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