Principal Game Designer - EA SPORTS FC Ultimate Team

EA SPORTS is one of the most iconic brands in entertainment, connecting millions around the world to the sports they love through a portfolio of industry-leading video games.

The EA SPORTS FC Ultimate Team franchise is the cornerstone of our football gaming experience, engaging millions of players worldwide. Ultimate Team offers unmatched depth, strategy, and personalization through dynamic game modes and innovative player progression systems, setting the standard for live sports gaming.

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the EA SPORTS FC Ultimate Team is committed to pushing the boundaries of what a football game can be. If you're an expert in your craft and passionate about delivering immersive, player-first experiences in progression systems and game modes, this is a career-defining opportunity.

As a Principal Game Designer for Ultimate Team, you will be an expert in designing engaging game modes and progression systems that elevate player retention and engagement. You will report to the Game Design Director and collaborate with product owners, engineers, animators, and other designers to shape the future of Ultimate Team. In this role, you will set a high bar for design quality, establishing yourself as a leader who exemplifies excellence in craft. You will mentor and inspire your peers and less experienced designers, ensuring that every feature aligns with the Ultimate Team vision.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the Design of Game Modes & Progression Systems: Architect innovative game modes and player progression systems that deliver deep and engaging experiences, driving player retention and loyalty in Ultimate Team.
• Craft Mastery: Set the bar for excellence in game design. Deliver player-first experiences with creativity, precision, and attention to detail that stands out within the industry.
• Vision & Collaboration: Collaborate with design leadership and cross-functional teams to align on the overall vision for Ultimate Team. Ensure that all designs support the product strategy and contribute to the continued growth of the franchise.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced designers, fostering a culture of collaboration, creativity, and constant improvement. Lead by example, ensuring all team members are working toward achieving the highest level of design quality.
• Innovate & Iterate: Leverage market insights, player feedback, and data analytics to identify opportunities for innovation in game modes and progression systems. Continuously iterate to optimize the player experience.
• Partner with Production Leads: Collaborate with production leadership to ensure feature prioritization and scope align with development timelines and goals.
  
  

Your Qualifications

• Expert in Craft: Minimum 10 years of experience designing AAA video games, with at least 5 years in a senior, leadership, or management role. Proven expertise in designing complex game modes and player progression systems.
• Visionary Leader: Strong leadership experience with a demonstrated ability to guide, mentor, and inspire others to achieve design excellence.
• Game Mode and Progression Expertise: A deep understanding of live service game models, player retention mechanics, and progression systems, ideally within sports or live service games.
• Ownership and Accountability: A track record of taking full ownership of major design systems, from conceptualization through to implementation, and delivering exceptional results.
• Collaboration Mastery: Proven experience working across multiple disciplines (engineering, art, production) to deliver cohesive and high-quality gameplay experiences.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts clearly and effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
  
  

Ideal Candidate

• An expert in game design who thrives on creating innovative, engaging, and player-driven experiences.
• A natural leader with a deep passion for mentoring and developing talent within the team.
• A highly skilled designer with a track record of delivering world-class work in AAA, live service, or sports games.
  
  

Bc Compensation And Benefits

The base salary ranges listed below are for the defined geographic market pay zones in these locations. If you reside outside of these locations, a recruiter will advise on the base salary range and benefits for your specific location.

EA has listed the base salary ranges it in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in the locations listed, as of the time of this posting. Salary offered will be determined based on numerous relevant business and candidate factors including, for example, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs.

BASE SALARY RANGES

• British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria):
  
  

º $126,000 - $176,300 CAN Annually

Base salary is just one part of the overall compensation at EA. We also offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.