Design Director

Irvine, Ca
Full-time
$200,000-$900,000
Posted Nov 13, 2026

Skills

A/B Testing
Compliance

Job description

A rare opportunity: Lead design for some of the most-played card games on mobile, at a profitable, self-funded studio.

You’ll lead design for Spades, Hearts, Rummy, Dominoes and more, games our dedicated and loyal audience of millions of players comes back to every day. You’ll manage a team of designers, work alongside product, engineering, art, and analytics, and lead design across our card games, including our move into multiplayer.  

You’ve designed and run live multiplayer games. You’ve built matchmaking, ranked play, or tournaments, and you know what makes a match against a stranger feel fair. Above all, you invent new ways to play, and you reach for gameplay ideas before new meta systems.  

You also know what keeps a game going for years, and how to make a single-player game feel competitive. You understand why players come back to games every day, you respect what has worked, and you’ll build on it while giving them something new.  

You lead designers by example: clear thinking, high standards, and empathy. You raise the bar on the work and make the people around you better.  

We’re a small, ambitious, data-informed team, and we’re looking for the person who builds on what our card games do well and leads them into multiplayer.  

Expectations are high. So is the ceiling. Come bring joy to millions of players, one game at a time.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Own design for real-player multiplayer and competition on our CCG games.  

•Grow retention and engagement in our existing single-player games by building on the systems that already keep players coming back.  

•Design matchmaking, ranked play, tournaments, and social features that work for casual players.  

•Shape the shared multiplayer and social framework for our products.  

•Manage and mentor the CCG design team; set the bar for design docs, reviews, and data-driven decisions.  

•Work with product and analytics to test, measure, and tune competitive systems after launch.  

QUALIFICATIONS:

•8+ years designing mobile or online games, including 3+ years managing designers.  

•Shipped and operated at least one live multiplayer or competitive game (real-time PvP, async, tournaments, or leagues).  

•Hands-on experience designing matchmaking, skill rating, ranked ladders, or tournament systems.  

•Track record of improving retention and engagement in a long-running live casual game.  

•Strong orientation toward data and A/B testing, and a clear sense of what keeps casual players engaged.  

•(Plus) Card, board, or social casino game experience; ad-monetized games; economy design for competitive modes (entry fees, rewards, season passes).

A Little Bit About Us:

MobilityWare is one of the leading mobile game publishers of card and puzzle games. With our headquarters in the heart of Orange County and a growing studio in Utah, we’re dedicated to our mission of bringing joy to others one game at a time. Ever since our flagship title Solitaire hit the Apple App Store on the day it opened in 2008, MobilityWare has been entertaining gamers around the world. With a product portfolio that includes beloved hits such as FreeCell, MONOPOLY Solitaire, Spades, Hearts, Mahjong, and Bubble Shooter Pop, our games have been downloaded over 600 MILLION times.

MobilityWare was recently named one of Built in LA’s Best Places to Work for the fifth year in a row and we’ve been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Orange County five times by the Orange County Business Journal and OC Register. While we’re proud to be the company behind some of mobile gaming’s most popular titles, our most important achievement is creating a work environment that encourages professional growth and prioritizes the wellness of all of our team members.

Do we have your attention yet? Here are just some of the perks of working with us:

•We offer medical (100% paid option), dental (100% paid), vision (100% paid), unlimited PTO/Vacation, life insurance (100% paid), and a 401K with competitive contribution.

•Annual, all-inclusive company trip for you and a guest. Previous destinations include   Hawaii, a Mexican Riviera Cruise, Las Vegas and Los Cabos!

•In the office we offer things like free lunch, free snacks, and free drinks.

•Casual workplace that includes a relaxed dress code, plus a newly remodeled office in the heart of Irvine.

•Growth, growth, growth - we are growing, and we would love for you to join us on the ride.

•Annual Game Jam to show off your creative chops!

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing compensation for this role.  The range listed is just one component of MobilityWare’ s total compensation package for employees, which may include short- and long-term incentives and program-specific awards. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, or market demands. This range is based on a full-time position. This range may be modified in the future. The annual base salary pay range for this role is $200,000-$900,000.