About the Role:
Milan is one of Italy’s most dynamic centres for technology, creativity, and digital entertainment, and at Zed Gaming 2K3 SRL, we bring those strengths together to create engaging and memorable gaming experiences. We develop interactive games that combine strong storytelling, innovative mechanics, and polished player experiences.
We are looking for a Lead Game Designer who can take ownership of the creative direction and gameplay design of our upcoming projects. You will guide the design process from early concepts through production, working closely with developers, artists, producers, and quality assurance teams.
You are not simply creating individual game features. You are shaping the overall player experience, defining gameplay systems, and ensuring that every mechanic supports the creative vision of the project.
Why Work With Us?
The Environment:
Our team works in Milan, Lombardia, within a collaborative environment designed for creativity, experimentation, and open communication. We encourage team members to share ideas, test new concepts, and contribute directly to the development of our games.
Creative Ownership:
You will have a meaningful role in defining gameplay mechanics, level structures, progression systems, and player engagement strategies. Your recommendations will influence both creative and production decisions.
Collaborative Development:
You will work closely with programmers, technical artists, animators, writers, and producers. We believe the best games are created when design, technology, and visual storytelling work together from the beginning.
Professional Growth:
We support continuous learning through industry events, game development conferences, technical workshops, and access to professional development resources.
Key Responsibilities:
Game Design Leadership:
Define and maintain the overall game design vision, ensuring that gameplay systems, mechanics, and features remain consistent throughout development.
Gameplay Systems:
Design and balance core gameplay mechanics, progression systems, reward structures, combat systems, player abilities, and in-game economies where applicable.
Game Documentation:
Create and maintain clear game design documents, feature specifications, gameplay flows, balancing sheets, and development guidelines.
Prototype Development:
Work with developers and artists to create prototypes that test new mechanics, systems, and player interactions before full production.
Team Guidance:
Mentor junior and mid-level game designers, conduct design reviews, and provide practical feedback that improves the quality of the team’s work.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Coordinate with programming, art, animation, audio, production, and quality assurance teams to ensure that design requirements are technically achievable and delivered on schedule.
Player Experience:
Analyse player behaviour, testing results, feedback, and gameplay data to identify areas for improvement and increase player engagement.
Quality and Balance:
Review game builds regularly, identify balancing issues, and recommend adjustments to difficulty, progression, pacing, and overall gameplay flow.
Stakeholder Communication:
Present design proposals, prototypes, and development updates to senior stakeholders. Clearly explain the reasoning behind gameplay and creative decisions.
What We Are Looking For:
Experience:
At least 6 years of professional experience in game design, including experience leading major game features, gameplay systems, or multidisciplinary development teams.
Portfolio:
A strong portfolio featuring released games, playable projects, game design documents, system designs, prototypes, or detailed case studies.
Technical Knowledge:
Strong understanding of game development pipelines and experience working with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
Design Skills:
Excellent knowledge of gameplay mechanics, level design, player progression, balancing, game economies, user experience, and player motivation.
Leadership:
Previous experience mentoring designers, reviewing creative work, coordinating design tasks, or leading game development initiatives.
Analytical Skills:
Ability to interpret gameplay data, player feedback, testing reports, and performance indicators to improve game systems.
Communication:
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex game design concepts to both technical and non-technical team members.
Language Skills:
Professional proficiency in English is required. Italian language skills are strongly preferred for internal collaboration and local stakeholder communication.
Mindset:
You are creative, practical, and player-focused. You understand when to refine a feature further and when to make decisions that keep development moving forward.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: €52,000.00 - €64,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
