Lead Game Designer

Job Location:

We are hiring for this position in Salina, Kansas.

About Us:

Pure Imagination Studios started in 2012 as a diversified entertainment company built by a team of creators who shared a true passion for storytelling. We thrive on imagination, and everything we do is designed to bring a tangible experience to anything our clients, partners and even ourselves, are able to imagine. We believe that pure imagination should be the fuel to our reality. Pure Imagination Labs designs immersive, interactive experiences that make complex training and simulation intuitive, purposeful, and fun. Our projects blend real-time systems, tactile interfaces, and narrative framing to support education, decision-making, teamwork, and user engagement in high-stakes scenarios. We take the best of game design and apply it to real-world learning environments that demand more than just entertainment. The environments are dynamic, the challenges are varied, and the work is as rewarding as it is technically ambitious. We are storytellers, dreamers, and creators of new worlds – striving to develop the future of entertainment. Join our team today!

Overview:

Pure Imagination Labs’ Lead Game Designer defines mission structure, branching logic, scoring systems, and counselor tools for simulation-based scenarios. Writes detailed logic documentation and implements core game systems using Unreal Blueprints. Balances narrative clarity, system complexity, and user accessibility—particularly in multi-role or tactile environments. Collaborates across design, engineering, and production to guide interaction flow, QA validation, and educational goal alignment.

Responsibilities:

• Define the core game systems that power real-time training and simulation experiences, including mission structure, role-based logic, scoring models, progression, and branching outcomes
• Design re-playable, scalable scenarios that support multi-role collaboration, counselor integration, and alignment with educational or behavioral objective
• Author detailed design documentation including game logic flows, task trees, feedback systems, UI trigger states, and counselor-facing control models
• Implement core mission logic and interaction flows using Unreal Engine Blueprints during early development phases—establishing structure and functionality prior to broader team scale-up
• Prototype and test core gameplay loops and branching interactions to validate assumptions, support iteration, and guide technical planning
• Collaborate closely with the Experience Director, TED, and UI/UX Lead to ensure guest flow, technical feasibility, and platform alignment
• Balance narrative intent, system complexity, and user accessibility—especially in physically interactive or tactile control environments
• Support milestone planning and sprint estimation with production leads
• Guide QA in defining pass/fail states, edge cases, and real-time state validation for interactive logic
• Ensure guest feedback and scoring are surfaced clearly across physical and digital interfaces
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent from two-year college/technical school required.
• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university is preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 to 7 years of experience in game design, simulation design, or interactive systems design with mission logic or branching systems ownership.
• Relevant professional certifications preferred.
• Solid expertise in writing detailed, structured design documentation and flowcharts for use across creative and technical teams.
• Strong systems thinking and user-centered design approach; ability to structure logic that supports role-based collaboration and adaptive outcomes
• Proficiency in implementing logic and interaction systems in Unreal Engine using Blueprints (UMG experience a plus).

Additional Qualifications:

• Expected to design experiences that balance educational or training goals with intuitive gameplay and emotional clarity.
• Proven ability to prototype and test interactions independently; comfortable iterating and debugging without engineering support in early phases.
• Expertise in simulation, training, or educational game development.
• Experience working with tactile input systems, counselor tools, or physical-digital interaction models.
• Familiarity with adaptive difficulty, branching narrative logic, or replay system design.
• Exposure to mission scoring, telemetry, or data-driven user feedback systems.
• Experience mentoring junior designers or technical contributors.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with internal teams, external vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.

o Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of four days per week.

o Required Residence: This candidate must live or reside in the state of Kansas; or relocate within six (6) months of offered employment.

o Required Travel: This candidate is required to travel up to 15% for specific project installations.

The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), medical leave, and a variety of other perks. A bonus and incentive plan may be provided as part of the compensation package, dependent on the level and position offered.

Learn more about the opportunities offered by Pure Imagination by visiting the Careers page of the company website.

Salary:

$125,000 annually (bonus eligible)

Pure Imagination Studios is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).