Who we are
At Fortis Games we aspire to make great games that bring people together while redefining how game companies work. We believe in building a sense of belonging through our games, their communities, and how we operate and treat each other. Through our game communities, we will create powerful connections and lasting memories. We will foster a culture of diversity, equity and belonging where together our diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds impact the games we make.
We are an early but mighty organization with a leadership team of game industry veterans. There are many opportunities for you to have a big impact on the products we'll be making as well as the overall direction of the company. If you're passionate about tackling difficult problems with direct and thoughtful communication and team first mentality, we may be the right place for you.
This role is a key creative partner to product and game leadership, helping shape the long-term vision for a new player-first experience. You will focus on discovering and defining systems that make players feel connected, valued, and emotionally invested without relying on transactional mechanics, all while supporting a long-term progression model that keeps players active.
As a Principal Game Designer, you’ll bring clarity to ambiguous spaces, guide early and ongoing exploration, and help establish the design principles that will anchor the future of the project. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional leaders to evolve the project’s identity and ensure the gameplay experience reflects our highest goals for player meaning, connection, and long-term engagement.
What you'll achieve- Define and uphold the design vision, ensuring systems and features support a meaningful, player-centric experience.
- Drive discovery and exploration efforts, helping the team identify opportunities that deepen emotional investment and connection.
- Partner with leadership to align design direction with product goals and long-term strategy.
- Provide structure and clarity as the project navigates open-ended or ambiguous problem spaces.
- Mentor designers, elevate craft quality, and foster a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and thoughtful experimentation.
- Communicate insights, patterns, and design learnings that strengthen decision-making across the project.
- A holistic understanding of systems design and how player motivations, psychology, and behaviors influence long-term engagement while still having a sense of long-term progression.
- Strong ability to think from first principles and explore new ways for players to feel connected and invested.
- Skill in navigating ambiguity, defining problems, and driving alignment in complex design spaces.
- Experience collaborating closely with cross-functional partners across product, engineering, art, and production.
- Ability to translate qualitative and quantitative insights into actionable design direction and iterative improvements.
- Clear, structured communication that makes abstract ideas understandable and actionable.
- A track record of mentoring designers and elevating design quality across a team.
- A naturally curious mindset and a drive to stay current with evolving player expectations, design trends, and opportunities in the market.
Why join us
There are many reasons to join us, but here are a few:
- We strongly believe we are changing how games studios operate and at the core of what we do is making great games that create a connected community
- We're not just about making Games Where You Belong. We're also about building communities where our people belong. That's why Fortis is a thriving environment that celebrates diversity, embraces inclusivity, and fosters growth.
- Build and grow with a seasoned team of accomplished talent who have left an impactful mark in their disciplines, both in and out of gaming
Fortis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
Top Skills
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
