Naughty Dog is the developer of some of the most critically acclaimed and top-selling video games on PlayStation platforms, having created the classic Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series, as well as modern franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us. The studio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment based out of Santa Monica, CA. 

Naughty Dog is also home to Sony World Wide Studios’ ICE Team, a central technology group that focuses on creating core graphics technologies for Sony’s worldwide first-party published titles, including low-level game engine components, graphics processing pipelines, supporting tools, and graphics profiling and debugging tools.

naughty-dog

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.&nbsp;
This is a hybrid / onsite position. 
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I &amp; II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
What you will do:
<ul>
<li>Upload and download art briefs and asset to and from server</li>
<li>Create comprehensive art briefs for outsourcing</li>
<li>Provide constructive feedback on asset submissions</li>
<li>Integrate submitted assets into the game environment</li>
<li>Competent with multiple asset creation pipelines and techniques</li>
<li>Organize and consolidate feedback from multiples departments</li>
<li>Need to demonstrate clear and articulate communication skills online and in person</li>
<li>Additional tasks may be assigned as needed</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Proficiency with Maya modeling, photoshop, Zbrush and substance tools</li>
<li>Strong art background enabling sound aesthetic decisions</li>
<li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective collaboration across diverse settings</li>
</ul>
Bonus skills:
<ul>
<li>Graphic design skills, including logo creation and typography</li>
</ul>
As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an art test.
#LI-AU<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$36.68&mdash;$45.87 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Outsourcing Production Artist

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.&nbsp;
This is a hybrid / onsite position. 
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
Naughty Dog is seeking a Visual Effects Artist to come join our team! This talented individual should be able to work with minimal input and feel comfortable working in a team environment. Our ideal candidate has a background in VFX and a passion for video games.
What you will do:
<ul>
<li style="color: black !important;">Visualize, create and implement real-time visual effects</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Create effects that work optimally on the target platform</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Be proactive and self-motivated, seeking out tasks remaining to be done</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Collaborate with other effects artists, and the rest of the development team to make the best game possible</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:
<ul>
<li>Technical knowledge and artistic abilities working with sprite type particles and materials within a game engine or equivalent VFX experience on movies/tv/commercials that have aired</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Ability to optimize effects such that they run/render efficiently AND look great</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Strong sense of form, color, timing, and composition</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Advanced problem solving techniques and patience to resolve the numerous hurdles that present themselves while working to achieve the highest quality effects</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Natural tendency to take on a problem and to work with others until the problem is resolved</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
#LI-AC<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$57.98&mdash;$72.45 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

VFX Artist

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.&nbsp;
This is a hybrid / onsite position. 
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
Naughty Dog is seeking a Visual Effects Artist to come join our team! This talented individual should be able to work with minimal input and feel comfortable working in a team environment. Our ideal candidate has a background in VFX and a passion for video games.
What you will do:
<ul>
<li style="color: black !important;">Visualize, create and implement real-time visual effects</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Create effects that work optimally on the target platform</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Be proactive and self-motivated, seeking out tasks remaining to be done</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Collaborate with other effects artists, and the rest of the development team to make the best game possible</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:
<ul>
<li>Technical knowledge and artistic abilities working with sprite type particles and materials within a game engine or equivalent VFX experience on movies/tv/commercials that have aired</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Ability to optimize effects such that they run/render efficiently AND look great</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Strong sense of form, color, timing, and composition</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Advanced problem solving techniques and patience to resolve the numerous hurdles that present themselves while working to achieve the highest quality effects</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Natural tendency to take on a problem and to work with others until the problem is resolved</li>
</ul>
Bonus Skills:
<ul>
<li style="color: black !important;">Python scripting</li>
<li style="color: black !important;">Houdini knowledge/experience</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
#LI-AC<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$57.98&mdash;$72.45 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Sr. VFX Artist

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.&nbsp; Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I &amp; II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together. We'd love to find an experienced gameplay animator to join us!
What you’ll do:
<ul>
<li>Create high-quality animation content in Maya and ensure proper implementation in our game engine</li>
<li>Serve as a positive role model through exemplary demeanor, ability, proactivity, communication, and productivity</li>
<li>Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to create new exciting, mind-blowing systemic animations</li>
<li>Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation</li>
<li>Direct and participate in motion capture shoots</li>
<li>Learn and master Naughty Dog’s unique gameplay systems</li>
<li>Work with game systems, adhering to efficient and effective practices</li>
<li>Utilize engine debug tools to identify and resolve gameplay issues in collaboration with designers and programmers</li>
<li>Partner with animation leadership to define and uphold the style and quality bar for in-game animations</li>
<li>Provide constructive feedback to improve internal technologies and artistic workflows</li>
<li>Take on additional responsibilities as needed</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:
<ul>
<li>Minimum of 1 shipped AAA game as a Senior Gameplay Animator (or equivalent)</li>
<li>Minimum of 5 years of experience in the video game industry</li>
<li>Expertise in systemic gameplay animation</li>
<li>Mastery of both motion capture and keyframe character animation as showcased by your strong animation reel</li>
<li>General technical knowledge of animation technologies, including state machines, blend trees, and motion matching</li>
<li>Passion for gaming and a deep understanding of game design principles and player experience</li>
<li>Ability to provide clear and constructive feedback to peers</li>
<li>Proven experience planning, setting up, and directing motion capture shoots independently and efficiently</li>
<li>Must be comfortable using a script editor</li>
<li>Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt quickly to challenges</li>
<li>Highly motivated, proactive, and solution-oriented, with a "can-do" attitude</li>
<li>A natural team player who fosters collaboration and inspires others across departments</li>
<li>Strong communication skills, ensuring clear and proactive interaction with animation and other teams</li>
<li>Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks, manage shifting priorities, and keep stakeholders informed</li>
<li>Proactive in taking ownership of assignments and identifying new opportunities to support the team and company goals</li>
<li>Proficient with Maya/MotionBuilder animation tools, including layers, time/trax editor, and mocap tools</li>
</ul>
Bonus Skills:
<ul>
<li>Experience developing animation tools is a plus</li>
<li>Character rigging experience is a plus</li>
<li>Experience setting up in-game physics assets is a plus</li>
</ul>
As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test.
#LI-AB1<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$69.52&mdash;$86.93 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Senior Gameplay Animator

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.&nbsp; Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA
&nbsp;
Naughty Dog is committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically ambitious minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the games we craft together. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!
We are looking for a Senior Producer to join Naughty Dog’s Communications team and oversee the project management and production for our franchise and studio brand. This role will ensure a smooth pipeline of projects internally and strong relationships with our PlayStation and external partners, including working with multiple stakeholders to push projects to completion.
Responsibilities include collaborating with all members of the Communications team as well as its internal and external partners, facilitating cross-department communication, developing, and maintaining workflows for a variety of active projects, and much more. You will proactively identify how we can improve our pipelines and processes and implement those solutions.
You are a self-motivated, well-organized collaborator with a proven track record keeping your team and partners accountable to schedules and deliverables. Demonstrating excellence in your role, you will make the jobs of your team and studio leadership easier and less stressful.
What You Will Do:
<ul>
<li>Create and implement practices and processes for the Communications team, seek improvements and efficiencies in the way we work and the software we use.</li>
<li>Build and maintain roadmaps for all projects while accounting for the capabilities of our internal resources and for the appropriate rounds of reviews.</li>
<li>Track all deliverables and projects across multiple pipelines, including physical and digital products, content timelines, and events; and ensure quality of work meets Naughty Dog standards.</li>
<li>Ensure all individuals and teams providing assets to our team are clear on expectations and delivery dates.</li>
<li>Prioritize tasks and projects to ensure work is completed efficiently and on schedule.</li>
<li>Foresee and assess potential issues and adjust schedules to maintain final project due dates.</li>
<li>Address urgent partner requests that arise day-to-day and perform well under pressure and ambiguity.</li>
<li>Route materials to all necessary stakeholders at Naughty Dog, PlayStation partners, and external partners.</li>
<li>Be proactive in tracking and chasing down assets, revisions, approvals from other Naughty Dog departments and levels to make sure the team meets deadlines or can flag any blockers early.</li>
<li>Build and maintain positive relationships with partners, stakeholders, and external vendors.</li>
<li>Represent the Communications Team when information needs to be passed along regarding project status, updates, and schedules.</li>
</ul>
What Skills You Will Use:
<ul>
<li>8+ years’ experience in production, account, operational, and/or project management, preferably in a video game industry, entertainment, or creative agency role.</li>
<li>Experience closing out one or more AA or AAA games preferred.</li>
<li>Has a deep understanding of project management, workflow, and infrastructure.</li>
<li>Has proven experience managing multiple streams of work with a variety of stakeholders and approval channels.</li>
<li>Can handle a high volume of assets shared across multiple teams and stakeholders, maintaining tight deadlines while remaining organized and detail oriented.</li>
<li>Comfortable with ambiguity, shifting priorities, and juggling multiple projects at a time.</li>
<li>Solve problems proactively and creatively.</li>
<li>Expertise in common Production practices and software (Trello, Excel, Microsoft Project, Miro, Confluence, Wrike, or/and equivalents), in addition to staying up to date with current thinking in their role.</li>
<li>Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate clearly with different types of partners and stakeholders.</li>
<li>Experience working with and presenting to senior leaders and/or executives, fostering strong, trustworthy relationships.</li>
<li>Working knowledge of video game production and development is a plus but not required.</li>
<li>Manage the ideation, planning, and execution of studio-led Marketing, Public Relations, Internal and External Merchandise, Community and Social Assets, Streaming, Partnerships, and Licensing:
<ul>
<li>Oversee all phases of asset development cycles from design through final approval</li>
<li>Facilitate collaboration with internal team-members and external partners to keep asset development on schedule and within budget</li>
<li>Manage day-to-day oversight of project quality, both internally and with our partners and vendors</li>
<li>Schedule and maintain tasking, balance resource allocation, and develop clear goals around projects</li>
<li>Ensure effective communication and proactively seek answers among Directors, Production, and various team members throughout Naughty Dog</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Proactively Manage day-to-day projects and opportunities:
<ul>
<li>Break down large or complex projects into meaningful sub-projects and goals</li>
<li>Identify all groups affected by the project, and involve them – actively solicit their input and follow up</li>
<li>Hold regular meetings with teams, individuals, and partners to resolve issues and share information</li>
<li>Ensure a common understanding and agreement on project scopes and objectives</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Contribute to current and future development needs including:
<ul>
<li>Maintain relationships with internal development team and global business partners</li>
<li>Curate and improve our system for tracking in-progress materials and completed assets</li>
<li>Enhance and maintain necessary processes for the Communications teams assets and project</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
#LI-AM<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$65.96&mdash;$82.45 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Senior Communications Producer

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.&nbsp; Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.
This is a hybrid / onsite position.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
Senior Level Lighting Artist will be creating lighting and post effects for background lighting but also be integral in achieving looks that are applied across the game.
What you will do:
<ul>
<li>Develop the lighting scheme, color-palette, post-processing-fx, and general visual mood that turns unlit 3-D environment models into awesome looking and visually compelling 3D game environments</li>
<li>Work with modelers and texture/shader artists to optimize the visual look and run-time performance of the Environments</li>
<li>Work with outsource vendors and lighting artists, collaborating on visual looks, tech, training, and workflows both giving and receiving feedback</li>
<li>Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:
<ul>
<li>3-5 years of industry experience in Film or Games generating final picture</li>
<li>Has shipped at least one AAA game</li>
<li>Excellent competency in Autodesk Maya and knowledge of Global Illumination</li>
<li>Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work with little to no supervision</li>
<li>Thorough understanding of direct/indirect light, luminance / exposure and color-theory</li>
<li>Proven work experience with generating light-maps, pre-lighting or baked lighting is desired</li>
<li>Excellent competency in multi-tasking, being able to handle their own workload as well as having the time to help out other artists where needed</li>
</ul>
As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an art test.
#LI-AB1<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$69.09&mdash;$86.35 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Senior Environment Lighting Artist

This is a hybrid/ Onsite position.
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we’d love to find talented individuals to join us.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
Naughty Dog is looking for a Research Data Analyst to join our User Research team and help us better understand how players engage with our games. In this role, you’ll work closely with Sony Game Analytics and development teams to turn player data into insight that can directly support creative and production decisions.
This position is ideal for someone who is curious, analytical, and deeply interested in how player behavior connects to game systems and design intent. Beyond working with technical tools and valuable reports, you’ll be expected to identify meaningful trends, surfacing potential issues, to help teams understand the “why” behind player patterns. A strong candidate will be comfortable working across disciplines and excited to contribute to our games.
What you will do:
<ul>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Analyze gameplay telemetry, player feedback, and research findings to identify trends, friction points, and opportunities across systems and features.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Translate complex datasets into clear insights and recommendations that inform design, prioritization, and development strategy.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Build and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to communicate key metrics and progress over time with tools like Tableau and Omni.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Partner with Sony Game Analytics, Gameplay, Engineering, and Design to support telemetry design, event tracking, and data quality.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Collaborate with User Research to connect quantitative analysis with qualitative findings from studies and playtests.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Participate in research efforts to better understand player behavior firsthand and identify new measurement opportunities.</li>
</ul>
What Skills you will use:
<ul>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">3–5 years of experience in data analysis, analytics, UX research support, or a related field.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Experience working with telemetry data and game analytics workflows.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Strong analytical and statistical skills, including experience with SQL, Python, R, MongoDB, or similar tools.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Experience with analytics platforms such as Tableau, Looker, or similar platforms</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">A deep curiosity about player psychology, motivation, and behavior.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">High attention to detail, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Ability to effectively present information to top management and key stakeholders</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">A collaborative mindset and adaptability to the ever changing needs of video game production.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualifications
<ul>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Advanced degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, or a related quantitative or research focused field.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Familiarity with narrative, single player game research and player experience evaluation.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Solid understanding of probability, statistics, and applied mathematical reasoning.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Ability to interpret technical and research materials and communicate findings clearly in reports and presentations.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Possesses a high degree of technical curiosity, regularly exploring how tools work under the hood.</li>
<li style="color: #1d1c1d !important;">Prior experience with AAA console or PC game development.</li>
</ul>
#LI-AB1<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$51.83&mdash;$64.76 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Research Data Analyst

Ability to work onsite from our Santa Monica, CA based studio is required.&nbsp;
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
What you will do:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Pitch, design, implement, and own enemy NPC archetypes&nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy AI behaviors&nbsp;</li>
<li>Work with animators to develop enemy locomotion and traversal, melee moves, ambient behaviors, and other custom abilities. Make every enemy archetype feel unique and memorable&nbsp;</li>
<li>Collaborate with the Design team to conceptualize, prototype, implement, tune, and balance gameplay mechanics and systems&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Communicate with animation, programming, and art departments to effectively produce the assets and code support required for the enemies you’re owning&nbsp;</li>
<li>Write and maintain documentation that establishes the core vision of the enemy archetypes&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Drive communication and collaboration for enemies you design and the levels they are in, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Facilitate playtesting and feedback sessions to iterate on combat systems and fine-tune them based on player experiences&nbsp;</li>
<li>Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:&nbsp;&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>5+ years of industry experience in combat design and/or technical design for games, specifically focused on developing action-adventure or shooter games&nbsp;</li>
<li>At least one shipped title as a combat designer or similar role. Experience with behavior trees or similar NPC AI concepts preferred&nbsp;</li>
<li>Strong coding ability: Computer Science degree preferred though not required&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient in using game engines and tools (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) for combat implementation and design scripting (C#, Lua, Visual Scripting)&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Welcomes feedback on their work and embraces the “let’s try it” mentality&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient and effective communication skills, including diagramming and sketching&nbsp;</li>
<li>Fluent in modern character action-adventure and shooter combat games. Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Knowledge of narrative structure and how it intersects with gameplay and combat&nbsp;</li>
<li>A keen eye for detail in character action games, able to tune gameplay systems to make them feel smooth and impactful&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Strong leadership and mentoring skills&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="title">The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.</div><div class="pay-range">$145,100&mdash;$181,400 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

&nbsp;
This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.&nbsp; Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position. 
This is a hybrid / onsite position.&nbsp;&nbsp;
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5 . We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;What you will do:
<ul>
<li class="p1">Prototyping, implementing, and owning gameplay scenarios, narrative‬&nbsp;sequences, interactive objects, AI behaviors, and other mechanics and‬&nbsp;systems‬.</li>
<li class="p1">Communicating with animation, programming, and art departments to‬&nbsp;effectively produce the assets and code support required for the areas‬&nbsp;you’re owning‬.</li>
<li class="p1">Collaborating closely with lead designers and directors to effectively act‬&nbsp;on feedback and quickly iterate‬.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;What skills will you use:
<ul>
<li class="p1">2+ years of industry experience in Technical Design for games‬</li>
<li class="p1">Strong programming ability (Computer Science undergraduate degree‬</li>
<li class="p1">‭ preferred)‬</li>
<li class="p1">Understanding of narrative principles and how to convey emotion‬&nbsp;through gameplay‬</li>
<li class="p1">Proficiency in 3D math‬</li>
<li class="p1">Fluent in C++, C#, Lua, or other text-based scripting language‬</li>
<li class="p1">Self-starter with excellent communication and teamwork skills‬</li>
</ul>
‭
Bonus Skills‬
<ul>
<li class="p1">‬‭Experience developing third-person action games‬</li>
<li class="p1">Experience making improvements to tools and workflows‬</li>
<li class="p1">‬‭Experience with the following areas of design‬
<ul>
<li>Behavior Trees‬</li>
<li>Melee‬</li>
<li>Combat Systems‬</li>
<li>Enemy &amp; boss design‬</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
‭
‭Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression, and gender reassignment), race (including color, nationality, ethnic, national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees, and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$56.70&mdash;$65 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Game Designer, Technical (Contingent)

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.&nbsp; Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position. 
This is a hybrid / onsite position based at our studio in Santa Monica, CA
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I is now available for the first time on PC.&nbsp;
 Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
What you will do: 
<ul>
<li>Design the layouts for your levels, blocking out simplified geometry to create engaging environments&nbsp;</li>
<li>Develop level composition, architectural concepts, and create evocative shapes in collaboration with the art department&nbsp;</li>
<li>Create scenarios, place game objects, and implement level progression using game editor tools&nbsp;</li>
<li>Produce and maintain documentation that establishes the core concepts of your level&nbsp;</li>
<li>Drive communication and collaboration for spaces you design as well as other parts of the game, ensuring communication across disciplines and meeting deadlines&nbsp;</li>
<li>Effective and respectful communicator and collaborator, both with other designers and members of other departments&nbsp;</li>
<li>Coordinate extensive playtesting, reviews, and iteration&nbsp;</li>
<li>Additional Responsibilities may be assigned as needed&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
What skills you will use:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>3+ years of industry experience in Level Design experience for games&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience blocking out environments for games using 3D software packages such as Maya, Unreal Editor or otherwise, that exemplify understanding of level design fundamentals&nbsp;</li>
<li>Experience using a game editor such as Unreal Editor and scripting/programming using a language such as C#, Lua, Python, Visual Scripting&nbsp;</li>
<li>Excitement for learning and growing as a designer. Keen to develop new skills.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Proficient and eƯective communication skills&nbsp;</li>
<li>Welcomes criticism and has experience collaborating as part of a team, innovating without losing sight of the gameplay vision&nbsp;</li>
<li>Understanding the single player gaming landscape&nbsp;</li>
<li>Maintains knowledge of the broader gaming landscape trends&nbsp;</li>
<li>Problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete a design test.
&nbsp;<div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description">At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.&nbsp; Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click <a href="https://www.dzconnex.com/summary-of-benefits" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to learn more.</div><div class="title">The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.</div><div class="pay-range">$58.03&mdash;$65 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our<a href="https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/"> Candidate Privacy Notice</a>&nbsp;for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.</div>

Get a job referral to Naughty Dog

Description

Jobs· 10 open

About

Financials

Referrals