Lead Systems Designer - Star Trek Fleet Command

Scopely is looking for a Lead Systems Designer to join our Star Trek Fleet Command team in Barcelona on a hybrid basis. At Scopely, we care deeply about what we do and want to inspire play, every day – whether in our work environments alongside talented colleagues or through our deep connections with our communities of players. We are a global team of game lovers who are developing, publishing, and innovating in the mobile games industry, connecting millions of players around the world daily. Star Trek Fleet Command is a standout success in the gaming industry. Launched in 2018, our in-house developed 4X MMO has continually evolved, earning its place as one of the top-grossing games on the market. Our next chapter is bold: we’re evolving the traditional 4X experience in STFC — and we need a bold design leader to shape the content and loops our players engage with on a daily basis.

Responsibilities

Become the design owner and leader behind the feature pipeline, directing designers and UX specialists in crafting compelling experiences for our players; Guide teams through the creative process, ensuring they can hit the vision of the game and deliver upon player and product needs with accuracy; Get your hands dirty through direct involvement in building and refining novel gameplay experiences focused on resource generation, spending, time gating, and power growth; Create systems that foster meaningful player agency and long-term investment; Manage and mentor designers in systems and economy design to elevate our standards and craft incredible experiences; Shape the design process to ensure the standards of players are met and exceeded; Use tools (Excel, Google Sheets) to model economies and progression pacing; Collaborate with Experienced, driven and passionate Designers, Product Managers, Analysts, and Engineers to implement features which aim to advance the genre; Evaluate performance using data, player feedback, and your own playtest experience; Design for scale: plan for long-term content extensibility and system health

Requirements

2+ years of game design leadership experience; Proven experience in F2P systems design and progression modelling; 8+ years of experience designing systems or economies for live, F2P games (preferably MMO, 4X, or strategy genres); Confident people manager and mentor, that is able to grow & nurture talent; Experience with all aspects of game design discipline: concept, game progression, interface, monetization, and retention; A proven track record of delivering features that balance player fun, engagement, and monetisation; Ability to translate KPI targets and data into design direction for teams; Mastery of spreadsheets and confidence in balancing power curves, pacing, and resource flow; Experience working cross-functionally and navigating live production environments; A positive, thoughtful, and collaborative approach to game development

Nice to have

Deep understanding of the 4X genre with specific experience in F2P 4X; Familiarity with SQL, scripting, or simulation tools; Love for Star Trek, sci-fi, or highly strategic social games; Previous work on alliance or co-op systems in large-scale games