Senior Game Designer, Scenario Design (Sand Table)

ABOUT THE TEAM 

The Sand Table team at Anduril develops our revolutionary platform for visualizing future defense scenarios. We transform massive amounts of data into an intuitive, interactive 3D command center, serving as the visual interface for mission simulations, a key business development tool, and a powerful demonstration of our advanced capabilities to government and military leaders. We take ambitious ideas from concept to completion, building the core with high-performance C++ and enabling rapid feature expansion through modern scripting and plugin frameworks. The Sand Table team manages the complex logistics for delivering flawless augmented reality demonstrations in headset to critical stakeholders. As a cross-functional group of builders, strategists, and operators, we combine the creative energy of a top game studio with the rigorous discipline of national security to shape how the future of defense is visualized and understood.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Scenario Designer on the Sand Table team, you will be instrumental in creating compelling and realistic military scenarios for our next-generation wargaming and briefing capabilities in XR headsets. You will work closely with our Creative Director, Subject Matter Experts, and Product Leads to design, implement, and refine scenarios and missions that showcase the product's capabilities while ensuring they meet military stakeholder needs. Additionally, you will collaborate with the UX team to develop intuitive authoring tools that enable end users to create their own scenarios in immersive environments.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

DESIGN OWNERSHIP & EXECUTION

• Design and develop engaging military scenarios that demonstrate system capabilities and address realistic operational challenges
• Create detailed scenario documentation including mission objectives, environmental conditions, force compositions, and expected outcomes
• Design scenario progression systems that support both guided missions and open-ended experimentation
• Collaborate with the UX team to design intuitive scenario creation tools that enable military users to quickly build and modify complex simulations
• Balance simulation fidelity with narrative elements to ensure scenarios are both realistic and engaging for users

TECHNICAL COLLABORATION

• Work closely with Systems Designers to ensure scenarios properly leverage existing gameplay systems and identify opportunities for new features
• Partner with UI/UX designers to create effective briefing materials and scenario interfaces that enhance user understanding
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure technical feasibility of scenario concepts and optimize for performance
• Prototype scenario concepts to validate designs before full implementation
• Identify technical constraints early and develop creative solutions that maintain design integrity while meeting platform requirements

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATION

• Present scenario concepts to military stakeholders, explaining design decisions and gathering feedback
• Collaborate with Subject Matter Experts to ensure scenario authenticity and operational relevance
• Maintain effective working relationships with military stakeholders to ensure scenarios support mission objectives and training requirements
• Partner with project managers to ensure scenario deliverables align with program milestones and customer expectations

LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION

• Champion best practices for scenario design within the organization
• Contribute to the development of scenario design frameworks and tools that enhance team productivity
• Foster a culture of open communication and continuous improvement
• Drive innovation in military scenario design by researching and applying emerging techniques from the game industry

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Game Design, Interactive Media, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 5+ years of professional experience in level design, scenario design, or mission design for games or interactive simulations
• Strong portfolio demonstrating scenario/mission/level design work for complex interactive applications
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to create clear design specifications
• Strong analytical skills for scenario balancing and iterative design
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven environment
• Experience with Custom Game Engines, Unity or Unreal Engine
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience designing campaigns or scenarios for RTS games, military simulations, wargames, or defense applications
• Knowledge of XR design principles and constraints
• Background in military operations or understanding of military doctrine and procedures
• Experience designing scenario authoring tools or level editors
• Experience shipping at least one AAA game title in a similar role
• Familiarity with procedural scenario generation techniques
• Active security clearance