Monstrous is looking to hire the following positions. If you are qualified, inspired, and a bona fide rockstar in your area, please remit a resume and cover letter to
jobs@monstro.us!
Junior Game Designer (Music Game Level Designer)
Description of Duties
- A developing individual contributor that assists designers and/or designs a specific portion of the software product at the interface, content, and engineering levels.
- Assists in designing interaction and experience in Monstrous’ music games.
- Maintains and modifies game play mechanics.
- Assists in developing story boards, flow charts, game scripts and users’ manuals for assigned portions of software products.
- May coordinate with resources throughout the organization to ensure successful completion of assigned segments.
- Support to ensure the original product idea or concept to be consistent throughout the product cycle.
- Communicates ideas with various product development personnel to solicit feedback and ensure support during product development.
- Applies professional expertise to review, analyze and test products under development as a contributing member of a production team, to ensure delivery of high standard of quality and timeliness.
Summary of Requirements
- Receives work in the form of short / mid-term assignments that sometimes require the use of independent judgment outside of established procedures. Supports the determination of technical or artistic approaches and the development of new or enhanced technical tools.
- Supports attainment of some short-term and mid-term objectives of assigned unit / team / projects.
- Applies basic problem solving techniques specific to semi-routine problems in effective ways.
- Interacts with team members and peers and may interact with partners to explain or provide semi-routine information related to assigned activities.
- Strong understanding of general music concepts and principles such as rhythm. Skills in instrumental performance, music composition, music production or sequencing.
- Knowledge of PC / Mac-based documentation software, including Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel or other documentation software. Up-to-date knowledge of the video game industry. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Good organization skills.
- One to three years of progressively complex related experience. Experiences in software entertainment industry (other than product design) a plus.
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Marketing Entertainment, General Studies, or equivalent. Studies or training in music strongly recommended.
Game Designer
Description of Duties
- An individual contributor that designs and manages social games at the interface, content and engineering levels. Experienced in area of specialization.
- Establishes, manages, and tunes game play mechanics to support Monstrous’ goals.
- Oversees testing and refinement of new game mechanics and versions.
- Communicates ideas with various product development personnel to solicit feedback and ensure support during prototype development.
- Within team, provides input into defining creative vision and technical specification for assigned software games.
- Writes treatments, story boards, flow charts and game scripts.
- Executes games designs and revisions.
- Updates design documents.
- Ensures that the original game idea or product concept is consistent throughout the product cycle.
- Establishes and maintains the overall balance and vision in order to meet the standards of Monstrous games.
Summary of Requirements
- Receives work in the form of short- and mid-term assignments that sometimes require use of independent judgment outside of established procedures.
- Supports the determination of technical or artistic approaches and the development of new or enhanced technical tools.
- Mentors less experienced members of the team.
- Interacts with internal and external peers and/or managers to exchange semi-complex information related to assigned activities
- Work is subject to regular supervisory review at regular intervals. Operates within the context of generally defined procedures.
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Marketing Entertainment, General Studies, or equivalent. Studies in music performance, composition, or production a plus.
- Typically incumbent has 3 to 5 years of progressively complex related experience. Experiences in software entertainment industry (other than games) a plus.
Graphic Artist & Interface Designer
Description of Duties
- Work closely with the Art Director and UI Lead to create mockups in order to establish User Interface direction.
- Work closely with Design, Production, User Research and Dev to iterate on best solutions to UI challenges.
- Translate wireframes into high-fidelity mockups and beautiful, game-ready art assets.
- Master the use of existing game engine tools to integrate those assets into the game; suggest tool enhancements where possible.
- Produce high-quality work quickly, with several rounds of iteration in pursuit of the best design solution.
- Participate in visual comparison and critiques.
- Find creative solutions to challenges, both technical and artistic.
Summary of Requirements
- Must have 3-5 years of experience in video game UI, with deep knowledge and understanding of Graphic Design and UI/Interaction Design
- Must be familiar with a wide variety of art creation tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash, and must have worked extensively with in-house and/or 3rd party UI Design tools
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in Visual Interface Design for games
- Formal degree in Graphic Design or a related field
- Deep understanding of fundamental Design principles (i.e. typography, layout, grid systems, hierarchy, color, composition) and Motion Graphics
- Strong knowledge of Adobe CS5 products (including Flash)
- Strong cross-functional communication skills – i.e. must interact effectively within a team environment and work collaboratively
- Passion for and knowledge of games – i.e. you play the latest and the greatest, and can articulate what qualities make a great title
- Extreme attention to detail – i.e. you believe that one pixel off is NOT “close enough”
- Exceptional organizational skills – i.e. you do not allow anything to “fall through the cracks”
- Illustration and 3D skills nice to see, but not required
Senior Graphic Designer
Description of Duties
- A lead position that designs software product at the interface, content and engineering levels.
- Also leads other designers on assigned software development projects.
- Consistently acts as the lead designer for specific projects and does not “rotate” in and out of this position.
- Can manage small sub-teams on a larger project. Experienced in area of specialization, and may train associate members of the staff.
- Develops concepts and treatments for assigned software project. Establishes and manages functions and mechanics of software.
- Writes text contents as necessary. Creates and keeps updating working design documents.
- Participates on prototype development.
- Communicates ideas with various product development personnel to solicit feedback and ensure support during product development.
- Works with the team to define creative vision, technical specifications, fun factor and product content.
- Working and communicating with staff at all levels, across all departments, internal and external.
- Executes product designs and revisions. Writes reports during and after the production of the product.
- Ensures that the original product idea or product concept is consistent throughout the product cycle.
- Establishes and maintains the overall balance and vision in order to meet the public expectations of Monstrous’ products.
- Applies professional expertise to review, analyze and test products under development as a contributing member of a production team, to ensure delivery of Monstrous’ high standard of quality and timeliness.
Summary of Requirements
- As a working lead, allocates and tracks the daily work of a work group / team.
- Interacts with subordinates, peers and / or managers in other work groups / teams / vendors. Teaches, trains and interprets data and resolves routine issues.
- Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Marketing, Entertainment, General Studies, or equivalent. Studies in music a plus.
- Typically incumbent has 8 or more years of experience with 1 or more years of team lead experience. Requires minimum 7 years of game design experience. Experiences in software entertainment industry (other than product design) a plus.