Technical Designer - 4 Month Contract

Blackbird Interactive is looking for a Technical Designer to join our growing studio. We have an exciting new project and are looking for a key contributor to help build and implement gameplay systems for a narrative-driven investigative game focused on player choice, exploration, and interactive storytelling.

Do you enjoy bridging design and engineering to bring compelling gameplay and narrative experiences to life? Have you designed, prototyped, and implemented gameplay systems, tools, or scripted content in Unreal Engine? Do you enjoy collaborating with designers, writers, artists, and programmers to create immersive, player-driven experiences? If so, this role could be a great fit.

Responsibilities

Prototype, implement, and iterate on gameplay systems, investigative mechanics, interactive objects, narrative events, scripted sequences, objectives, tutorial systems, and other player-facing content

Implement and maintain gameplay logic, progression systems, and narrative scripting using Unreal Engine 5 and Blueprint, ensuring reliable and scalable content implementation

Collaborate closely with narrative, design, art, and audio teams to bring interactive storytelling, player choices, and scripted gameplay moments to life

Work with engineers to improve technical workflows, gameplay tools, and content pipelines, helping designers efficiently implement and iterate on gameplay and narrative content

Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve gameplay, scripting, and implementation issues while maintaining performance, stability, and content quality

Work with producers and team leadership to estimate work, communicate progress, identify technical risks, and support successful milestone delivery

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years of experience in game development, including at least 2 years in a Technical Designer or equivalent gameplay implementation role

Strong proficiency with Unreal Engine 5, including Blueprint scripting, gameplay implementation, debugging, and working within complex gameplay systems and technical frameworks

Experience implementing gameplay systems, scripted events, interactive sequences, or narrative content directly in engine

Confidence working with modern scripting languages, gameplay logic, and state-driven systems

Experience shipping at least one title, ideally featuring narrative gameplay, exploration, adventure, or investigative mechanics

Self-motivated with the ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving technical environment

Strong communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across design, narrative, engineering, art, and production

Pluses

Experience implementing branching dialogue, narrative scripting, quest systems, or investigative gameplay

Familiarity with cinematic pipelines, sequencing tools, or interactive storytelling workflows

Passion for crime fiction, investigative storytelling, and grounded, character-driven narrative games

An innovator's mindset with a passion for building robust gameplay systems and improving development workflows

Experience working closely with writers, narrative designers, or cinematic teams

Demonstrated passion for games, film, television, novels, podcasts, or other forms of narrative entertainment