Game Balance Designer
Job description
About the role
The is responsible for rebuilding the in-game economy and instilling system-level rigor into the live-ops balancing processes for a mature Free-to-Play project. This individual will analyze complex data sets, construct predictive models, and partner closely with cross-functional teams to design, test, and ship event structures and economy changes. The role requires a deep dive into player behavior to ensure that reward schedules, progression curves, and monetization strategies remain balanced and sustainable. You will act as the primary architect of the economic loop, defining the rules that govern player investment and long-term retention. Collaboration with producers, analysts, and engineers is constant, ensuring that design intentions translate into stable live-ops realities. Decisions in this role are judged by concrete outcomes such as monetization efficiency, player lifetime value, and overall system stability. The position demands a high level of ownership over the intricate systems that define the player economy.
Key facts
What you'll do
Analyze live-ops data and player behavior to identify systemic imbalances within the in-game economy.
Build and maintain economic models and simulations to forecast the impact of proposed changes before they go live.
Partner with cross-functional teams to define the parameters of events, rewards, and monetization offers.
Design clear, repeatable balancing frameworks that standardize the approach to economy adjustments.
Document balancing decisions and rationales to ensure consistency and institutional knowledge.
Use advanced spreadsheet modeling and SQL queries to manipulate and interpret large data sets.
Conduct A/B testing to validate hypotheses and measure the effectiveness of balance changes.
Apply strong systems-thinking to understand how changes in one area affect the entire game ecosystem.
Leverage experience with live-ops mechanics to iterate on reward schedules and player segmentation strategies.
Create polished visuals and user flows to communicate design proposals to non-technical stakeholders.
Evaluate the risks and opportunities associated with new live-ops content and adjust reward curves accordingly.
Ensure that all design outputs adhere to the constraints of the mature F2P project's existing systems.
Translate complex statistical findings into actionable design recommendations for the production team.
Maintain a living understanding of market trends and player expectations to proactively adjust the economy.
Requirements
Senior or lead-level experience in game design, game balance, or economy design on live F2P games is required.
Understanding of F2P economies, including currencies, rewards, monetization, offers, pricing, and player segmentation is required.
Progression, live-ops content, and reward systems are balanced through hands-on experience.
Analytical skills enable independent work with data using SQL and BI tools.
Advanced Excel or spreadsheet modeling skills are required, and economy simulation building experience is a plus.
Statistics and A/B testing are understood clearly.
Strong mathematical and systems-thinking skills are demonstrated.
Clear, repeatable balancing frameworks and documentation are created.
A bachelor's degree is required.
Nice to have
Experience with match-3, casual, puzzle, or other live-ops-heavy games is a plus.
Practical notes
The position is based in Belka Games, a studio within Tripledot.
The role is senior or lead level with a specified salary range.
Typical interview steps
Design interviews usually include a portfolio review, a design exercise, and a team conversation. Candidates present past work and explain their process and decisions. Some loops include a live design challenge. Communication matters as much as the visual output. Portfolios are strongest when they show the problem, the constraints, and the iteration, not just the final screens. Interviewers also watch how you take feedback.
Good to know
Data-driven balance and economy design shape live mobile games. Modeling and analytics refine progression and reward systems in this field. Clear documentation and frameworks guide consistent live-ops decisions. Collaboration with producers and analysts supports shipping changes. These responsibilities apply to F2P titles with complex event interactions.
Questions to ask
Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.
Career growth
Design careers grow from junior to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some designers move into design management or design operations. Specializations include UX research, interaction design, and brand design. Cross-functional influence grows with seniority. Senior designers are expected to influence product strategy, not just execute visuals. Building a habit of user research strengthens any design career.