Job Board

Tapulous was founded on the belief that the iPhone and the App Store represent a huge shift in mobile connectivity and that the next big technology wave will be all about mobile. We were the first Company built in this new space. To date we have successfully attracted 15 million unique users to our portfolio of applications headed by Tap Tap Revenge, a music rhythm game that is present on 1 in every 3 iPhones and iPod touches and that was the top downloaded game on the entire platform. The company is headed by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs, Apple veterans and backed by a high profile network of angel investors including the first investors in Google, Vinod Khosla, Marc Benioff and Jeff Clavier.  The Company is profitable with less than 20 employees and working hard to built the biggest musical-based social gaming network on the iPhone and other next generation mobile devices.

Tapulous is looking to hire a stellar Game Designer/Producer to join our expanding game development team. We’ve built the kind of tightly-knit creative team you can only find at a small indie studio, and our game and applications are regarded as some of the best on the iPhone platform. We’re experts at building hybrid games – compelling games based on a mix of native and web technologies – and are fast ushering in a new era of connected play.

This is a unique role to lead and manage the game creation process for 1-2 titles under development, from the initial concept designs all the way to the finished product. Your duties will include overseeing all aspects of game design: general game design; rules systems; play balance; interface design; story and creative. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in game design, outstanding “people skills,” and a longstanding passion for playing games of multiple genres on various platforms. You will be working closely with a seasoned team of talented engineers and designers in a collaborative “start-up” setting, which will require less in the way of PRD-writing skills, and more hussle, flexibility, and ability to think on your feet.

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Championing the design vision clearly and concisely, and communicating it well to the team
• Creating and prototyping innovative game mechanics and engaging player experiences
• Refining game mechanics and play progression by working collaboratively with the entire team
• Partnering with QA staff to establish test processes for game systems and data
• Making thoughtful trade-offs to ensure that larger projects stay on time, and within budget

Requirements:

• 3+ years game design experience, including a Senior or Lead Design role on a shipped title (mobile, PC or console)
• Absolute passion for playing and making computer games
• Excitement about working in a fast-moving, high-profile start-up. The designs you create and guide will be shipped in a matter of days and weeks to millions of people. With that comes times where there are less predictable work hours, and problems that require more inventiveness to make up for somewhat fewer resources. If you have Macgyver-like tendencies, we’ll put them to good use.

Nice to have:

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience
• Experience in designing and playing casual or social games for platforms such as Facebook, Myspace, or Xbox Live
• Familiarity with virtual goods and in-game commerce concepts
• Development experience beyond the bounds of designer/producer (as an artist, sound designer, programmer, etc)

This job is based in our downtown Palo Alto office, which is 2 minutes walk from the Caltrain. We are surrounded by dozens of shops, restaurants, and bars. Our retail location means that fans drop in every day to say hi and sign our guest book. For employees who commute via Caltrain, we provide 3G cards to make your train time productive time.

To apply, please send your resume to becky@tapulous.com