Senior Game Designer – Gaming AI

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Are you a creative and experimental game designer with a passion for designing and building innovative games?

At Xbox Gaming AI, we are exploring emerging technology trends to craft the next era of gaming. We are venturing beyond the horizon and charting a course forward with players and creators at the center. Our goal is to define the future of Xbox by advancing our mission of bringing joy and community to every player on the planet. If you value dynamic and agile teams that are proactively advocating for a diverse workforce, we have a great role for you.

We’re looking for a creative and experimental Senior Game Designer who thrives in ambiguity and is excited to explore new gameplay paradigms. In this role, you’ll lead the design of engaging play experiences. You'll design compelling mechanics, systems, and content that deliver unforgettable experiences. You’ll collaborate with internal and external partners to shape ideas from concept to execution, with a focus on player-centric design, rapid iteration, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

This is a unique opportunity to help define new categories of experiences that blend creativity, technology, and community.

We Value

• Growth Mindset: You are always learning and seeking feedback to improve yourself and your work. You embrace challenges and see failures as opportunities to grow.

• Be Brave. Be Bold: You are not afraid to take risks and experiment with new ideas. You are confident in your abilities and willing to challenge the status quo.

• Collaborate: You value teamwork and collaboration. You seek diverse perspectives and feedback from others. You support your colleagues and celebrate their achievements.

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: You respect and appreciate the diversity of people, backgrounds, and experiences. You promote a culture of inclusion where everyone feels welcome, valued, and heard.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Required Qualifications (RQs)

• Associate's Degree in Game Design, Interactive Media, or related field AND 4+ years experience in game development and design, indie game design, mobile game design, systems design, content production, or related field
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Art, Writing, Behavioral Science, Data Science, Game Design, or related field AND 2+ years experience in game development and design, systems design, content production, or related field
  • OR equivalent experience
• Portfolio demonstrating innovative game mechanics, systems design, or play experiences
• Have a grasp of player psychology, game loops, and progression dynamics
• Experience with industry-standard tools and game engines

Preferred Qualifications (PQs)

• Proficient communication and collaboration skills, with experience working on cross-functional teams

Game Design IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $100,600 - $199,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $131,400 - $215,400 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until July 11, 2025.

As a Game Designer, you will:

• Conceptualizing gameplay mechanics, designing levels, and balancing game systems tailored for mobile gaming

• Translate abstract ideas into tangible, testable designs that push the boundaries of traditional gameplay

• Collaborate with product, engineering, and research to align on creative vision and rapidly prototype, test, and iterate on design ideas

• Oversee the end-to-end game design process from ideation to launch and beyond

• Analyze playtest and live data to improve experiences and identify areas for tuning

• Stay informed on industry trends, player behaviors, and emerging technologies to inspire new directions

• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and user-centricity within the design team and across the organization