Job Title: Design Director

  • Job type: Permanent 

  • Location: United Kingdom (Remote)

  • Company: Auroch Digital 

  • Deadline: 30th Jan 2026

About Us: 

Auroch Digital, established in 2010 and based in Bristol, is a remote-first studio made up of 100~ developers from across the country.

As a studio, we get stuck into all sorts, from making our own IP games (Brewmaster, Mars Horizon), working with trusted and licensed partners (Warhammer Survivors, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War), and co-development work-for-hire projects (Sea of Thieves, V Rising). 

Our values - sustainability, inclusion, fair play, and accessibility - are at the heart of everything we do. We support our team and pour our passion into the games we craft.  

We’re proud to say that we have a carefully picked team of friendly and talented developers, with a strong company work ethic and a corporate culture centred on openness, job satisfaction, and opportunities for learning and growth. 

The road ahead is an exciting journey for us, and we’re going to keep on stoking our fierce passion for creating great games and gaming moments. 

Job Description: 

Role Overview: 

We’re looking for an experienced Design Director to join our senior leadership team. You will be responsible for guiding the studio’s design vision and team of Designers. You will lead and mentor a multidisciplinary design team while ensuring high-quality, player-focused game experiences. 

This role balances hands-on leadership, strategic oversight, and day-to-day people management, helping designers do their best work while aligning design goals with studio objectives and production realities. 

Typical responsibilities

People Leadership & Team Management 

  • Lead, manage, and inspire a team of designers. 

  • Foster a healthy, inclusive, and collaborative team culture rooted in trust, feedback, and accountability. 

  • Conduct 1:1s, performance reviews, goal setting, and career development planning with Lead/Principal Designers. 

  • Mentor designers at all levels, supporting skill growth, confidence, and leadership development. 

  • Identify team strengths, skill gaps, and hiring needs; actively participate in recruitment, onboarding, and team scaling. 

  • Resolve conflicts constructively and promote clear communication across the team. 

  • Champion sustainable work practices and team well-being. 

Design Direction & Creative Leadership 

  • Define, communicate, and uphold a clear design vision aligned with the studio’s creative goals. 

  • Ensure design consistency, quality, and player-focused decision making across all projects. 

  • Provide high-level design feedback while empowering designers to solve problems. 

  • Balance creative ambition with production constraints, scope, and timelines. 

  • Act as a key design voice in leadership discussions. 

Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration 

  • Work closely with Art, Audio, Code, UI/UX, Production, QA, Marketing, Biz Dev, and Leadership to ensure alignment. 

  • Translate high-level creative goals into actionable design direction. 

  • Advocate for the design team’s needs while supporting studio-wide priorities. 

  • Help establish clear pipelines, workflows, and communication standards between disciplines. 

Process, Planning & Quality 

  • Improve design processes, documentation standards, and review practices. 

  • Support with planning, resourcing, and risk management from a design perspective. 

  • Encourage iteration, playtesting, and data-informed decision-making. 

What we're looking for

Required: 

  • Shipped a minimum of 3 titles across PC or console platforms. 

  • Proven experience in a senior design leadership role within game development. 

  • Strong people management experience, including mentoring, performance management, and team development. 

  • Deep understanding of game design principles and multiple design disciplines. 

  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to give clear, constructive feedback. 

  • Ability to balance creative vision with practical constraints and business goals.  

Desirable: 

  • Experience restructuring teams 

  • Mobile experience 

  • Experience with FPS games 

  • Interest in the Warhammer universe  

What We Offer: 

  • £64k - 90k salary band 

  • Private medical insurance after 1 year at the company 

  • Choose where you work - In our Bristol office, remote working, and hybrid options all available 

  • Flexible working times 

  • Career development - Ongoing support for training and career development with training budget 

  • 22 days holiday (plus bank holidays) - including day off for your birthday

  • Christmas closure not deducted from holiday allowance 

  • 1 duvet day for every 2 years' service (to a max of 4), starting with 1 

  • 5 annual learning days 

  • Regular company social events – Moocon, boardgame meet ups, online creative club for remote workers, and more 

How to Apply: 

Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and experience to recruitment@aurochdigital.com  

We are dedicated to being a diverse employer so if you need any additional support applying for this role or would like to apply in a different format, please reach out to discuss.