Technical Combat Designer - StarCraft | Irvine, CA

Team Name

StarCraft

Job Title

Technical Combat Designer - StarCraft | Irvine, CA

Requisition ID

R028133

Job Description

Your Mission

Blizzard Entertainment is assembling a team to build the next chapter of StarCraft, returning to a universe forged in interstellar war. This mission offers something new: crafting an original story-driven, open-world shooter while honoring the legacy of one of Blizzard's most beloved games.

We are here to reignite this universe alongside you. We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time.

We are looking for a Technical Combat Designer to help craft a new, StarCraft game for Blizzard. As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for designing and implementing enemy NPCs and combat encounters that create memorable gameplay experiences for players. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.

This role offers a hybrid work week, with a mix of work-from-home and on-site days, based out of our Irvine studio.

Responsibilities

Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:

• Design and implement exciting gameplay experiences on a AAA title.
• Drive development of enemies and combat encounters from ideation through prototyping to final execution.
• Create custom enemy behaviors, attacks, and abilities that deliver engaging and challenging combat experiences.
• Tune enemy perception, combat effectiveness, and encounter difficulty to achieve intended gameplay outcomes.
• Leverage technical expertise to implement combat systems and gameplay features.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, art, animation, and level design partners throughout development.
• Create one-page designs, briefs, and system outlines to communicate design goals and implementation plans.
• Iterate on gameplay systems and encounters using feedback from internal playtests and development partners.

Experience

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in combat design, systems design, technical design, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience designing gameplay systems and combat encounters from concept through implementation.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within teams and foster productive partnerships across disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and manage responsibilities independently while maintaining strong ownership and accountability.
• Experienced player of a wide variety of game genres and able to leverage those experiences to inform design decisions.

Knowledge & Skills

• Experience scripting gameplay systems and creating functional gameplay prototypes.
• Comfortable working with basic 3D mathematics including vectors, rotations, and spatial reasoning.
• Experience designing, tuning, and balancing combat systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of player-facing gameplay systems and encounter design principles.
• Ability to identify problems, propose solutions, and execute with minimal oversight.

Key Attributes

• Passion for creating exceptional gameplay experiences.
• Collaborative approach to development and problem solving.
• Curiosity and willingness to continuously improve craft and technical expertise.
• Adaptability in a dynamic development environment.
• Commitment to delivering polished, player-focused experiences.

Extra Points

• Experience developing games in Unreal Engine.
• Experience using Blueprint visual scripting.
• Familiarity with Combat AI behavior trees and state machine systems.
• Background in encounter design, enemy design, or Combat AI design.
• Professional experience developing AAA games.
• Experience taking combat encounters from prototype through shippable implementation.

Your Platform

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we've been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We're on a quest to bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard secret recipe, but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision. If that sounds like you, join us.

Our World

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., a division of Activision Blizzard acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years and continues to engage tens of millions of players worldwide.

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to create a culture where everyone can thrive and connect the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being for Every World.

_The video game industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

_We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that women and members of other underrepresented groups often do not apply when they feel they may not meet every qualification. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

Rewards

Requirements

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $30.47 - $56.35 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.