# Senior Technical Combat Designer

**Company:** [Side](null/companies/ryEW8icxs3mdwJYB31Ab5U.md)
**Location:** Remote
**Workplace:** remote
**Employment type:** Contract
**Department:** CoDev

[Apply for this job](null/view/ea3fedeb-62ef-4e8f-8efd-9974719b4317)

## Description

![](https://workablehr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/photos/302673/b4278d0ded10265affb06ed198a7366f.png)

At Side, we partner with some of the world's leading developers and publishers to solve complex production challenges and help bring exceptional games to life. From concept through live operations, our co-development teams work as trusted extensions of our clients' studios, contributing expertise across design, engineering, art, audio, QA, and production.[](https://apply.workable.com/sideinc/j/3A830A7E4F/)[](https://www.side.com/about/careers/)

We're looking for a hands-on **Senior Technical Combat Designer** to help create and refine engaging boss encounters, enemies, and combat systems in Unreal Engine. This role is ideal for someone who understands combat not just from a design perspective, but from an animation and implementation standpoint, and who can take a combat character or encounter from concept through in-engine execution and iteration.

This is a **remote freelance contract** for approximately **3–6 months**, with up to **40 hours per week** of support needed. Candidates must be available to **overlap with the CEST team's working hours**; location is otherwise flexible.

_As these are project-based opportunities, positions may be amended, postponed, or withdrawn as a result of changing client requirements and project priorities._

## Requirements

**What you'll be doing:**

_Combat & Encounter Design_

-   Build and balance bosses and enemies in Unreal Engine, with ownership of at least two combat characters or equivalent systems.
-   Design attacks end to end, including animation hookup, hitbox timing, cancel windows, hit reactions, i-frames, and telegraphs.
-   Increase combat variety and improve the overall combat experience through hands-on iteration and balancing.

_Animation & Combat Feel_

-   Apply strong animation principles around weight, timing, anticipation, and readability to create responsive, impactful combat.
-   Author or modify animations in Maya, MotionBuilder, Blender, or similar tools and integrate them into gameplay.
-   Diagnose combat and animation issues using concepts such as frame data, startup/active/recovery, hitstop, input buffering, and cancel windows.

_Unreal Implementation_

-   Implement combat using Unreal Blueprints, Behavior Trees, Animation Blueprints, state machines, blend spaces, montages, and animation notifies.
-   Use Niagara to prototype combat effects and visual feedback.
-   Collaborate with engineering, animation, VFX, and design teams to troubleshoot and iterate on gameplay.

**What we're looking for:**

-   5+ years of experience designing and implementing combat for video games, including ownership of 2+ combat characters or equivalent systems.
-   Strong understanding of animation principles and combat feel, with the ability to identify why an attack doesn't land, read, or feel as intended.
-   Hands-on Unreal Engine experience with Blueprints, Behavior Trees, Animation Blueprints, and related animation systems.
-   Experience with third-person combat, fighting games, shooters, or other combat-focused titles.
-   Ability to author or modify animation using Maya, MotionBuilder, Blender, or similar tools.
-   Working knowledge of combat frame data, hitstop, input buffering, cancel windows, hit reactions, and i-frames.
-   Basic C++ knowledge and comfort using AI-assisted coding tools to support gameplay implementation.
-   Ability to work independently, take ownership of craft, and drive problems to solutions.

**Nice to have:**

-   Experience creating and balancing complex boss encounters.
-   Experience with Niagara and gameplay VFX prototyping.
-   Experience working in a co-development or external development environment.

## Benefits

-   Competitive Salary.
-   Dynamic, multicultural and fun environment.
-   You will be working for the world's leading provider of game services.
-   We empower our people and offer regular progression opportunities to ensure our employees flourish.

**About Side**   
_Side (formerly PTW) is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 20 studios in 14 countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia._ 

_Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets._ 

_Experience our side of life. For more information, visit_ [_**www.side.inc**_](https://www.side.inc/)