About this role
Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK has become one of the most successful cross-platform indie titles ever and continues to break industry records. We are looking for a Junior Technical Designer to join our Game Design team and help shape the massive, ever-evolving ecosystems of the ARK universe.
Reporting directly to the Lead Game Designer, you will get your hands dirty with both creative ideation and technical implementation. This is a role for a highly motivated, organized, and adaptable designer who thrives in a fast-paced environment. You will spend your days working directly in Unreal Engine 5, balancing creatures and weapons, hooking up new content, modifying Blueprints, and configuring Data Assets to help bring ambitious new survival features to life.
Responsibilities can include:
• Work collaboratively with the Game Design Team and key stakeholders to ideate and design new creatures, structures, items, and core gameplay systems.
• Take hands-on ownership of gameplay balance, tuning stats and numbers for items, creatures, and progression systems to ensure a fair and engaging player experience.
• Work directly within the Unreal Editor to hook up game assets, configure Data Assets and Class Defaults, and modify simple Blueprints.
• Create, maintain, and update clear, consistent design documentation to keep the broader development team fully aligned on feature goals and mechanics.
• Proactively report progress, technical setbacks, and actionable solutions to the Lead Game Designer.
• Manage multiple overlapping tasks and projects, seamlessly switching focus and priorities to respond to the shifting needs of a live survival game.
Requirements:
• High familiarity with the ARK Franchise and must actively play ARK: Survival Ascended.
• Hands-on experience with the ARK DevKit or Unreal Engine 4 or 5.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, with a proven knack for numerical balancing in complex game systems (combat, economy, or progression).
• A quick learner who is highly organized, self-motivated, dedicated, and operates with a strong sense of accountability.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Willingness to crunch around critical shipping periods to support major content launches.
• Ability to work core hours of 10:00 AM PST to 4:00 PM PST.
Pluses:
• Shipped titles credited as an Junior Technical Designer or similar technical role.
• Previous Game Design and Development experience in a professional studio environment.
• Experience creating and publishing your own mods (especially for the ARK franchise).
• A deep-seated passion for the survival game genre.
Required Application Materials:
• Resume
• Cover Letter including:
• Why you are interested in this role
• Why are you interested in working for Studio Wildcard
• What other games are you currently playing
About The Studio
Studio Wildcard was founded in 2014 by industry veterans Jeremy Stieglitz and Jesse Rapczak, with the mission of bringing AAA quality to ambitious indie productions designed for core gamers. With countless years of combined industry experience across multiple independent and studio-backed titles, Wildcard's core team continues to grow, with offices in Redmond, WA and Gainesville, FL including distributed team members across multiple continents.
Equal Opportunity Employer Wildcard is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by applicable laws, regulations or ordinances. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to disability during the application or the recruiting process, please let us know.
Pay Transparency Information The expected annual base pay range(s) for this position vary based on a variety of factors, which include: (but aren't limited to) skills, competencies, qualifications, knowledge, and experience. Each pay range is only relevant to those residing in WA state and can vary based on geographical location.
Wildcard Benefits We pay 100% of all premiums for the employee and discounted rates for dependent premiums. Our coverage includes Medical (3 different plans to choose from), Dental, Vision, Short Term and Long Term Disability, Life Insurance, 401(k) option, 100% covered Parental Leave, PTO, Paid Holidays, Unlimited Sick Time, and FSA/ HSA options 40,000 - 65,000