Principal Combat Designer

About Sumo Digital, Sheffield

Founded in 2003, Sumo Sheffield was the first of the Sumo Digital studios. Firmly established as the premium development partner of leading publishers, we are trusted to deliver high quality games associated with some of the most iconic and valued properties in the industry. We are also generating innovative new IP! With a highly skilled body of over 300 developers we work across all platforms, on a selection of AAA games covering multiple genres including Sports, FPS, and platform adventure.

Day in the life of a Principal Combat Designer:

We are looking for a Principal Combat Designer to join Sumo Digital. This is a fantastic opportunity to make an impact and play a pivotal role in developing an ambitious new AAA third-person action RPG based on a globally recognised and beloved IP, featuring a diverse roster of playable characters and combat archetypes.

As a Principal Combat Designer, you will be responsible for defining, building, and maintaining high-quality, melee-first combat systems that support and enhance the game’s core fantasy. You will help shape unique combat styles across a variety of playable characters, including melee and ranged/projectile systems that provide tactical variety and depth. In addition to being a master of your craft, you will mentor others, champion consistency, and ensure the game delivers genre-defining action that respects and elevates the IP.

Within this role you will:

• Design melee and ranged combat aligned with the creative vision and core fantasy • Build projectile systems that enhance and work alongside melee-focused combat • Create distinct playstyles across archetypes with unique combat roles and identity • Collaborate with AI, animation, level, audio, and narrative to build cohesive combat • Own combat features from early design through implementation and release • Set goals and metrics to measure the success of each combat system you lead • Partner with enemy designers to build reactive and challenging combat AI • Deliver clear and thorough documentation for internal and external use • Mentor designers and support their growth with feedback and guidance

What do you need to do this job:

• Proven success designing melee combat in third-person action or RPG games • Experience balancing distinct character archetypes and unique mechanics • Strong skills in designing ranged and projectile systems for player use • Ability to adapt designs within the rules and tone of established IPs • Deep understanding of pacing, encounter flow, and player readability • Strong communication and collaboration across disciplines and partners • Experience tuning enemy AI systems for responsive combat encounters • Strong written and verbal communication, including presentation skills • Leadership abilities to guide features and mentor other designers

You will also need to demonstrate that you have: 

• Shipped at least one AAA title using UE4/UE5 or a similar game engine • A passion for expressive, responsive, player-first melee combat • Familiarity with scripting tools like Blueprint to support prototyping • Strong grasp of combat design theory and player engagement principles • Experience working with licensors to protect and express IP authenticity