Technical Game Designer

Combat Designer

Location: Mumbai | Pune | Bangalore | Hyderabad | Chennai | Delhi | Gurgaon

About Company

DNEG is a global leader in visual effects, animation, and creative technology, now expanding into game development with a new Mumbai-based studio. The team is building an original Unreal Engine 5.5 MMO/action RPG where fluid combat, engaging gameplay systems, and immersive player experiences will define the core gameplay loop.

Job Roles & Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and balance engaging real-time combat systems for PvE and PvP gameplay, including player abilities, enemy behaviors, combat mechanics, encounters, and progression systems.
• Define combat feel through attack timing, hit reactions, animation integration, input responsiveness, ability tuning, movement, and overall gameplay responsiveness.
• Build combat prototypes using Unreal Engine Blueprints or similar visual scripting tools, validating mechanics through rapid iteration and hands-on testing.
• Create detailed combat design documentation covering abilities, enemy AI behavior, boss encounters, balancing, progression, combat rules, and implementation requirements.
• Collaborate closely with gameplay programmers, animators, level designers, artists, QA, and production teams to deliver polished, engaging combat experiences.
• Analyze playtest feedback, gameplay metrics, and player behavior to continuously refine combat balance, encounter difficulty, readability, and long-term mastery.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 2–6 years of experience designing combat systems, gameplay mechanics, encounters, or action-game features with evidence of shipped titles, playable projects, prototypes, or portfolio work.
• Strong understanding of combat design fundamentals, including timing, hit reactions, animation dependency, player abilities, enemy AI, progression systems, and gameplay balancing.
• Hands-on experience with Unreal Engine Blueprints or similar visual scripting tools for gameplay prototyping and combat implementation.
• Good understanding of PvE and PvP balancing, encounter design, player progression, combat readability, and multiplayer gameplay considerations.
• Ability to create clear gameplay documentation and collaborate effectively with programmers, animators, artists, designers, and production teams.
• Passion for action games, RPGs, MMOs, combat mechanics, and player-centric gameplay design with excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to join the founding team of DNEG's new Mumbai game studio and build the combat systems for an original Unreal Engine 5.5 MMO/action RPG.
• Ownership of combat mechanics, player abilities, enemy behaviors, encounters, progression systems, and gameplay balancing within a highly collaborative development environment.
• Work alongside experienced gameplay programmers, technical artists, animators, designers, and production leaders on a world-class game development project.
• High-ownership environment where creativity, rapid prototyping, gameplay iteration, and cross-functional collaboration drive the development of exceptional player experiences.

Hiring Process

Round 1: Flexiple Interview focused on combat design fundamentals, gameplay systems, Unreal Engine experience, portfolio or shipped-game evidence, communication skills, availability, and compensation expectations.

Round 2: Flexiple Profile Review to evaluate gameplay design capability, combat design experience, and overall role fit before client submission.

Round 3: Studio Fit Interview assessing combat design thinking, portfolio walkthrough, gameplay implementation approach, collaboration style, and studio alignment.

Hiring Process

Flexiple Interview → Profile Review → Studio Fit Interview

Applications are being reviewed this week. Apply today to be included in the first round of interviews.

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