Senior Game Designer (Unreal Engine)
SENIOR GAME DESIGNER (UNREAL ENGINE) // ICARUS
Auckland | NZD 90-130 k Salary range | Game Design
APPLICATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2026
A bit about us…
RocketWerkz is an ambitious PC video games studio based on Auckland’s waterfront in New Zealand. Founded by Dean Hall, creator of hit survival game DayZ, we are independently-run but have the backing of one of the world's largest games companies. Our open-world simulation and survival games Icarus and Stationeers are out on Steam, and we have multiple projects in development including Kitten Space Agency.
We need you!
As a Senior Game Designer, you’ll be a key member of the ICARUS team. ICARUS is a complex systems-driven sandbox open-world PC survival game made in Unreal Engine 4.27. It has sold over three million units and we have published an update every single week without fail since 2021.
As a Senior Game Designer you’ll regularly design and add new missions, items, creatures and content. You'll have to understand game balance, quest logic and lore while creating an enjoyable player experience. You'll be hands-on in Unreal Engine 4.27 and active in the player community.
A day in the life…
Every day at Rocketwerkz is different, but here are a few things you can expect to do in your role:
Design and document items, creature, talents and missions
Script missions using Unreal Engine Blueprints
Implement and test these features in Unreal Engine 4.27
Balance the game economy and difficulty curve based on playtesting experience
Ensure player progress is rewarding, exciting, fair and satisfying
Constantly seek player feedback and interpret it wisely
Communicate how game features and constraints create a particular player experiences
We are looking for people passionate not only about making games but also about sharing them with the player community and continually improving them. We welcome a great portfolio and practical experience as much as academic qualifications.
To get this all done, we’d like you to have:
6+ years game design or relevant game development experience
Experience with Unreal Engine 4, including Blueprint scripting
Experience with Jira and Confluence (or similar project management tools)
We’d love it if you also have:
A fantastic portfolio of games you've contributed to
Understanding of open-world or survival games
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
We think life at Rocketwerkz is pretty awesome, check out the perks and benefits of joining us here.
If you're passionate about working in the gaming industry and think you have the qualifications, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every requirement listed in this job description. We believe that having a diverse team is crucial to our success, and we welcome applications from individuals regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, or any other aspect of your culture or identity.
Hit Apply and if you’re the right fit we’ll be in touch to schedule a chat. Our recruitment process usually involves an online chat, a visit to our studio, maybe a paid art test or programming test and reference checks.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2026