Remote Game Design Lead

Description:

• Argus Labs is seeking a Game Design Lead to help build the next generation of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games.
• The role involves owning the vision and design of major game systems, including progression, economy, combat balance, and core loops tailored to a hardcore MMO audience.
• The Game Design Lead will lead and mentor the game studio team, providing direction, feedback, and support in alignment with creative and product goals.
• Collaboration with product managers, engineers, artists, narrative, and LiveOps teams is essential to drive cohesive gameplay experiences.
• The position requires establishing and enforcing high design standards through documentation, peer reviews, and rapid prototyping.
• Strong skills in Excel, game scripting (Lua, Python), or system simulation tools are necessary.
• Familiarity with Unity or Unreal Engine and live telemetry tools is required.
• The Game Design Lead will design and manage systems that support long-term engagement, including live events, seasonal content, monetization loops, and in-game economies.
• Close work with stakeholders to set KPIs, analyze player data, and optimize experiences based on live telemetry and player feedback is expected.
• The role includes owning and iterating on content cadence strategies to sustain player retention, progression, and meaningful investment over time.
• Advocacy for the needs and motivations of a highly-engaged, competitive audience through regular community listening and player research is crucial.
• Balancing gameplay for fairness and depth, with an understanding of how to satisfy both casual and hardcore player personas within a shared world, is a key responsibility.

Requirements:

• Candidates must have 5+ years of professional game design experience, including 2+ years in a leadership or senior role.
• A successful candidate should have shipped at least one live game with a strong LiveOps component, preferably in MMO, ARPG, looter shooters, or other long-tail online titles.
• A deep understanding of systems design, player motivation, and game balance, especially in games with progression, classes, skills, or gear-based mechanics, is required.
• Proven experience designing for hardcore audiences is essential, with knowledge of what motivates min-maxers and how to craft meaningful high-skill gameplay loops.
• Strong familiarity with data-driven design is necessary, as candidates should be able to translate dashboards and player metrics into actionable design changes.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and mentoring skills are required, with the ability to clearly articulate design intent to both creatives and technical stakeholders.
• A passion for MMO-style games, sandbox systems, and community-driven game worlds is essential.

Benefits:

• The position offers a no-crunch policy for game industry veterans.
• Employees enjoy flexible PTO (2 weeks required) plus holidays.
• The company provides 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for US employees.
• A 401k plan is available for US employees.
• Employees can receive up to $1500 for a desk set-up stipend.
• A well-being allowance is included as part of the benefits.
• Company retreats are organized for employees.