---
title: 'Game Designer (Systems) at 2K'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/game-designer-systems-2k-burnaby-british-columbia-pdx7ew7shg9t'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-14'
---

# Game Designer (Systems) at 2K

- **Company:** 2K
- **Location:** Burnaby British Columbia, Canada
- **Posted:** 2026-08-28
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-14
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/2k/jobs/7964932003

## Job description

## Who We Are

Founded in 2023, Small Axe Studios is 2K’s newest stand-alone studio, built to push the boundaries of game development and bring 2K’s next groundbreaking sports franchise to life. Headquartered in Burnaby, we are assembling a world-class team of visionaries, builders, and passionate gamers who thrive on creative collaboration, technical excellence, and bold ideas. At Small Axe Studios, we believe big things start with sharp focus—and we’re crafting an exceptional, player-first experience from the ground up. If you’re ready to tackle unique challenges, leave your mark on a brand-new IP, and help shape the future of interactive sports entertainment, we want you on our team!

## What We Need

Our studio is looking for a thoughtful and detail-oriented Systems Designer to help shape the foundation of our player experience. In this role, you'll contribute to the design, balancing, and implementation of gameplay systems that bring depth, dynamism, and replayability to our game. As part of the Core Fantasy team, you’ll work closely with senior systems designers, engineers, producers, and other stakeholders to bring systemic features to life that support player freedom, progression, and agency. This is an exciting opportunity to grow as a designer while contributing to a large-scale sports game with an ambitious and player-driven vision. The Systems Designer will report to the Lead Designer (Core Fantasy) and collaborate regularly with feature teams across the studio.

## What You’ll Do

- Design Core Gameplay Systems
- Support the development of game systems such as progression, economy, rewards, player stats, and game modes (Help balance gameplay loops, and related systemic mechanics)
- Work within an established vision to help translate high-level goals into clear, scalable systems
- Own discrete systems or subsystems, and take them from concept to implementation
- Balance and Tune for Engagement
- Help balance gameplay loops, player progression, in-game currencies, and related systemic mechanics
- Adjust tuning values based on feedback, metrics, and playtest results
- Analyze and model systemic outcomes to maintain a healthy gameplay economy
- Partner with Cross-Functional Teams
- Collaborate with engineers, artists, and other designers to prototype, implement, and iterate systems
- Contribute to scoping and feature planning discussions with producers and project leads
- Ensure systems integrate cleanly with other game areas such as gameplay, UI, and content pipelines
- Document and Communicate Design
- Create clear and comprehensive documentation for system logic, flows, and tuning guidelines
- Maintain design specs and balance sheets to support clarity and iteration
- Present your designs in team reviews and be open to feedback and collaboration
- Champion Systemic Play
- Contribute to the game's player-driven and emergent storytelling through robust systems
- Help ensure the systems empower player expression, decision-making, and meaningful trade-offs
- Bring a player-first mindset to design discussions and problem solving

What Will Make You A Great Fit

- 3–5 years of experience in game design, with a focus on systems design
- Experience designing and tuning game systems such as progression, stats, or in-game economies
- Solid understanding of balancing principles, player motivations, and systemic interaction
- Strong analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills
- Passion for sports games and/or systemic gameplay
- Comfortable working with spreadsheets and design tools for balance and documentation Positive, proactive attitude and willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment

Beneficial Qualifications

- Experience working on sports games or simulations
- Familiarity with live service design, balancing for long-term engagement, or seasonal models
- Experience with scripting or configuration in a game engine (e.g., Unreal Blueprint, Unity, proprietary tools)
- Exposure to telemetry-driven design and KPI-informed iteration

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

The pay range for this position in British Columbia at the start of employment is expected to be between CAD $62,800 and CAD $92,920per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for employees in regular roles may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, provided that temporary or intern roles will not be eligible for many of these payments or benefits. Details of participation in compensation and benefit plans (if applicable) will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews, and when emailing, we only use 2K.com accounts.

#LI-Hybrid

## About 2K

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: 2K is a major video game publisher and developer, best known for iconic franchises like *NBA 2K*, *Borderlands*, *Civilization*, *BioShock*, *Mafia*, *WWE 2K*, and *XCOM*.
- **Entity Type**: Private subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive (public parent company, NASDAQ: TTWO)
- **Headquarters**: Novato, California, USA (with global offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia)
- **Founded**: January 25, 2005 (as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive)
- **Founders**: Founded as a corporate entity by Take-Two Interactive; key early leaders included Christoph Hartmann (former President). Current President is David Ismailer.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Video game development and publishing (AAA, sports, and strategy games)
- **Target customers**: B2C (consumers/gamers globally across PC, console, and mobile platforms)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "We enable all gamers to build, connect, escape and dream big!" (from their official values page)

## Products & Services
- **NBA 2K Series**: Flagship basketball simulation franchise, released annually across console and PC.
- **Borderlands Series**: Acclaimed first-person shooter looter-shooter franchise.
- **Civilization Series**: Legendary turn-based strategy series (developed by Firaxis Games, a 2K studio).
- **BioShock Series**: Critically acclaimed narrative-driven first-person shooter series.
- **Mafia Series**: Open-world crime drama franchise.
- **WWE 2K Series**: Professional wrestling simulation franchise.
- **XCOM Series**: Tactical strategy franchise.
- **PGA Tour 2K Series**: Golf simulation franchise.
- **Top Spin Series**: Tennis simulation franchise (revived in 2024).
- **2K Foundations**: Social impact program that builds community and youth engagement programs, including refurbishing basketball courts globally.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: 2K is a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two's market cap is approximately **$30+ billion** (as of mid-2025), with 2K being one of its two core publishing labels alongside Rockstar Games.
- **Key Metric**: 2K is a private subsidiary; exact revenue is not disclosed separately. However, Take-Two Interactive’s total net revenue for fiscal year 2024 was approximately **$5.6 billion**, with 2K contributing a significant portion. The company employs approximately **4,000 people**.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company is Take-Two Interactive. Key development studio partners include Visual Concepts (NBA 2K), Firaxis Games (Civilization), Gearbox Software (Borderlands), and Hangar 13 (Mafia).
- **Growth Signals**: 2K has been actively expanding its development network, including the acquisition of Gearbox Software in 2024. The company continues to launch major franchise entries and invest in new IP. It has a growing presence in mobile gaming and live-service models.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Iconic IP Portfolio**: Owns some of the most valuable and long-running franchises in gaming (*NBA 2K*, *Borderlands*, *Civilization*, *BioShock*).
- **Massive Global Reach**: Games sell tens of millions of copies annually across all major platforms.
- **Strong Parent Backing**: As a core label of Take-Two, 2K has significant financial resources for marketing, development, and acquisitions.
- **Diverse Studio Network**: Operates a wide range of internal studios with specialized expertise (sports, strategy, action, RPG).
- **2K Foundations**: A unique social impact program that builds brand goodwill and community engagement.

## Strategic Focus
- **Franchise Expansion**: Continuing to grow its flagship franchises with annual releases, new entries, and expanded content.
- **Live Service & Engagement**: Deepening post-launch engagement through in-game events, battle passes, and microtransactions (especially in *NBA 2K*).
- **Mobile & New Platforms**: Expanding into mobile gaming and new platforms.
- **Studio Investment**: Acquiring and investing in top-tier development talent (e.g., Gearbox).
- **Technology & AI**: Investing in R&D for game engines, AI, and data science to improve game quality and player experiences (evidenced by job postings for AI R&D, data science, and Unreal Engine roles).

## Why Work Here
- **Work on Iconic Franchises**: Opportunity to contribute to some of the most beloved and best-selling game series in the world.
- **Culture**: Described as a blend of "NYC roots with a Northern California vibe," with a focus on being direct, open, and friendly. The company emphasizes "Come As You Are" and "Give a ^%$*" as core values.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office Policy**: 2K has a hybrid work model. Many roles are listed with specific locations (Novato, Los Angeles, Montreal, Bengaluru, etc.), but some positions offer remote flexibility.
- **Notable Perks**: Located in a unique headquarters (converted airplane hangars in Novato, CA) near hiking, biking trails, and wine country. The company also runs a motion capture studio in Petaluma, CA.
- **Engineering Culture**: Strong emphasis on technical innovation, with dedicated teams for AI R&D, Core Tech/Tools, Data Science, and Online Services. Many job postings focus on Unreal Engine, data engineering, and systems architecture.
- **Social Impact**: Employees can participate in 2K Foundations, which refurbishes basketball courts and builds community spaces globally.

## Sources
1. [2k.com/careers/](https://2k.com/careers/)
2. [2k.com/about/](https://2k.com/about/)
3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/2k](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/2k)
4. [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2K_(company)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2K_(company))

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