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Senior Combat Designer
Abstraction
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 11/5/2026
About this role
Abstraction is a Dutch game co-development studio aiming to deliver cutting-edge game experiences. Specializing in technically demanding projects, we have collaborated on renowned IPs like *Halo, Dune, Mass Effect,* and *Baldur’s Gate*. Our portfolio contains over 60 titles, reflecting our commitment to quality and technical prowess. We're not just partners with industry giants such as *BioWare/EA, 343/Microsoft, Funcom, Sega*, and others; we're innovators in our field. As a Senior Combat Designer, you will focus on the design and implementation of player combat and prototypes, with a particular emphasis on enemy creation. You will take enemies from concept through to fully playable, polished opponents, working closely with the animation team to deliver grounded, realistic combat. Your expertise in combat design, animation, and AI will ensure every encounter is readable, responsive, and satisfying, enhancing both gameplay and player experience. This is a fixed 3-month contract starting ASAP. The contract may be extended beyond the initial 3 months. Responsibilities * Design, build and implement enemies end-to-end in Unreal Engine 5, from initial behaviour concept to a polished, shippable character. * Design realistic, grounded melee combat, including enemy movesets, attack patterns, hit reactions and combat flow. * Process and integrate motion capture data, selecting, cutting and adapting takes for enemy attacks, reactions and locomotion. * Set up and adjust Animation Montages, tuning attack timing, anticipation, active frames and recovery so that enemy moves are readable and fair. * Configure animation blending and motion warping so enemies track, close distance and connect with the player convincingly. * Build and maintain enemy AI behaviour using State Trees, including decision-making, attack selection, group coordination and reactions. * Script and balance combat encounters to keep gameplay challenging yet fair, iterating quickly based on playtests and feedback. * Work closely with other departments to identify technical requirements and improve tools and workflows for enemy creation. * Write clear documentation for enemy movesets, behaviours and tuning values. * Understand and adapt to technical constraints related to animation budgets, engine specifics, and framerate targets. Knowledge & Experience * Bachelor's degree in Video Game Design, Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience. * 6-8 years of experience working in games in a relevant design role. * Game Designer credits on at least 2+ released AAA titles. * Specialised knowledge in industry-standard software package tools. * Specialised knowledge and understanding of commonly used game engines (i.e. Unreal or similar proprietary engine) and platforms (i.e. PC and consoles) to be able to follow technical discussions. * Advanced verbal and written communication skills in English. * Very good presentation and pitch skills. Note: Abstraction can only hire employees based in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. We are open to freelancers from other regions. *We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment where all individuals, regardless of their background, are encouraged to thrive, and we empower all team members to bring their unique perspectives to the table.*