Systems / Game Designer (Mid-Senior) (m/f/o)

Systems / Game Designer (Mid–Senior) (m/f/o)

About the Role

As a Systems Designer , you will be responsible for designing, analyzing, and balancing gameplay systems in line with the design goals of our current project, which is a stylized, combat-driven top-down action-adventure .

You will work closely with the Game Director and game programmers to translate design requirements into clear, workable systems , establish the documentation and parameters needed to implement and tune them, and iterate on the results through testing and feedback .

This role requires both analytical thinking and a practical understanding of game development. You should be comfortable working with complex gameplay interactions , documenting your designs, and collaborating across disciplines to make sure systems work as intended and contribute to the overall player experience .

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop gameplay systems in line with the project's design requirements and overall vision
• Analyze existing implementations and competing games to identify opportunities, strengths, and potential improvements
• Break down complex gameplay concepts into clear, structured, and implementable designs
• Document system logic, design decisions, parameters, as well as dependencies clearly and work closely with the Game Director, game programmers and other disciplines during implementation
• Set up and maintain tuning and balancing systems to support efficient iteration
• Test, evaluate, and refine gameplay systems in collaboration with QA and the wider development team
• Identify issues and inconsistencies, propose solutions , and follow through on improvements

Requirements

• Professional experience in Systems Design and/or Game Design
• At least one shipped game in the video game industry
• Ability to analyze, structure, and plan complex gameplay systems
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills , with an eye for detail and system consistency
• Experience with gameplay tuning, balancing, or iterative design workflows
• Good organizational skills, including planning, time management, and documentation
• Ability to communicate design ideas and technical requirements clearly
• Experience collaborating with programmers, QA, and other development disciplines
• Knowledge of version control systems
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a small team
• Valid work permit for Germany

Nice to have

• Experience working on action-adventure or combat-driven games
• Experience with top-down gameplay
• Experience working with proprietary engines, internal tools, or custom development workflows
• Experience with console game development
• Experience balancing interconnected gameplay systems
• Familiarity with scripting or other technical tools that support systems design

What we offer

• An exciting position with challenges and opportunities to fully express your creativity
• An energetic and cheerful team
• Extensive room for personal and professional development
• The opportunity to positively influence workflows and contribute to the studio’s overall success
• A collaborative, cross-disciplinary environment
• Hybrid work setup in Frankfurt, Germany (at least 3 days onsite)
• Full health / dental insurance (as legally required by German state)
• Flexible working time

On KAIKO GmbH:

With over 30 years of game development experience, the founders still work hands on in the development of our titles.

We have a friendly work environment , work sane hours and allow everybody to leave their mark in our products.

As a company we always strive for competence and reliability and keep ourselves from corporate bullshit or buzzwording.