Senior Level Designer

PLAY, GROW and WIN

To be a part of Virtuos means to be a creator.  

At Virtuos, we harness the latest technologies to make games better and more immersive than ever before. That is why we pride ourselves in constantly pushing the boundaries of possibility since our founding in 2004. 

Virtuosi is a team of experts – people who have come together to share their mutual passion for making and playing games. People with the same enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and the constant drive to excel in their field. People who believe in earning success through dedication.

At Virtuos, we are at the forefront of gaming, creating exciting new experiences daily. Join us to Play, Grow and Win – together.

Company Overview: Black Shamrock – a Virtuos Studio is the leading AAA games studio in Ireland, dedicated to delivering immersive and groundbreaking gaming experiences on our own projects and in collaboration with our AAA partners. With a passion for pushing the boundaries of the industry, we pride ourselves on fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in our teams. 

Position Overview: Black Shamrock is seeking a Senior Level Designer to join our talented and dynamic design team. In this role, you will work closely with the Lead Level Designer and colleagues from other departments to design and implement high-quality levels that captivate players and contribute to the overall vision of the game.
 

As a Senior Level Designer, you’ll use your experience and creativity to bring complex gameplay ideas to life while working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team. You will focus primarily on level layout, environmental storytelling, and encounter design, while playing an essential role in prototyping and iteration.
 

• Level Design & Implementation: Design and implement complex, engaging levels and gameplay scenarios that align with the project’s vision and design goals.
• Gameplay Systems Integration: Work with gameplay systems and mechanics to integrate them into levels, ensuring the player experience is seamless and fun.
• Prototyping & Iteration: Build prototypes for new gameplay ideas and iterate on existing designs based on client needs and feedback from peers and leads. Use your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to refine and improve level designs.
• Collaboration: Partner with other designers, artists, and engineers to ensure your levels and systems integrate smoothly into the overall game. Regularly provide feedback to peers and maintain open communication across disciplines.
• Player Experience Focus: Continuously evaluate and optimize the player’s experience within your levels, ensuring they are both challenging and rewarding. 
• Bug Fixing & Polish: Participate in the QA process by identifying and fixing level design issues, polishing gameplay, and refining your designs to the highest quality standards.
• Documentation & Communication: Document level designs and gameplay systems clearly for both client and internal use. Provide clear communication on your work at all stages of development.
   

Must Have:

• Video Games Industry Experience: At least 3 years of experience in game design, with a solid track record working on AAA games. You should have at least one shipped title on gen 7+ platforms (e.g., PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or next-gen consoles).
• Game Engine Knowledge: Understanding of game engines, level production pipelines and scripting tools and how to use them in concert (e.g. Unreal Engine 5).
• Proven Level Design Skills: You should have a strong portfolio showcasing your ability to create compelling and fun levels.
• Problem-Solving & Innovation: A passion for solving design challenges, thinking critically, and coming up with creative solutions to improve the player experience.
• Team Player & Collaborator: Comfortable working within a multi-disciplinary team. You should be proactive in communication, feedback, and iteration processes.
• Effective Communicator: Fluent in both written and spoken English. You must be able to clearly explain your design ideas to team members and stakeholders.

Nice to Have:

• Demonstrable expertise in other areas within game design.