Senior Game Designer (3Cs: Camera, Controls, Character) - 9 Month Contract
- Blackbird Interactive
- Remote Canada
Job Description
Blackbird Interactive is looking for an experienced Senior Game Designer to help define and deliver core gameplay for a third-person, modern military tactical shooter. This role focuses on owning and refining the camera, controls, and character, ensuring movement, aiming, and interaction feel responsive, readable, and grounded in tactical authenticity.
You’ll work closely with other designers, engineering, animation, and production to build and iterate on core player mechanics that support fluid team coordination, deliberate decision-making, and cinematic action. The role involves collaborating with leadership to align the 3Cs with the broader creative vision, while owning systems end to end, from early prototyping through implementation, tuning, iteration, and polish.
As a senior member of the team, you will also support and mentor other designers, helping elevate the overall quality of gameplay feel and player experience. If you are passionate about responsive controls, expressive character movement, and creating a strong connection between player input and on-screen action, this role could be a great fit.
Responsibilities
Collaborate with design, engineering, animation, and production to support and implement the core gameplay vision through camera, controls, and character systems
Own and drive the development of the 3Cs, including player movement, camera behavior, aiming systems such as ADS, and input responsiveness
Prototype, implement, and iterate on player control schemes to ensure they feel intuitive, precise, and responsive across gameplay scenarios
Design and tune third-person camera systems that balance situational awareness, readability, and cinematic presentation
Work closely with animation and engineering to ensure character movement, transitions, and combat interactions feel grounded, fluid, and believable
Integrate 3Cs with gameplay systems such as shooting, cover, traversal, and squad-based mechanics to support tactical play
Test, debug, and iterate regularly on moment-to-moment gameplay, identifying issues with feel, readability, and responsiveness
Establish and maintain standards for gameplay feel, control responsiveness, and camera behavior across the project
Provide clear, constructive feedback on gameplay feel and player experience to help maintain quality and consistency
Mentor and support other designers, sharing best practices and helping elevate team understanding of 3Cs design
Anticipate dependencies and risks, working with cross-discipline partners to ensure smooth implementation and iteration
Requirements
8+ years of experience in game development with a strong focus on player-facing gameplay systems, especially camera, controls, and character
Experience shipping at least one AAA title with direct contribution to player movement, camera systems, or control schemes
Proven ability to own gameplay systems from concept through implementation, tuning, and polish
Strong understanding of third-person gameplay fundamentals, including camera framing, input responsiveness, locomotion, and combat feel
Experience working closely with animation and engineering to deliver high-quality character movement and interaction systems
Deep understanding of gameplay feel, including timing, responsiveness, feedback, and player readability
Comfort working hands-on in engine, implementing and tuning gameplay systems and debugging issues directly
Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across disciplines
Experience mentoring or supporting other designers
Pluses
Experience working on third-person shooters or tactically grounded gameplay experiences
Familiarity with ADS systems, cover mechanics, and squad-based gameplay
Strong understanding of controller-first design and input mapping for console
Appreciation for how animation, camera, audio, and VFX combine to enhance gameplay feel
Passion for delivering responsive, immersive player experiences with a high level of polish
Interest in balancing realism with playability in modern military settings
