Sr Game Designer, Simulation

Job Description

Welcome to Maxis, home to tinkerers, craftspeople, & storytellers. Our drive is to inspire everyone to make a better world through creative play. As the developer of The Sims, we create games and experiences for millions of people around the world and are always looking for new ways to inspire our players. Maxis is a place where you can do what you love and help others grow while doing it; a place where your unique voice can be heard and seen. We put creativity and inclusivity at the core of our work and don't settle for seeing the world only as it is, but strive to build a world as it could be.

Teams are building the next generation game and creative platform, Project Rene and reimagining The Sims that players know and love with even more new ways to play. We're excited you're interested to learn more about how you can join our team and dream big.

The Simulation Designer's role will be to define and drive the development and implementation of simulation experiences and prototypes. This position will be a mix of feature ownership, game design, and technical expertise. This will involve working with cross-discipline groups toward a common defined vision as well as supporting efforts with design documents and implementation. In this role, you will support utilization of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to define the actions in the team and achieve measurable results.

Role Requirements
• Support crafting an experience, conveying that vision to the team, and iterate based on results
• Simulation Game Genre design experience, especially in the area of creating the production pipeline to integrate story with the gameplay.
• Collaborate on cross-discipline prototyping and idea iteration, actively participating in the development of a feature from start to finish.
• Effectively evaluate priorities, risks, and needs throughout development; communicating these to craft and management leads.
• Hands-on implementation for an interactive experience or mod.
• Knowledge of popular interactive story machinima or mod communities a plus (ex: The Sims, Episode, Grand Theft Auto Online).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills required.
• Effective at working both autonomously and in groups of different profiles.
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for gaming: playing, deconstructing and creating.
• Experience with games in The Sims PC franchise and other simulation games.

Role Expectations
• Advocate and maintain the vision of the project
• Collaborate on the Design for Simulation in partnership with Production and Creative Directors, including prioritizing, aligning, and supporting the Simulation Design team
• Create complex entities that act autonomously within an ecosystem to make interesting and surprising choices while respecting player decisions.
• Explore new ways to bring characters to life and create emotional experiences in a non-linear simulation experience.
• Advocate for a wide range player styles with a focus through simulation experiences.
• Work with the tools team to improve workflow and processes.
• Develop Documentation and then collaborate with cross-discipline groups to execute against the vision
• Creating design documentation to support prototyping efforts.
• Partnering with Development Directors to track tasks, identify risk, and clarify changes in work.
• Partner with UX to design, research, and implement features, particularly for introducing narrative elements and decisions.
• Partnering with Design Leadership across other game verticals to ensure a cohesive and high quality player experience
• Playtesting, attending UXR sessions and participating in organizing feedback/insights.
• Documenting findings for future use in future development.
• Help establish best practices for the team and improve process and efficiency.

US COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The base salary ranges listed below are for the defined geographic market pay zones in these states. If you reside outside of these locations, a recruiter will advise on the base salary range and benefits for your specific location.

EA has listed the base salary ranges it in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in the locations listed, as of the time of this posting. Salary offered will be determined based on numerous relevant business and candidate factors including, for example, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs.

BASE SALARY RANGES
• California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. Sacramento):
º $108,700 - $166,550
• New York (depending on location e.g. Manhattan vs. Buffalo):
º $107,450 - $166,550
• New Jersey (depending on location e.g. Jersey City vs. Trenton):
º $107,450 - $166,550
• Colorado (depending on location e.g. Denver vs. Colorado Springs):
º $107,450 - $153,250
• Washington (depending on location e.g. Seattle vs. Spokane):
º $107,450 - $153,250

Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at EA. We also offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby (following 1 year of service), medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-gqbpx1-18-227-24-209-42 in your application.