles on commercially shipped titles.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record as a Lead Designer, Principal Designer, or Design Director on successfully shipped commercial video game titles.

• Deep, hands-on expertise with Unreal Engine, including a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities for gameplay, systems, and level design.

• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional development teams, including direct collaboration with clients or external development partners.

• Strong proficiency in FPS design, with a portfolio showcasing improvements in gameplay flow, combat encounters, progression systems, and overall player engagement.

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and mentoring skills, with the ability to effectively balance creative vision with the practical realities of game production.

• Experience in defining and driving design vision for complex projects.

• Proficiency in prototyping, iterating, and validating design concepts. Preferred Skills:

• Experience developing immersive VR experiences, particularly for platforms like Meta Quest.

• Specific expertise in creating compelling first-person gameplay mechanics.

• Proven ability to enhance player engagement through refined level flow, encounter design, progression systems, and boss mechanics.

• Confident and polished client-facing communicator, adept at presenting design solutions, managing stakeholder expectations, and building strong, trusted relationships with development partners.

• Experience with diverse game genres beyond FPS.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to have" section is crucial for this role, indicating a desire for candidates with specialized experience in VR and client-facing communication. This suggests that the company values candidates who can not only lead design internally but also represent the company's capabilities and build strong client relationships, a key operational aspect of a co-development service provider.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing leadership in game design, with a focus on shipped titles and demonstrable impact on player experience and project success.

• Specific case studies detailing your role in defining and executing the design vision for complex projects, highlighting problem-solving within production constraints.

• Examples of systems design, demonstrating your ability to create and balance intricate game mechanics, progression loops, and player economies.

• Evidence of your experience with Unreal Engine, including visual examples of level design, technical design implementations, or system prototypes.

• Demonstrations of your client interaction and stakeholder management capabilities, perhaps through project summaries or client feedback if permissible. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have documented design processes, from initial concept and feature definition to iteration and final implementation.

• Illustrate your methods for prototyping and validating design ideas, including any tools or workflows used for rapid iteration and feedback collection.

• Provide documentation or case studies on how you have managed design risks, solved production challenges, and ensured design quality across development cycles.

• Examples of how you have contributed to or defined team processes for collaboration, feedback, and knowledge sharing within a design department.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead Designer role, especially in a co-development context, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just creative output but also leadership, process management, and client-facing capabilities. The emphasis on "process documentation" implies an expectation that candidates can articulate their methodologies for design execution and team management, which are critical operational functions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead Designers/Design Directors with 10+ years of experience in Los Angeles, California, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between $150,000 - $200,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the high cost of living in Los Angeles and the specialized nature of game development leadership.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Offering a strong compensation package reflective of the role's seniority and impact.

• Dynamic, Multicultural Environment: Exposure to a diverse global team, fostering an inclusive and enriching work atmosphere.

• Progression Opportunities: Clear pathways for career advancement and professional development within Side's growing operations.

• Comprehensive Health and Wellness Programs: (Assumed, as is standard for full-time roles) Including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Paid Time Off and Holidays: Generous vacation, sick leave, and national holidays.

• Professional Development: Support for continuous learning, including potential for attending industry conferences and workshops.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature of the role and the global client base, some flexibility may be required to accommodate different time zones and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for senior design leadership roles in a high-cost-of-living area like Los Angeles, and the "10+" years of experience. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, with standard benefits (health, PTO) assumed for a full-time role to provide a more complete picture.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development & Services. Side operates within the global video game industry, providing critical co-development and production services to leading game developers and publishers. This positions them as a key enabler in the complex ecosystem of game creation.

Company Size: Side (formerly PTW) has grown significantly, with 20 studios in 14 countries and a substantial global workforce. This indicates a large, established organization with a global reach, offering stability and diverse opportunities.

Founded: Founded in 2009, drawing on 30+ years of experience from its parent company in Japan. This long history provides a foundation of deep industry knowledge and established practices.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely consists of specialized designers (gameplay, systems, technical, level) who work in project-based pods.

• This Lead Designer role will likely report to a Director of Design or Head of Development, with direct oversight of a team of designers on specific client projects.

• Cross-functional collaboration is core, with designers working closely with engineers, artists, producers, and QA testers, both within Side and at client studios. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on prototyping, validation, and iteration, suggesting a reliance on player feedback and analytics to inform design decisions.

• Agile Development Practices: Common in game development, likely involving iterative development cycles, regular feedback loops, and adaptation to changing project requirements.

• Client-Centric Approach: As a co-development partner, Side's methodology is heavily influenced by client needs, project scope, and contractual agreements, requiring flexibility and strong communication.

Company Website: www.side.inc

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights Side's role as a service provider in the game industry. This means the operations focus is on managing client relationships, project pipelines, and ensuring consistent quality across diverse projects and teams, which is a distinct operational challenge compared to a single-product game studio.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the design operations of Side. It involves not only guiding the creative output of design teams but also managing client relationships, mitigating production risks, and contributing to the strategic growth of Side's co-development practice. The scope extends beyond individual project contribution to influencing broader organizational capabilities.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Designer will likely report to a senior executive within the development or operations leadership, such as a Director of Design, VP of Development, or Head of Co-Development. They will, in turn, manage and mentor a team of designers working on client projects.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the success of client projects, which in turn drives revenue and reputation for Side. By ensuring design excellence and effective client collaboration, the Lead Designer contributes to client retention, secures future business, and enhances Side's standing as a premier game services provider.

Growth Opportunities:

• Transition to Design Director or Executive Producer roles, overseeing larger portfolios of projects or entire development studios.

• Specialize in specific genres or technologies (e.g., leading VR design efforts, becoming a lead technical designer).

• Move into broader operational leadership roles within the company, focusing on process improvement, team scaling, or client relationship management.

• Become a subject matter expert and thought leader within the co-development space, potentially through speaking engagements or internal training initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career growth analysis emphasizes the operational aspect of leadership in a service company. Growth isn't just about becoming a more senior designer but also about developing broader management, strategic, and client-facing skills that contribute to the operational success of Side.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position. The "work environment" is therefore digital, relying on robust online collaboration tools and communication platforms.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company has a global presence with studios in 14 countries. The primary focus for this role is on serving clients and internal teams, with the candidate based in or near Los Angeles, California, for timezone alignment with potential clients or core team members.

Workspace Context:

• Digital Collaboration Hub: Expect to utilize a suite of online tools for communication (e.g., Slack, Discord), project management (e.g., Jira, Asana), version control (e.g., Perforce, Git), and design collaboration (e.g., Miro, Figma).

• High-Bandwidth Environment: A stable, high-speed internet connection is essential for seamless participation in video calls, large file transfers, and real-time collaboration.

• Independent Workstation: Candidates will need to provide and maintain their own professional home office setup, ensuring a productive and distraction-free environment.

• Global Team Interaction: Opportunities to connect with colleagues and clients across different time zones and cultures, requiring adaptability and strong remote communication etiquette.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard 40-hour weeks. However, due to the global nature of co-development projects, there may be a need for occasional flexibility to attend meetings or address urgent issues outside of core hours, particularly to align with client time zones or critical project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: Emphasizing the "digital collaboration hub" and "independent workstation" is key for a remote role. The operational aspect here is about enabling productivity and collaboration through technology and individual discipline, rather than relying on a physical office infrastructure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and suitability.

• Hiring Manager Interview: An in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (likely a Director of Design or Head of Development) to evaluate your leadership experience, design philosophy, and fit with Side's culture. This may involve discussing specific projects from your portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or a detailed walkthrough of your portfolio with a panel of senior designers and/or project leads. Expect to present case studies demonstrating your problem-solving skills, leadership, and technical proficiency (especially with Unreal Engine).

• Cross-Functional/Client Interview: Potentially an interview with representatives from other departments (e.g., Engineering, Production) or even a client representative to assess collaboration skills and client-facing readiness.

• Final Interview: A concluding interview with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and final terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate your portfolio to highlight your leadership experience and impact on shipped titles, focusing on projects relevant to FPS and Unreal Engine.

• Prepare detailed case studies for 2-3 key projects, clearly articulating your role, the challenges faced, the design solutions implemented, and the resulting impact on gameplay, player experience, or project success.

• Be ready to discuss your process for defining design vision, mentoring designers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

• If you have client-facing experience, prepare examples of how you've managed stakeholder expectations and presented design solutions effectively.

• For VR experience, be ready to showcase specific mechanics or level designs that highlight your understanding of immersive gameplay. Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on demonstrating a structured approach to problem-solving, clear communication of your thought process, and practical, executable solutions.

• For any practical exercises or hypothetical scenarios, emphasize your understanding of Unreal Engine's capabilities and limitations.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and trade-offs, especially when balancing creative ambition with production constraints.

• Be prepared to discuss game balance, pacing, and player engagement strategies relevant to FPS and action genres.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review are described with an operations lens. The emphasis is on assessing not just design skills but also leadership, process management, client interaction, and problem-solving capabilities, which are critical for a senior role in a co-development service provider.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Unreal Engine: The core engine for development; deep, practical expertise is non-negotiable. This includes proficiency in its scripting (Blueprints), level editing tools, and asset integration pipelines.

• Version Control Systems: Perforce (highly common in game dev) or Git for managing large codebases and assets.

• Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, or similar tools for task tracking, sprint planning, and workflow management.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams for real-time team and client communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• In-Game Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools used for tracking player behavior, progression, and engagement within games (e.g., custom solutions, Unity Analytics, GameAnalytics, or specific Unreal Engine plugins).

• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or similar for analyzing player data and presenting insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Software: While not directly for game design, understanding how client interactions are managed (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for stakeholder management.

• Collaboration & Documentation Tools: Confluence, Notion, or similar for creating and managing design documentation, wikis, and knowledge bases.

• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or in-engine prototyping for rapid concept visualization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is critical for operations roles. Listing specific tools like Unreal Engine, Perforce, and Jira highlights the technical proficiency required. The mention of analytics and CRM tools indicates an understanding of how design operations integrate with broader business and player data management processes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to delivering high-quality game design that meets or exceeds client expectations and industry standards.

• Client Partnership: Valuing strong, collaborative relationships with clients, built on trust, transparency, and mutual respect.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the adoption of new technologies and methodologies to tackle complex challenges.

• Teamwork & Mentorship: Fostering a supportive environment where designers can grow, share knowledge, and contribute collectively to project success.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing player data and analytics to inform design choices and ensure effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Active collaboration across design, engineering, art, QA, and production to ensure holistic project development and problem-solving.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct, constructive feedback and transparent dialogue among team members and with clients.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing a dynamic approach to development, with regular feedback loops and flexibility to adapt to evolving project needs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where best practices, lessons learned, and technical insights are shared freely across teams and projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values section is tailored to reflect the operational realities of a co-development service provider. The emphasis on "Client Partnership," "Excellence in Execution," and "Cross-Functional Synergy" directly relates to how Side operates and what it expects from its senior team members in managing external relationships and internal processes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Diverse Client Expectations: Balancing the unique creative visions and technical requirements of multiple clients simultaneously, ensuring each project receives adequate attention and quality.

• Navigating Complex Production Pipelines: Overcoming technical hurdles, scope creep, and integration issues inherent in large-scale game development, particularly within the Unreal Engine ecosystem.

• Leading Remote, Distributed Teams: Effectively motivating, guiding, and ensuring cohesive performance from design teams spread across different geographical locations and time zones.

• Staying Ahead of Technological Advancements: Continuously adapting to new features in Unreal Engine, emerging VR technologies, and evolving player engagement trends to maintain a competitive edge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Unreal Engine Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of Unreal Engine, such as advanced rendering, AI, or VR development tools.

• Client Management & Negotiation Skills: Develop advanced strategies for client communication, expectation management, and building long-term partnerships.

• Leadership & Team Scaling: Gain experience in scaling design teams, developing talent pipelines, and implementing robust team management processes.

• Genre Expansion: Explore and lead design efforts in new game genres or platforms to broaden your development portfolio and skillset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed from an operational perspective. They highlight the complexities of managing a service-based business and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in a fast-paced industry, offering clear paths for professional development beyond just design execution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to define and drive a complex design vision for a project with significant client input. How did you balance creative ambition with client requirements and production realities?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, client management, and problem-solving process.)

• "Walk us through your process for mentoring junior designers. Provide an example of how you helped a team member overcome a design challenge or improve their skills." (Highlight your leadership, communication, and team development approach.)

• "How do you approach identifying and mitigating design risks in a co-development environment, especially when working with Unreal Engine on FPS titles?" (Demonstrate your proactive problem-solving, technical understanding, and risk assessment methodology.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Side's business model, what do you see as the biggest operational challenges for a Lead Designer in a co-development service company?" (Showcase your research and understanding of the business context.)

• "How would you foster a strong sense of collaboration and shared ownership within a remote, cross-functional design team working on a client project?" (Address your approach to remote team dynamics and collaboration.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to present a complex design solution to a client or senior stakeholder. How did you ensure they understood and agreed with your proposal?" (Focus on your presentation skills, stakeholder communication, and ability to articulate value.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the "Situation," "Task," "Action," and "Result" (STAR method). Emphasize your specific contributions and leadership.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., player retention, engagement scores, completion rates, positive client feedback) to demonstrate the success of your design solutions.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visual aids, short video clips, or interactive demos (if feasible) to showcase gameplay, level design, or system mechanics.

• Highlight Process & Problem-Solving: Explain how you arrived at your solutions, detailing your iterative process, prototyping methods, and how you overcame challenges.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that align with FPS, Unreal Engine, and VR experience, and be prepared to discuss your leadership and client-facing interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on behavioral and situational questions that assess operational capabilities like client management, team leadership, and strategic problem-solving, in addition to design expertise. The portfolio presentation advice is geared towards demonstrating impact and process, crucial for senior operations roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor your resume and cover letter: Highlight your experience with Unreal Engine, FPS design, lead roles, client collaboration, and any VR development. Quantify your achievements with specific metrics.

• Prepare your portfolio: Ensure it is easily accessible online and showcases your strongest leadership projects, particularly those relevant to this role. Be ready to present specific case studies.

• Research Side: Understand their business model as a co-development partner, their client base, and their company culture. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the team.

• Practice your presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio and answering potential interview questions, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and demonstrating your strategic and operational 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.

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