This job was posted more than 40 days ago and might be expired.
OfficeVancouver, BC, Canada170k - 195k CAD
Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

Our studio operates as a remote-first workplace, offering flexible work arrangements.

At this time, we are only able to hire candidates who are legally eligible to work in Canada and reside within Canada.

Blackbird Interactive is seeking an experienced Game Director to lead the creative vision and overall execution of a third-person, modern military tactical shooter. This role is responsible for defining and delivering a cohesive player experience built around accessible team coordination of a four-person special operations fireteam, featuring dynamic tactical gameplay and strategic decision-making.

As Game Director, you will own the holistic player experience, from core gameplay and AI behavior to narrative tone, pacing, presentation, and overall product quality. You will align all disciplines around a clear vision: delivering a premium, focused experience that emphasizes tactical consequence, player agency, and immersion.

This role requires strong creative leadership across design, engineering, art, and audio, ensuring that every aspect of the game comes together into a cohesive, polished experience.
### Responsibilities
  • Partner with project leadership and publishing stakeholders to define, reinforce, and execute the overall creative vision, translating it into clear cross-disciplinary priorities for a cohesive third-person tactical shooter experience

  • Provide direction and oversight across all disciplines (design, engineering, art, and audio) ensuring gameplay systems, AI behaviors, narrative tone, and presentation align with the core project pillars

  • Lead and support discipline leaders, fostering a collaborative, accountable culture focused on delivering a cohesive and complete product

  • Work closely with production to plan, scope, and sequence development efforts, identifying risks early and guiding tradeoffs to deliver a polished, high-quality experience

  • Establish quality bars and review processes across all aspects of the game, ensuring consistency, clarity, and fun

  • Contribute hands-on when needed to unblock teams, prototype solutions, or help guide features through critical development phases

  • Work with other directors on communication across disciplines, ensuring alignment as features evolve and maintaining clarity around creative intent and player experience goals

  • ### Requirements
  • 15+ years of experience in game development, with significant time in senior creative leadership roles (e.g., Game Director, Creative Director, or equivalent)

  • Proven track record of leading and shipping high-quality titles with strong, cohesive creative vision

  • Deep understanding of third-person shooter gameplay, including camera systems (e.g., ADS), combat feel, and player feedback

  • Experience overseeing systems involving squad coordination, AI-driven teammates, and contextual player commands

  • Strong grasp of pacing and player experience design within tightly scoped, high-intensity gameplay formats

  • Demonstrated ability to align and lead cross-disciplinary teams toward a unified product vision

  • Strong production awareness, with experience balancing creative ambition against scope, schedule, and technical constraints

  • Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire teams and drive clarity at all levels

  • ### Pluses
  • Experience working on or playing military shooters or other tactically grounded gameplay experiences

  • Familiarity with building premium experiences with strong replayability

  • Strong understanding of AI systems and player-AI interaction at a systemic level

  • Appreciation for blending cinematic presentation with responsive, player-first gameplay

  • Passion for delivering tightly crafted, immersive experiences with a high level of polish and cohesion

  • Job details
    Workplace
    Office
    Location
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Salary
    170k - 195k CAD
    per year
    Blackbird Interactive logo
    Blackbird Interactive
    View company page

    Blackbird Interactive (BBI) is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent studio - behind such games as Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and the upcoming Homeworld 3, Minecraft Legends, and Crossfire: Legion. Founded by Rob Cunningham, Yossarian King, and Aaron Kambeitz in 2010, the award-winning Vancouver studio boast its own internal CG cinematics department, led by the founder of Pixar Canada, and has also been involved in various game-adjacent projects over the years - such as Project Eagle with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and other initiatives with the eatART Foundation and Sanctuary AI. BBI was listed among the fastest growing Canadian companies by revenue in 2020 and 2021 by The Globe and Mail and Deloitte. https://linktr.ee/BlackbirdInteractive.com

    Industry
    Computer Games
    Headquarters
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Founded
    2007
    Company location
    Vancouver, British Columbia
    Specialties
    video games, real-time strategy, and PC gaming

    Key team members

    Crispin Hands M.P.S.E.

    Crispin Hands M.P.S.E.

    Noah Stacey

    Noah Stacey

    Lee McKinnon Pederson

    Lee McKinnon Pederson

    Simon Belton

    Simon Belton

    Apply smarter with Jobr

    Jobr aggregates jobs directly from company career portals โ€” no middlemen. Our team applies on your behalf with AI-tailored resumes, reviewed by a human before submission.

    Direct from company career pages
    AI-personalised cover letters
    Human review before every submit
    Application tracking & follow-ups