Technical Gameplay Designer - SMITE 2

About the Role

Ready to become a god-maker? Hi-Rez Studios is looking for a talented
Technical Gameplay Designer
to join the team behind
SMITE 2
.

In this role, you will be the bridge between design and engineering, tasked with bringing the iconic Gods of SMITE into the next generation. Using Unreal Engine 5 and the Gameplay Ability System (GAS), you will be directly responsible for porting, polishing, and reimagining God ability kits. Your mission is to meticulously replicate the timing, feel, and effects that players love from SMITE 1, while actively finding ways to improve the mechanical implementation.

You won’t just be copying over old kits, though—there is massive room for creativity here! You will design and implement brand-new features for each God, including developing new "Aspects" that can drastically alter their playstyles and shake up the meta.

What You'll Do:

• Build the Gods:
  Implement complex God ability kits in UE5 Blueprints utilizing the Gameplay Ability System (GAS).
• Nail and Refine the Feel:
  Meticulously replicate the pacing and combat feel of legacy SMITE 1 kits, while actively finding opportunities to improve them. You'll fix legacy quirks—polishing animation flows, adding missing polish (like that final grunt on a swing chain), smoothing out odd timing issues, and improving server latency compensation.
• Innovate and Expand:
  Flex your creative muscles by designing fresh features for each God, as well as a new "Aspect" that drastically changes how their kit functions in-game.
• Collaborate Across Teams:
  Work hand-in-hand with FX, Audio, Tech Art, and Animation departments to ensure every ability feels punchy, looks amazing, and sounds divine.

What We're Looking For:

• UE5 Expertise & Debugging:
  Deep knowledge of Unreal Engine 5 Blueprinting, paired with strong debugging and profiling skills. You don't just know how to build features; you know how to efficiently hunt down bugs, optimize logic, and troubleshoot independently without constantly bogging down the engineering team.
• GAS Experience:
  Proven, hands-on experience implementing characters and abilities using the Unreal Gameplay Ability System.
• Combat Passion:
  A deep familiarity with and passion for ability-driven combat games, particularly MOBAs or Hero Shooters. You understand what makes an ability feel fair, fun, and impactful.
• Team Player:
  Excellent communication skills and a desire to work closely with multidisciplinary teams in a highly collaborative, on-site environment.

Bonus Points:

• You have a deep familiarity with and passion for SMITE! You know the Battleground of the Gods, understand the current rosters, and have strong opinions on what makes a God's kit satisfying.

What We Offer:

• Legacy & Impact:
  The rare opportunity to help update a beloved IP with over 40 million players and define its next generation in SMITE 2.
• Compensation & Health:
  A competitive base salary alongside comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
• Retirement Planning:
  Up to a 3.5% employer match on your 401(k) contributions to help you build for the future.
• Fuel for the Grind:
  Free lunch provided every single day, plus a fully stocked snack and drink room to keep you energized.
• Time to Recharge:
  15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year—scaling up to 25 days after 5 years of employment—along with 8 paid company holidays.
• Studio Culture:
  An extremely fan-focused, player-driven environment. We collaborate with our community daily through programs like our Ambassador program and thrice-weekly livestream Q&A sessions. Plus, we are players ourselves, getting hands-on with daily playtests of new features.

Location Details:

This is a full-time,
on-site
role located at our studio in
Alpharetta, Georgia
.