Day in the life of a Lead Level Designer:
As our Lead Level Designer, you will be at the forefront of crafting an unforgettable gaming experience! Your day will consist of reviewing level related feature work and tools and reporting progress or any issues to our Project Creative Director. Collaborating with our Lead Game Designers and Narrative Designers, you will ensure levels deliver effectively on gameplay and narrative goals, whilst keeping the player experience at the forefront. With your eye also on the big picture, you’ll work closely with Production to keep our plans on track and our documentation completed to a high standard.
But, it’s not just about the Design – you’ll also be a mentor and leader, guiding a team of passionate Level Designers to reach their full potential. From chatting with them one-on-one to boosting team morale, you’ll be the driving force behind our Level Design team.
Please note, you will need to be UK based for this role and wbe able to work on a Hybrid basis, 2 days a week in studio (Tuesdays & Thursdays).
What you need to do this job:
• Been a Lead Level Designer for at least 1 shipped 1st or 3rd person title PC or console project (current gen or last gen) with a team of at least 2 reports.
• Two or more shipped titles on consoles or PC (current gen or last gen).
• Expert knowledge of level design principles and processes.
• Proven track record of leading Level Designers to create single-player narrative experiences.
• Proven track record of leading Level Designers to create levels for 1st or 3rd person 3Cs.
• Strong understanding of Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Strong leadership skills, with a proven ability to grow others to become Senior Level Designers.
The Interview Process:
At The Chinese Room, we take a holistic and engaging interview process that allows us to get to know you, your skills and your potential. For this role, there will be a 3 stage interview:
1st Stage: One hour with our Studio Design Director. Here we will talk with you about your experience and our expectations in the role. There will of course also be opportunities for you to ask questions!
2nd Stage: One hour with our Lead Level Designer, Design Director and Project Creative Director. This is a chance for you to speak with some of the senior members of the project. This will be a competency-based interview.
3rd Stage: Onsite final stage interview. This is a chance to meet your potential peers, see the studio and speak more about the project you’d be working on!
What’s in it for you?
The Chinese Room also offers a highly personable benefits package which has something for everyone, no matter where you are in your career.
Financial: Annual bonus, flexible benefits allowance (to purchase add-on benefits marked*), salary sacrifice pension, employee referral scheme (up to £3,000), financial/home buying consultations, workplace ISA and other schemes for tech loans, cars, bicycles and much more!
Work-life balance: Flexible working, 21 free choice days holiday, bank holidays, birthday off, a duvet day raising to 4 with service, Christmas shutdown (Christmas Eve to New Year), options to buy or sell +5/-5 days annual leave*, and an optional 3 month unpaid sabbatical after 3 years service!
Health and Wellbeing: Dental insurance, income protection, life assurance, BUPA private healthcare*, leading EAP programs (Remote GP, Mental Health and Physio appointments), critical illness cover*, health cash plan* and funded flu vaccines/eye tests.
Personal Development: Structured Personal Development tool, regular appraisals, annual salary reviews, access to Udemy learning platform, 5 learning days per annum (1 can be used as a volunteer day), award-winning L&D team and yearly attendance to the Sumo Developers Conference (link to video).
Extra Perks: A variety of in-studio perks, regular care packages, regular studio days out (family welcome), studio-led social activities (game jams, yoga, life drawing and more), sabbaticals (at 10 years service) and an annual gaming subscription.
*These benefits are part of our flexible benefits options and are opt-in selections.
Inclusion and Belonging at Sumo Group:
We are dedicated to growing a sustainable business that provides security to our people while delivering a first-class experience to our partners and players.
As a people business, the success of our people is the success of our company. We prioritise taking care of them with a focus on supporting them, nurturing their talent and providing a healthy, friendly, enriching, creative and safe environment in which to work.
Sumo’s employee diversity group, PRISM, exists to promote diversity, inclusion, equity, equality & wellbeing across the company and plays a key role in Sumo’s ongoing goal of fostering environments where all employees feel safe, welcome & represented.
Our charitable and community initiatives provide support for meaningful causes that matter to our employees, clients and partners.
We continue to work to improve diversity in our recruitment and promotion processes, and to actively encourage people from marginalised groups to consider a career in the games industry.
