Director of Game Design

$400,000 USD/year ^{Pay is set based on global value, not the local market. Most roles = hourly rate x 40 hrs x 50 weeks}  ($200 USD/hour)

• Own and articulate the creative vision, core gameplay systems, and product strategy for a business simulation game that develops authentic entrepreneurial capabilities through deeply engaging play.

• Recruit and lead a senior development team, attracting world-class talent and establishing a culture that delivers rapidly and iterates relentlessly.

• Collaborate with Founders School leadership, educators, and practicing entrepreneurs to convert real business principles into meaningful and compelling game mechanics.

• Integrate AI across the entire development cycle to enhance design exploration, balance tuning, prototyping speed, content generation, and production efficiency.

• Ship concrete milestones, including a vertical slice playable within 12 months, validated playtests with teenage users, and a scalable platform for future simulation experiences.

• Producing yet another conventional simulation game that offers familiar mechanics with minimal real-world relevance.

• Devoting months to extensive design documentation at the expense of delivering playable prototypes.

• Operating within a large studio environment where creative decisions require navigating multiple approval layers.

• Viewing AI as a supplementary productivity enhancement rather than a foundational element of your design methodology.

• Developing educational software that users endure rather than games they authentically enjoy.

Direct the development of the world's most compelling business simulation game by assembling the team, establishing the vision, and shipping a product that transforms players into better entrepreneurs through gameplay.

Success in Your First Year

• By the 6-month mark, you have shipped a vertical slice in which players advance through authentic business competencies by overcoming substantive gameplay obstacles.

• Initial playtests demonstrate that teenage players reliably describe the experience as enjoyable before they realize the depth of their learning.

• You have recruited and onboarded the core game development team, maintaining a consistent rhythm of high-quality releases.

• By month 12, you have deployed a closed beta with over 1,000 active players, reached 40%+ retention at 30 days, and implemented a sustainable development cadence for delivering new simulation content.

• Track record of shipping at least one commercially successful game that players authentically loved, preferably within a team of 10 people or fewer.

• Proven experience directing multidisciplinary game development teams from initial concept through full launch.

• Expert-level knowledge designing simulation, sandbox, systems-driven, strategy, or management game experiences.

• Active, daily application of generative AI tools to enhance game design and development workflows, with demonstrable recent examples of AI integration in your work.

• Enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and sincere conviction in the importance of building profitable enterprises.

• Proven leadership, communication, and talent acquisition capabilities.

• Availability to work on-site in New York City.

• Authorization to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.

• Shipped titles in sandbox, tycoon, builder, management, or simulation genres.

• Experience designing products specifically for audiences under 18 years of age.

• Background incorporating education or skill development frameworks into entertainment experiences.

• Experience collaborating with high-profile brands, content creators, or licensed IP.

• Demonstrated success scaling a game development team from concept phase through commercial launch.