Staff Game Designer

As a Staff Game Designer at Volley, you'll take ownership of the end-to-end gameplay design for our major titles, focusing on creating innovative core mechanics and compelling progression systems. You'll also prototype ideas using visual editors, align stakeholders through clear documentation, and mentor junior designers, enhancing their skills and creativity while fostering a collaborative environment.

To qualify for the Staff Game Designer role at Volley, you should have at least 8 years of professional game design experience, ideally with successful casual or mobile titles. Expertise in game design, technical art implementation, and UX/UI design is crucial. Additionally, a strong collaboration skill set and a passion for generative AI tools will set you apart.

Volley offers a flexible hybrid work model, requiring Staff Game Designers to work on-site in our San Francisco office three times a week. While some remote work is allowed, being in the Bay Area or willing to relocate is essential for this position, ensuring effective collaboration within the team.

At Volley, we leverage generative AI to enhance creativity and productivity in game design. As a Staff Game Designer, you'll serve as a thought leader by exploring AI tools to improve gameplay quality, streamline workflows, and develop innovative game mechanics, contributing to our mission of creating engaging AI-powered games.

Volley fosters a vibrant and inclusive company culture, encouraging collaboration and creativity among team members. As a Staff Game Designer, you'll be part of a diverse team that values innovative ideas and mutual support, making it an exciting environment for professional growth and game development.

When discussing gameplay design and prototyping, it's essential to highlight your iterative process. Explain how you translate a core idea into a functional prototype, emphasizing player feedback in your iterations. This showcases not only your technical skills but also your player-centered approach.

Explain your mentoring philosophy by emphasizing the importance of providing constructive feedback, encouraging independent thinking, and sharing best practices. Mention specific methods like one-on-one sessions or collaborative workshops to illustrate your proactive approach to nurturing talent.

Data is crucial in informing design decisions. Discuss how you analyze player behaviors and feedback to refine mechanics and features, ensuring that your designs not only align with creative vision but also resonate with actual user experiences.

Share an experience where you faced vague product goals and detail how you used your judgment to prioritize features. Focus on the collaborative efforts you took to align teams and clarify objectives, showcasing your leadership and problem-solving skills.

Discuss specific projects where you utilized generative AI tools in gameplay design. Highlight how these innovations enhanced creativity or improved workflows, providing tangible examples of the impact on player engagement or overall game quality.

Talk about your approach to designing engaging core mechanics by focusing on player motivation and interactivity. Highlight principles such as reward systems, feedback loops, and balancing challenge with skill to create an enjoyable and replayable experience.

Effective communication is key in a collaborative environment. Share methods you use to foster alignment, whether through regular updates, shared documentation, or collaborative brainstorming sessions, emphasizing your commitment to transparency and teamwork.

Discuss how the intersection of game design and emerging technologies, like generative AI and immersive environments, excites you. Highlight your enthusiasm for innovation and how you believe it can redefine player experiences in future games.

Tailor your answer by aligning your passion for game design with Volley’s vision for AI-powered gaming. Emphasize your relevant experience, collaborative nature, and commitment to creating engaging player experiences, demonstrating that you’re ready to contribute meaningfully.

Discuss your balanced approach by explaining how you integrate creative ideas with data analysis. Highlight examples where data informed your design choices while staying true to your innovative vision, reinforcing your ability to produce impactful gameplay.