Director, Game Design - Game Modes; Apex Legends

Electronic Arts (EA) is a global leader in entertainment experiences, and Respawn Entertainment—a studio founded in 2010 that creates award‑winning games—offers a dynamic culture where creativity and collaboration thrive. Apex Legends, EA’s flagship live‑service shooter, is seeking a Director of Game Design (Game Modes) to lead the vision, strategy, and execution of innovative gameplay experiences for the franchise.

• Define and drive the long‑term vision, strategy, and roadmap for game modes across Apex Legends.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing team of designers and design leaders, providing mentorship, career growth, performance management, and organizational guidance.
• Partner with leadership across all disciplines to identify opportunities for innovation, investment, and growth within the Apex gameplay ecosystem.
• Establish goals, priorities, and execution plans for the Modes team, ensuring alignment with franchise objectives and seasonal content strategies.
• Guide game mode development from early ideation and prototyping through production, launch, and post‑launch support.
• Review, evaluate, and provide direction on game mode concepts, features, and gameplay systems to ensure they meet quality, engagement, and business objectives.
• Champion player‑focused design decisions informed by qualitative feedback, gameplay expertise, and live service performance data.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Technical Design leadership to evolve tools, workflows, and technical capabilities that improve team efficiency and scalability.
• Drive design excellence by establishing and advocating for best practices in design process, documentation, play testing, feature scoping, and production planning.
• Lead cross‑functional design reviews and facilitate alignment on complex design and development challenges.
• Partner with Production to identify risks, manage scope, and make informed tradeoff decisions throughout development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement across the Design organization.
• Play the game regularly, maintain deep knowledge of the Apex player experience, and proactively provide feedback on all aspects of the product.
• Help shape the future of Apex Legends by contributing to franchise‑level planning, strategic initiatives, and long‑term product vision.

• 10+ years of professional game design experience, including significant experience developing multiplayer games.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing designers, design leads, or multidisciplinary design teams.
• Experience leading game mode development or major gameplay initiatives for a live service title.
• Deep expertise in multiplayer FPS design, player motivation, progression systems, and competitive gameplay.
• Proven ability to establish vision, align stakeholders, and lead large‑scale initiatives across multiple disciplines.
• Strong understanding of live service development, content planning, and operating games through multiple seasons of post‑launch support.
• Experience building and scaling high‑performing teams through mentorship, coaching, and talent development.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational leadership skills.
• Experience balancing player experience, technical constraints, production realities, and business objectives.
• Proficiency with scripting, prototyping, or technical design workflows sufficient to effectively partner with technical teams and evaluate implementation approaches.
• Passion for creating exceptional player experiences and collaborating with diverse perspectives.

• Shipped multiple AAA multiplayer titles, including at least one live service game.
• Experience leading game mode strategy for a competitive multiplayer FPS.
• Expertise in player retention, engagement, and live service content ecosystems.
• Experience managing managers or leading larger design organizations.
• Familiarity with analytics‑driven design methodologies and experimentation frameworks.
• Deep knowledge of Apex Legends, its player community, and the factors that contribute to its success.
• Strong perspective on the future of multiplayer game modes and a track record of…