About Lion Studios Lion Studios is a mobile games publisher that works with mobile developers to get their games discovered by players around the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lion Studios’ creative and strategy teams utilize their expertise to help game developers break through the noise and grow their businesses. Since launching in 2018, Lion Studios has driven 90% of its games to the Top 10 in the App Store and Google Play and helped drive 16 games to 1 in the US App Store’s Top Free chart. Many of the studio’s games hit the top 10 and the top 20 across both the App Store and Google Play. Collectively, the studio has driven hundreds of millions of downloads. Check out some of our hit releases: Mr. Bullet, Happy Glass, Save the Girl, and Slap Kings. A Day in the Life We’re looking for a visionary and highly experienced Director of Game Design to lead the creative direction of our portfolio of hybrid-casual games. In this role, you will oversee the design strategy across multiple titles, mentor and manage a team of designers, and collaborate closely with production, art, and product teams to ensure each game delivers fun, innovative, and scalable experiences to our global audience. The Impact You’ll Make: Lead the creative direction and design vision for new and existing games across Lion Studios’ portfolio. Manage and mentor a team of game designers, fostering creative growth and high-quality output. Own and refine core gameplay loops, meta systems, and monetization design to drive long-term player engagement. Evaluate early prototypes and provide clear direction to improve game feel, retention, and scalability. Collaborate with product managers, developers, and artists to ensure cohesive execution of game concepts. Review game performance metrics and iterate on design based on user feedback and analytics. Stay ahead of market trends in mobile, hybrid casual, and puzzle genres to guide game innovation and differentiation. Build internal design processes, documentation standards, and best practices across the team. Basic Qualifications 6 years of experience in game design, with at least 2 years in a leadership or directorial role. Proven success shipping mobile games, especially in hybrid casual or puzzle genres. Deep understanding of game systems design, monetization strategies, and player retention mechanics. Strong creative vision combined with a pragmatic, data-informed mindset. Experience managing and mentoring cross-functional creative teams. Skilled in translating high-level concepts into executable design plans and playable prototypes. Proficiency in English to coordinate effectively with both local and international teams. Preferred Qualifications Experience using Unity for game design and prototyping. Familiarity with Figma or similar tools for UX/UI collaboration. Comfortable working with or integrating AI tools into game design pipelines. Strong track record of launching and scaling successful mobile titles AppLovin has become aware of a scam targeting jobseekers with fake “app optimization” and similar roles. We do not ask our candidates to download apps or make any form of payment(s). AppLovin works with applicants through our Careers page and applovin.com email addresses. If you are contacted through other unofficial channels (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) or asked to download an app or make a payment, these contacts are not legitimate. Confirm the information here and contact us directly with any questions. Lion Studios is an AppLovin Studio. AppLovin makes technologies that help businesses of every size connect to their ideal customers. The company provides end-to-end software and AI solutions for businesses to reach, monetize and grow their global audiences. For more information about AppLovin, visit: www.applovin.com. To deliver on this mission, our global team is composed of team members with life experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives that mirror our developers and customers around the world. At AppLovin, we are intentional about the team and culture we are building, seeking candidates who are outstanding in their own right and also demonstrate their support of others. Fortune recognized AppLovin as one of the Best Workplaces in the Bay Area 2022, and is a Certified Great Place to Work in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Check out the rest of our awards HERE. AppLovin is proud to be an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or other legally protected characteristics. Learn more about EEO rights as an applicant here. 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