Senior Game Designer

About the Company

Zynga is a global interactive entertainment company and part of Take-Two Interactive. Its games have reached more than 6 billion downloads and are enjoyed by players across 175+ countries. The portfolio includes casino, strategy, puzzle, social word, racing, and match games, along with many well-known titles such as FarmVille, Words With Friends, Zynga Poker, Game of Thrones Slots Casino, Wizard of Oz Slots, Hit it Rich! Slots, Wonka Slots, Top Eleven, Toon Blast, Empires & Puzzles, Merge Dragons!, CSR Racing, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, Match Factory, and Color Block Jam.

Founded in 2007 and based in California, the company has teams across North America, Europe, and Asia. This role sits within Gram Games, a Zynga studio known for titles like 1010!, Six!, Merge Dragons!, and Merge Magic!. Gram works through small self-managed teams that emphasize ownership, autonomy, impact, continuous improvement, collaboration, and a strong sense of belonging.

Work Arrangement

This position follows a hybrid model in London, with 2 days each week spent in the office and the rest worked from home.

Role Summary

The Senior Game Designer will own the design of new features and broader gameplay changes with a strong emphasis on quality, player experience, and business impact. The role calls for handling more advanced design problems, shaping core mechanics, improving balance, and helping preserve coherence across the game. The designer will also provide player-focused insight to support studio leaders and strategic decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new levels, gameplay systems, and features largely independently.
• Work closely with developers, artists, product managers, and other stakeholders to bring design ideas into the game.
• Make sure design solutions are technically workable, visually clear, and strong from a business return perspective.
• Research the market and use competitor analysis to strengthen concepts.
• Build design choices that improve KPIs while enhancing the overall player experience.
• Study competitor games in depth and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Deliver persuasive design presentations and project pitches to stakeholders.
• Produce and maintain thorough game design documentation.
• Refine and balance complex mechanics to support engaging gameplay.
• Playtest, gather player feedback, and iterate designs accordingly.
• Prototype new ideas and solve difficult design issues while keeping work aligned with the game’s strategic direction.
• Maintain a consistently high quality bar for the best possible player experience.

What You Need

• Prior experience working as a game designer.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication abilities.
• Capability to interpret player needs and convert them into product solutions.
• Confidence in communicating across functions and clearly advocating for design ideas with peers.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation.
• Private medical coverage.
• Annual company bonus.
• Relocation support for candidates moving to the UK.
• On-site chef providing breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
• Life insurance and a favorable pension plan.
• Healthcare cash plan with dental and optical cover.
• Access to strong workplace tech and consoles for work and relaxation.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodation

The company is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants based on ability, qualifications, and work ethic rather than protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, or others covered by law. Accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or impairments, subject to local requirements, to support participation in the application or interview process.

Recruitment Security Notice

The hiring team does not interview or extend offers through third-party messaging apps. No financial transactions are requested during recruitment or onboarding, and candidates will never be asked to share personal or financial information through unofficial chat channels. Official contact comes only from company email domains associated with Zynga and its related studios.