Game Design Lead & Lead Game Programmer

Forbidden Kemono Studio LLC is an indie game studio building character-driven PC games in Unreal Engine. We specialize in systems-heavy gameplay
, including simulation and tycoon design,
simulation-driven horror
, RPG progression, and multiplayer-ready features. Our projects combine strong art direction, clear production pipelines, and replayable gameplay loops, with a focus on shipping real builds such as demos, vertical slices, and full releases.

Forbidden Kemono Studio LLC is recruiting two leadership roles to help guide development across our Unreal Engine projects:

• Game Design Lead
• Lead Game Programmer

These are remote, revenue-share only positions.

There is no salary, stipend, or hourly pay
. Applicants must be based in the USA or Canada
.

You will own the gameplay vision and design direction
, making sure systems, mechanics, and player experience stay cohesive and achievable for an indie team.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain core gameplay pillars and systems
• Own and update the Game Design Document (GDD)
• Work closely with programmers, artists, and narrative to align design goals
• Review and guide work from other designers
• Balance scope, pacing, difficulty, and player flow
• Help plan milestones and playable goals (demo, vertical slice, release)

Requirements

• Experience designing gameplay systems (professional or strong indie projects)
• Strong understanding of player psychology, balance, and iteration
• Clear communication and leadership skills
• Ability to give actionable feedback, not vague ideas

You will own the technical foundation of the project and help ensure systems are stable, maintainable, and scalable.

Responsibilities

• Architect and maintain core gameplay systems
• Set coding / Blueprint standards and best practices
• Support and review work from other programmers
• Collaborate with design to translate mechanics into clean implementations
• Help debug, optimize, and stabilize builds
• Guide technical decisions for Unreal Engine workflows

Requirements

• Strong experience with Unreal Engine 5 (Blueprints required, C++ a plus)
• Experience building gameplay systems, not just isolated features
• Familiarity with version control and team workflows
• Ability to lead technically while staying hands‑on

• Comfortable collaborating remotely via Discord
• Able to work within a structured but indie-paced environment
• Open to feedback and cross-discipline collaboration
• Based in the USA or Canada
• Comfortable with a long-term, revenue-share indie project

• Revenue-share only
• Percentages are project-based and defined in the Independent Contractor Agreement before work begins

Apply through our official job application form and clearly state which role you’re applying for (
Game Design Lead
, Lead Game Programmer
, or both):

Apply here:

• Please include a short introduction and relevant portfolio, documentation, or code samples.