Senior Game Designer (Unreal Engine)

SENIOR GAME DESIGNER (UNREAL ENGINE) // ICARUS

Auckland | Game Design

APPLICATIONS CLOSE TUESDAY 7 APRIL 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

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• 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)

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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: https://rocketwerkz.recruitee.com/ 

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. 

RocketWerkz is an Immigration New Zealand Accredited Employer. We are committed to making your move to our Auckland studio as smooth as possible, which is why we offer relocation assistance and budget for successful international candidates.

Head over to https://rocketwerkz.recruitee.com/ and 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, 2-3 interviews, maybe a paid programming test and reference checks.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE TUESDAY 7 APRIL 2026