Role and Purpose

Senior Combat Designer — UK Remote or West Midlands Based (Birmingham / area). Full-Time Contractor.

Please note: We welcome applicants who prefer to work from home, so please get in touch.

Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Combat Designer to design and refine engaging, responsive, and challenging combat experiences central to our title’s gameplay. You will work with cross-functional teams including design, animation, and engineering to ensure combat systems are intuitive, immersive, and rewarding for players. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in both FPS and third-person melee combat systems across PvE and PvP environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop, prototype, and iterate on core combat mechanics, including player controls, enemy AI, and weapon systems.
• Design and balance combat features such as character abilities, weapon interactions, combo systems, and difficulty scaling.
• Ensure combat systems align with the game vision and enhance player experience and engagement.
• Design and implement combat systems for first-person ranged and melee combat, as well as third-person melee combat, ensuring fluidity, responsiveness, and depth.
• Collaborate with game designers, level designers, animators, and engineers to ensure cohesive and polished combat interactions.
• Participate in cross-functional reviews and playtests, providing actionable feedback and refining combat elements to achieve high-quality gameplay.
• Collaborate with narrative and audio teams to ensure combat feels immersive and well-integrated into the game world and story.
• Conduct regular playtests to gather feedback, identify issues, and drive iterative improvements in combat mechanics.
• Analyse player data and feedback to balance combat elements, ensuring that difficulty, responsiveness, and pacing align with player expectations.
• Use data-driven decision-making to optimise combat mechanics, AI behaviours, and damage models for an engaging and fair experience.
• Implement combat mechanics and prototypes using industry-standard tools and engines (e.g. Unity, Unreal Engine).
• Collaborate with the engineering team to address technical challenges and ensure smooth gameplay experiences.
• Create and maintain thorough design documentation for combat systems, detailing mechanics, inputs, and design intentions.
• Stay up to date with trends and best practices in combat design, especially in genres similar to our projects.
• Propose new and innovative approaches to combat that differentiate our games and enhance player satisfaction.
• Contribute to a culture of creativity and experimentation, encouraging the team to explore unique ideas in combat design.
• Participate in staff interviews, onboarding, mentorship programs and performance reviews, fostering skill development and growth.

Requirements

• Proven track record of successful combat design project contribution. Portfolio should demonstrate expertise in designing combat mechanics for at least one published title.
• Strong familiarity with game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and combat prototyping tools, plus a working knowledge of scripting and/or visual scripting.
• Deep understanding of combat mechanics, including FPS, third-person melee combat, enemy behaviours, AI design, player abilities, and controls.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Lead by example, maintaining an enthusiastic attitude for the project while motivating and supporting a diverse team.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to balancing and optimising combat systems.
• Keen understanding of player psychology and engagement, with the ability to design combat that is challenging and satisfying for players.
• Strong attention to detail, with a commitment to delivering polished, high-quality combat experiences.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working on AAA titles or high-profile projects.
• Familiarity with various combat-focused game genres (action RPGs, fighting games, FPS, third-person action games) and broad knowledge of combat mechanics in those genres.
• Demonstrate commitment to understanding player expectations alongside current developments and technological advancements in the gaming industry.

Application & Portfolio

Please include your CV, portfolio, and (optional) cover letter within your application. If your samples are from previous works with another studio, ensure they are cleared for release by copyright owners. Links to online portfolios are preferred; otherwise, showreels via secure sharing platforms are acceptable. Send your application to – careers@flixinteractive.com

What We Offer

Based just outside Birmingham, Flix offers a friendly, nurturing work environment with opportunities to build games as part of a talented, ambitious studio. The team is composed of welcoming, passionate gamers who support one another in development.

If you have the drive and skills for making games and think you have what it takes to join our team, we’d love to hear from you. For more information visit our site – Flix Interactive.

GDPR compliance: when applying you authorize Flix Interactive to store your application information and distribute it to the appropriate inboxes. Your data will be used for recruitment purposes only. For data updates or deletion requests, email info@flixinteractive.com. Your request will be addressed within 30 days.

Flix Interactive is an equal opportunities employer committed to inclusion and diversity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership status. We also encourage applications from underrepresented groups in the gaming industry.

Contact: +44 (0) 1527 928 827 | info@flixinteractive.com