Electronic Arts

BioWare creates games focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds. It operates out of Edmonton (Alberta, CAN) and Austin (Texas, USA), creating some of the world's most critically acclaimed titles since 1995. The studio is developing future game experiences for the Mass Effect franchise, one of the highest-rated video game series of all time.
We’re looking for a Lead Level Designer to join our level design leadership team. In this role, you’ll drive vision and shape world spaces through all stages, from early prototyping to final polish.

What You’ll Do

• Collaborate with other leads and directors to create spaces that create amazing gameplay and narrative opportunities for players.

• You will meet with the team to brainstorm ideas, set quality benchmarks, and identify technology gaps.

• You will work with the team to outline the gameplay experience (landmarks, encounters, flow rhythm, tension, pacing, variety, exploration).

• Participate in prototyping and experimentation with design features to identify opportunities and establish best practices.

• Develop gold standard missions and levels that exemplify Mass Effect's creative vision and core pillars.

• Guide and inspire the team to create unique spaces. Spaces where gameplay, visual composition, and narrative context combine to form iconic, memorable experiences.

• Meet with the team to mentor, motivate and strengthen the design vision.

• Work with production to identify asset dependencies, scope agreement, and delivery schedules.

• Review content and provide feedback.

• Work with artists and the Art Director to balance technical, aesthetic, gameplay and narrative constraints.

• Using external player feedback, iterate and find solutions to identified friction points. 

Qualifications

• 6+ years of level design experience with lead level design experience on at least one AAA title.

• Unreal Engine experience. Build levels and teach best practices to other level designers.

• Experience communicating single-player level design vision.

• Create an experiential and narrative flow throughout a level, crafting evocative spaces and iconic moments.

• Experience with nonlinear, level design.

• Mentor and inspire level designers at all levels of experience.

• Experience working with Creative and Technical leads to identify pipeline and design requirements.  

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs). 

PAY RANGES

In British Columbia, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.