Posted 9 days ago
Senior Encounter Designer
@ Arcanaut Studios
Edmonton, Alberta
Overview
Arcanaut Studios is hiring a Senior Encounter Designer for a full-time role in BC or Alberta, with remote-friendly options. The role defines combat and narrative encounters, scripts them in Unreal Engine 5, and balances enemy AI, level layouts and progression. Salary range is $96,890 to $173,975 plus a bi-yearly performance bonus.
Responsibilities:
- Design and script combat spaces and enemy placements in UE5
- Design and balance creatures with distinct combat identities
- Collaborate with level, gameplay and AI teams on encounters
- Set macro-pacing of missions balancing combat, exploration and narrative
- Build gray-box encounter spaces to test combat recipes
Requirements summary:
- 5+ years of combat or encounter design experience
- At least one shipped AAA action adventure or RPG title
- Strong hands-on scripting in Unreal Engine 5
- Deep understanding of RPG mechanics and progression scaling
- Excellent spatial awareness of 3D layouts
- Strong verbal and written documentation skills
Tools & skills
Benefits mentioned
Source and dates
Source type not verified · humi
- Employer posting date
- 2026-10-29
- First seen by our source
- 2026-10-30
- Source record updated
- 2026-10-30
These dates describe the source record, not a live verification that the employer is still hiring. Check the original posting.
Job details
| Seniority | Senior |
| Department | Software development |
| Experience | 5+ years |
| Hours per week | 40 (estimated) |
| Travel | air: none · ground: none |
| Work setting | Office, Home |
| Position | Mostly sitting |
| Physical demands | physical low · computer high |
| Languages | English |
| Perks mentioned | Generous paid time off, Retirement plan, Performance bonus |
Summary and details written by AI from the posting; the employer’s posting is the authority.
Arcanaut Studios
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Open jobs on Jobsy | 11 |
ARCANAUT STUDIOS
Senior Encounter Designer
FULL-TIME | BC OR ALBERTA
(REMOTE FRIENDLY)
OUR ARC
Arcanaut Studios is a team of seasoned developers founded on the axiom that creative freedom and independence lead to better, more innovative games. We believe in the power of small, agile teams. We are decision makers with consistent collaboration across disciplines that drive the project vision and create a seamless player experience.
Arcanaut Studios is a Canadian company with offices in Edmonton, AB and Kelowna, BC. We offer a flexible work environment combining from-home, in-office, and remote work as well as competitive industry compensation and benefits. By joining us, you will be welcomed into a diverse team of talented developers creating an immersive universe of story, character, and discovery.
YOUR ARC
As a Senior Encounter Designer, you will initiate and help define the end-to-end player experience for combat and narrative driven scenarios. You will orchestrate the intersection of enemy AI behavior, level geometry, player progression and narrative triggers to build high-stake, deeply tactical encounters. From isolated skirmishes to multi-stage epic boss battles, you ensure every fight tells a story and pushes the player to master the game’s mechanics.
Responsibilities
Design, build, and script combat spaces and enemy placements using internal tools and UE5, implementing logical triggers for enemy waves, and tactical AI behaviors
Design and balance creatures with distinct combat identities, using readable silhouettes, clear attack telegraphs, and behaviors that reward player mastery of core mechanics.
Work hand in hand with level designers and gameplay designers to ensure environmental layouts offer strategic positioning and with AI/Combat systems to refine enemy archetypes, abilities and readable telegraphing
Establish the macro-pacing of missions and hubs, balancing high intensity combat with exploration, quiet narrative moments and puzzles
Create layered combat scenarios that reward diverse playstyles
Build gray-box encounter spaces to rapid test combat recipes and enemy group synergies, proving out fun factors
Qualifications and Experience
5+ years of experience in game design, specifically focused on combat or encounter design on at least one shipped AAA action adventure or RPG title
Strong hands-on experience scripting complex game logic using scripting tools and Unreal Engine 5
A deep understanding of RPG mechanics, including character attributes, itemization, cooldown economies, crowd-control states and progression scaling
Excellent spatial awareness with the ability to conceptualize how 3D environment layouts affect sightlines, flanking opportunities, and play movement choices
Strong verbal and written documentation skills to clearly communicate complex mechanical ideas and to establish best practices
BENEFITS
We offer a rewards package to help you live your best life while doing your best work, including medical and dental coverage, retirement savings contributions and a Flex Benefit program that has a wide array of coverage to best fit your personal situation.
We offer 3 weeks of vacation per year in addition to summer and winter studio breaks that are each two weeks long.
The hiring range for this position is $96,890 – $173,975 in addition to a bi-yearly performance-based bonus. The base pay may vary depending on the candidate’s region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
To apply, please include your CV with a link to your demo reel if applicable.
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