Wargame Designer

Wargame Designer

Deftec delivers mission-critical solutions through skillfully delivered services and innovative products. We are inspired by our clients' critical missions and driven to provide the most effective solutions to execute their missions, operational challenges, and requirements. Our dedicated, experienced, and talented employees work closely with our clients to ensure the delivery of exceptional services and products.

Position Overview

The Wargame Designer is responsible for developing and delivering purpose-built wargames that align with sponsor objectives and operational constraints. This includes defining game goals, researching relevant sources, designing core mechanics, and producing physical and digital components. The role involves close collaboration with scenario developers, analysts, and event planners, as well as leading playtesting, refining gameplay, and supporting execution. The designer ensures each wargame is fit for purpose through validation reporting and on-site facilitation.

Job Responsibilities

• Engage with the game sponsor, Project Manager, and Game Director to define the problem statement, aim, objectives, research questions, and intended use of wargame outputs.
• Research relevant doctrine, existing wargames (commercial and professional), academic writings, and lessons learned to inform design choices.
• Develop or adapt the core rules, mechanics, and structure of the wargame to ensure alignment with objectives and constraints, including available time, participant numbers, classification level, and required outputs.
• Design and produce physical and digital wargame components, including maps, boards, markers, cards, adjudication tools, and software interfaces.
• Coordinate closely with the scenario coordinator, analysts, and event planners to integrate scenario content and ensure venue layouts support compelling gameplay.
• Lead or assist with playtesting, rehearsals, and refinement cycles, incorporating facilitator and analyst feedback to ensure the wargame achieves its intended purpose.
• Prepare and deliver design briefs and validation reports, articulating how the design meets the sponsor's objectives.
• Support wargame execution by helping facilitate gameplay, explaining rules, and troubleshooting design-related issues as they arise.
• Perform additional tasks related to event planning / wargame design or documentation as required by the COTR within the scope of this contract.

Required Qualifications

• Nationality of one of the NATO member countries.
• 4-Year University baccalaureate degree in security/defence studies, analysis or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in wargame design, development or similar structured analytical design in the past five (5) years, preferably within multinational or military environments.
• Demonstrated ability to create or adapt core rules, mechanics, and structures for wargames aligned with specific aims and objectives.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or leading playtesting cycles, incorporating feedback to refine wargame products.
• Demonstrated experience working in multinational teams.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement and coordination experience.
• NATO Secret Security Clearance or national equivalent.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English as defined in STANAG 6001 (SLP 4444) or equivalent.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Tool suite, collaborative platforms, and familiarity with visualisation tools (e.g., Microsoft Visio or similar).
• Prior experience designing or supporting NATO wargames at an operational or strategic level.

Deftec offers a comprehensive whole-life benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, holiday, paid time off, 401K with a match, life insurance, short/long-term disability, and educational reimbursement. The DEFTEC team comprises professionals who make a difference daily in crucial national security missions. Our leadership knows that this happens by employing a diverse team that is well cared for. Our top priority is our employees, making DEFTEC an ideal workplace. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Please get in touch with HR@deftec.com if you require reasonable accommodations. DEFTEC is a Drug-Free Workplace where post-offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria are met as outlined in our policies.

DEFTEC Corp is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), gender, gender identity, and gender expression, religious creed, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, age, marital status, civil union status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, denial of family and medical care leave, arrest record and/or any other characteristic(s) protected by federal, state or local law. This policy applies to all terms of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment.