Principal Designer

2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of the most influential game development studios in the world. Our studios responsible for developing 2K’s portfolio of world-class games across multiple platforms, include Visual Concepts, Firaxis, Hangar 13, CatDaddy, Cloud Chamber, 31st Union, HB Studios, and 2K SportsLab. Our portfolio of titles is expanding due to our global strategic plan, building and acquiring exciting studios whose content continues to inspire all of us! 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment.

Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers and doers, are the professional publishing stewards of 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA®️ 2K,  renowned BioShock®️, Borderlands®️, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization®️ and XCOM®️ brands; popular WWE®️ 2K and WWE®️ SuperCard franchises, TopSpin 2K25, as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR®️ 2K

At 2K, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive work environment, which means encouraging our teams to Come as You Are and do your best work! We encourage ALL applicants to explore our global positions, even if they don’t meet every requirement for the role.  If you're interested in the job and think you have what it takes to work at 2K, we encourage you to apply!

What We Need

As Principal Designer, you define the moment-to-moment player experience. You establish gameplay standards, systemic rules, and implementation metrics that ensure the game delivers a cohesive, high-fidelity AAA feel across traversal, combat, interaction, and camera behavior. Acting as the bridge between creative direction and engineering execution, you translate intent into playable reality and maintain consistency across the entire experience.

What You’ll Do

• Design Governance: Define the "Golden Rules" for systems and world-building including process, metrics, and standards, to ensure mechanical consistency across the entire game.
• Workflow Architect: Act as the final authority on how the design team utilizes tools and engine features in partnership with the Gameplay Engineering team.
• Craft Mastery: Maintain hands-on authority over gameplay feel through direct in-engine iteration across mechanics, traversal, level design, and gameplay scripting.
• CCC Ownership: Define the technical implementation of Character, Camera, and Controls, establishing the exact metrics that create the game’s signature feel.
• Execution Excellence: Ensure the player experience is cohesive and polished, maintaining a "Game of the Year" quality bar for all shipped features.

What Will Make You a Great Fit

• 10+ years in AAA Game Design: A proven track record in 3rd or 1st person blockbusters across multiple shipped titles.
• Unreal Engine Mastery: Deep experience shipping gameplay systems in Unreal Engine, (blueprints, data driven architecture, and level streaming.)
• Systemic Thinking: A focus on building scalable frameworks and ecosystems rather than one-off features.
• The Bridge: To partner with art, animation, engineering, and tech design to synthesize feedback and rapidly iterate to meet the studio’s quality standards.
• Forward Looking: A drive to improve workflows and leverage new technology to create unique gameplay experiences.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $150,400 and $222,580 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(k) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company’s discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.

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