Technical Designer – Japan & Global Game Development

• About Keywords Studios

Keywords Studios is a global provider of creative and technical services to the video games industry, with over 13,000 professionals across 70+ studios in 25+ countries. We support clients across the entire game lifecycle through three core Service Lines:

• Create - Game development, art production, and audio
• Globalize - Localization, localization QA, functional testing
• Engage - Marketing, LiveOps, community, and player support

In Japan, Keywords Studios delivers its full range of services across Create, Globalize, and Engage, supporting leading publishers and developers through both local and international production teams. Our presence includes the Tokyo-based development studio Wizcorp, alongside established localization, QA, player support, and marketing capabilities serving some of the most influential companies in the Japanese games and entertainment industry.

Keywords Studios is increasingly trusted by Japanese partners to support productions that span multiple regions-combining Japanese creative leadership with global delivery capacity across Asia-Pacific and beyond. These engagements require not only strong production execution, but creative sensibility and cultural understanding to align vision and delivery across teams.

As one of the world’s most influential and production-intensive markets, Japan represents a strategic growth area for Keywords Studios. This role plays a key part in strengthening client partnerships, driving business opportunities, and ensuring high-quality delivery across projects.

Applicants must be currently residing in Japan and possess valid authorization to work in Japan.( (Fully remote work may be available within Japan, depending on the project requirements/needs, candidate’s seniority, experience, and location.)

• Position Overview

We are seeking an accomplished, enthusiastic, and self-motivated Technical Designer to join our Japan-based team working on exciting projects.

In this role, you will create, implement, and refine complex, technical, and systemic design elements in a game. You will bridge the gap between creative design vision and technical execution, taking ownership of core gameplay mechanics from initial concept through final delivery.

Working within a supportive and creative team environment, you will directly shape the development of top-tier games while collaborating closely with engineering, art, and production disciplines.

• Key Responsibilities

Technical Implementation & Prototyping

• Lead the implementation of gameplay components from end to end using advanced visual scripting (e.g. Unreal Engine Blueprints), Sequencer, and engine systems.
• Design, implement, and iterate on complex, technically challenging gameplay mechanics, narrative elements, and systems.
• Build low-fidelity prototypes to prove out gameplay ideas, mechanics, and systems early in development.

Systemic Design & Production Ownership

• Deconstruct broad feature specifications into actionable, detailed implementation tasks for designers, engineers, and technical artists.
• Drive feature production from start to finish, ensuring alignment, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and delivery on deadlines.
• Balance design ambition with production constraints while adapting designs based on iterative feedback.

Documentation & Cross-Discipline Collaboration

• Serve as a technical bridge across departments, advocating for best practices.
• Write and maintain comprehensive technical design documentation for gameplay systems, pipelines, and content.
• Communicate continuously with engineering, art, and design leadership to build implementation plans that align with feature specifications.

• Required:

• 5+ years of Technical Design industry experience.
• 1+ published AA or AAA titles in a proven technical design capacity.
• Hands-on experience with Unreal Engine, Unity, or similar proprietary engines.
• Proficiency with gameplay scripting tools and languages (e.g., C#, Lua, Unreal Blueprints or similar).
• Strong grasp of basic programming principles and system architecture.
• Proven ability to write clear, actionable technical design documentation.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to convey technical vision to cross-functional stakeholders.

• Preferred:

• Experience with advanced engine tools (e.g., UE Sequencer, state machines, or systemic content pipelines).
• Japanese working proficiency

• Skills & Competencies

• Technical Problem-Solver - Proactive in identifying design and technical bottlenecks and independent in creating efficient solutions.
• Bridge Builder - Translates abstract creative vision into clear, actionable technical requirements for engineers and artists.
• Systemic Thinker - Deep understanding of how interconnected gameplay mechanics, technical logic, and engine architecture function together.
• Adaptable & Pragmatic - Balances creative ambition with engine performance, technical scope, and project timelines.

• What We Offer

• Opportunity to represent a highly reputed global leader in game art services.
• Competitive compensation package with performance-based incentives.
• Chance to work with some of the biggest and most exciting game developers in Japan.
• A collaborative, growth-oriented global culture.

Role Information: EN

Studio: Keywords Studios

Location: Asia Pacific, Japan

Area of Work: Game Development

Service: Create

Employment Type: Full-time, Contract

Working Pattern: Hybrid/Remote

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