Senior Game Designer

Trailmix Games; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

We are the makers of casual mobile hit Love & Pies, which globally launched in September 2021 and has now found its way into the hands of millions of players around the world. We’re backed by Supercell, one of the biggest and best in the industry.

We make games for everyone that are snackable yet nourishing — built to fit into your daily life, but with the emotional depth of your favorite TV show. Our team always comes first at Trailmix, and our culture is built on both high performance and high care — we strive to be the best versions of ourselves, but always within an environment based on inclusivity, respect and safety, no matter who you are or where you come from.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for a talented and experienced Game Designer to make a big impact on the future of a new game at Trailmix. The role would suit a senior designer or an experienced mid-level designer excited to step up and take more ownership.

Working under the guidance of our Creative Director, the ideal candidate will be able to hit the ground running and have both the drive and tools to take ownership over a key area of our exciting new game. Considering the early stage of development, you should be flexible and open minded in a scenario where aspects of the project are still being decided. You should be able to apply expertise in F2P principles while keeping a keen eye on our intended end-user; understanding where what you enjoy may contradict what our players would.

You should be prepared to take on ownership of either Core Gameplay or Meta Game Features & Content - with a distinct ownership of an area decided once the design team is more complete.

The day-to-day:

• Helping to shape a new game at an early stage in its life-cycle, wearing multiple hats where necessary.
• Striving to understand our target audience as deeply as possible and applying player-centric thinking to all areas you touch.
• Iterating on and improving Core Gameplay - analysing what’s there, what’s working and what needs to change.
• Running Playtests with internal and external teams, analysing the outcomes and creating action points.
• Designing Meta features of all types, from proven “playbook” features to larger and more innovative bets.
• Managing and implementing content cadence processes to ensure timely delivery of game updates when necessary.
• Employing holistic thinking about your work and collaborating with the other designers on the team to ensure new features, systems and events are working in concert.
• Designing effective live ops for a casual F2P audience, both within templates we’re setting but helping to create entirely new templates as well.

About you:

• Superb game design experience owning and producing features and events for live F2P mobile games.
• Proven battle-tested live service experience that demonstrably enables you to help us prepare for a successful launch of a new game. New game experience is a big plus!
• A player-first mindset, demonstrating that you respect and can act as a champion for our audience, developing ideas with their needs in mind.
• Able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the casual mobile market, with a finger on the pulse of the latest trends.
• Ability to expertly analyse quantitative and qualitative data in order to inform your decision making.
• A demonstrable ability to work independently to produce high quality work within strict timeframes.
• Familiarity with and ability to implement best practices for a demanding content treadmill.
• Curiosity and initiative that leads to constantly improving processes and the game as a whole.
• Mobile games should form an important part of the way you enjoy your gaming hobby and not just as a job.

Why Trailmix?

As a member of our team, you’ll work in an environment where collaboration and creative energy drive everything we do. We believe that working closely with colleagues from across departments is essential to crafting the best experiences for our players. Our office is a place where ideas come together, and we work side by side to turn them into reality.

At Trailmix, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Our hybrid work model combines the flexibility of remote work with the creative energy of being together in person. We believe the best ideas come from bringing diverse perspectives together, and our Kings Cross studio is where that happens.

Our team comes together at the studio three days a week—Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays—to collaborate, share ideas, and solve challenges. We find that when we’re all together in the office, we can have more productive discussions, make decisions faster, and drive change, allowing us to deliver our best work for our players.

• Investing in Your Growth: Unleash your potential with our generous development budget. After completing your three-month probation, all team members receive a £1,000 allowance to fuel their professional growth each year.
• Fueling Your Day: Our kitchens are fully stocked with delicious treats and drinks, and we provide breakfast and lunch supplies to keep you energised throughout the day.
• Building Connections: Join us every Friday for a team lunch courtesy of Just Eat - a chance to connect and recharge for the week ahead.
• Planning for Your Future: Take control of your financial future with our contributory pension scheme. Plus, enjoy the added benefit of tax-free contributions.
• Unlocking Ownership: As a valued team member, you'll have the opportunity to own a stake in our success through tax-advantaged stock options.
• Caring for Your Well-being: Your health is our priority. Enjoy peace of mind with our fully comprehensive private medical care, with premiums paid by Trailmix. Plus, access mental health support 24/7 with the Spill Mental Health App.
• Time to Recharge: Our generous holiday allowance allows you to take a well-deserved break. You'll enjoy 28 days of annual leave, including three company holiday days around Christmas.
• Surprise and Delight: Feel appreciated and valued with various company gifts throughout the year.
• Celebrations: Join us for various socials and events throughout the year, from team outings to themed parties.
• Setting You Up for Success: Receive a £250 work-from-home budget to ensure you have the proper home setup to perform at your best.

Our Inclusive Culture

Trailmix was founded to make a positive impact on our players, our community, and our colleagues. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture, and our priority is fostering an environment where people can flourish. We think it’s vital that players see themselves represented in games, and Love & Pies, we showcase the beautiful diversity of life. Love & Pies represents the people we are and the people we love, and we’re always looking to add more people who want to design games for everyone.