Values Value was tasked with finding an experienced Lead or Principal Combat Designer for our client — a well-known PC/Console game development studio, whose projects are highly praised by millions of players and industry experts. The role was for a new survival horror project with a focus on deep, engaging combat systems and AI-driven enemies.
Project: Action/Adventure for PC/Console
Desired Candidate Profile
We were looking for a person who could own the vision for enemy design, mentor a team, and work closely with other departments to craft compelling combat experiences.
The ideal candidate would possess the following qualifications:
- 5+ years of experience as a Combat or AI Game Designer, with at least one shipped title
- Understanding of the role of enemies in survival horror gameplay loops
- Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
- English proficiency (Upper Intermediate+)
- Passion for and deep understanding of survival horror games
- Experience in third-person action or survival horror projects
- Technical proficiency in Unreal Engine and background in AI systems
Challenges
One of the key challenges was the geographic spread of relevant candidates. Many professionals with suitable experience were based in Canada or high-cost European countries — including Ukrainian developers who had relocated. This created complications with time zone overlap and salary expectations.
Additionally, during the sourcing process, we noticed that many candidates had poorly completed profiles — it was often unclear what their exact responsibilities were, or whether they were involved in combat design or AI-related work.
Another key aspect of the search was the requirement for strong English skills.
This was a strategic role that required direct communication with the CEO in English, while communication with the team needed to be in Ukrainian.
What Helped to Fill the Position
This wasn’t a high-volume vacancy, but the profile was niche and demanding. We focused on an accurate match — identifying companies and projects where the ideal candidate was likely to be working. From the first contact, we clearly communicated the core responsibilities, expectations, and the vision of the project.
Our team worked through a wide range of sourcing channels, explored different regions and company types (product and outsourcing), and published the vacancy on relevant job boards. We used multiple sourcing approaches: direct search by job title, searches within target companies, job platforms, and candidate referrals.
The offer eventually went to a great specialist who had initially declined to move forward with the process due to a lack of confidence in their English.
In the weekly report and during a sync with the client, our recruiter flagged this candidate as promising but unsure about their working English. After discussing with the hiring manager, we agreed to reconnect with the candidate and test their English level.
After a call, it became clear that while their English wasn’t perfect, it was fully functional — they were able to explain their thoughts clearly and be understood.
What made it work:
- Strong communication with the hiring manager
- Willingness to advocate for a candidate when there’s a sense they’re worth a shot
On the Values Value side, the process was managed by Dariia Tokar, our Recruitment Consultant, with sourcing support from Oksana Pavlova. Both did a great job ensuring the process moved smoothly, despite the challenges.
