Principal Game Designer - Shooter Genre Specialist

About the role

Tencent Games' Game Research Center (GRC) is looking for a Principal Game Designer who is a true genre expert in global shooter, Games as a Service (GaaS) and PvP-focused titles. The role brings a design leader with extensive hands-on development experience to give the overseas portfolio stronger strategic direction on product design trends, solve critical design challenges in active projects and identify opportunities for the next evergreen franchise.

Key responsibilities

• Define and refine minute-to-minute gameplay, including controls, movement and player feedback across visual, audio and haptic layers, and build scalable combat, character control, level interaction, mission flow, progression and long-term engagement systems.
• Lead the design evaluation and strategic improvement of core pillars such as live service, 3C, combat/system design, level design, mission structure, world interaction and player progression.
• Analyse leading global games in shooter, casual competitive and RPG genres and turn insights into reusable design frameworks, setting benchmarks for 3C, system interaction and world exploration pacing.
• Work with project teams to solve critical design problems in GaaS systems, gameplay innovation and economy balance, review prototypes and milestone builds, and give hands-on design consultation, especially on shooter challenges.
• Help identify genre opportunities, product risks and improvement areas early through expert review, structured feedback and design modelling.
• Represent the company at industry events such as GDC and Devcom, using its reputation and network to connect with top global design talent.

Required profile

• 10+ years of game design experience, with at least the last 5 years as a lead designer or core systems owner on large-scale, globally recognised projects.
• Proven success in shooter games, with strong practical experience in level design, 3C, combat design and/or gameplay systems design.
• Industry recognition, ideally shown through thought leadership and speaking at major conferences or forums.
• Fluent English and the ability to work with global development teams.

Required skills

• Ability to design systems from the ground up that support long-term player engagement.
• Deep understanding of gameplay loops such as combat, progression, mission structure, exploration, social interaction, player creativity and retention.
• Strong expertise in 3C feel, including responsiveness, combat impact, camera and audiovisual feedback.
• Understanding of hardcore players, competitive fairness and player communities.
• Structured thinking: turning creative ideas into clear design documents and system models.