Edtech.com's Summary

Macmillan Learning is hiring a Game Design Consultant to bring dedicated game design expertise to scenario-driven simulations, mini-games, and interactive learning experiences across its digital products. The consultant partners with product designers, researchers, product managers, engineers, and content creators to shape how learners and instructors experience Macmillan's interactive content. This six-month contractor engagement reports to the Director of Product Design and spans everything from core game mechanics to engineering handoff documentation.

Highlights

Architects core loops, progression models, and level layouts for scenario-driven learning simulations.
Develops visual storyboards mapping narrative arcs, character contexts, and branching player choices.
Designs lightweight mini-games and interactive widgets that complement digital course materials.
Breaks simulations into reusable components, variables, and rule sets to support templatized scenario development.
Collaborates with product designers, researchers, product managers, engineers, and content creators to align interactive concepts with learning goals.
Coordinates with engineers to translate game mechanics into production-ready builds.
Uses AI tools to prototype assets and test game feel throughout the design process.
Brings a portfolio demonstrating strong game mechanics, systems design, and player feedback loops.
Prefers engine or framework literacy, such as Unity, Phaser, PixiJS, or WebGL, plus a background in EdTech or education-focused product work.
Structured as a six-month, 40-hour-per-week contractor engagement paying $70-$90 per hour.

Game Design Consultant Full Description

Macmillan Learning is a privately-held, family-owned digital learning company that inspires what's possible for every learner. Our tools, content, and services are grounded in research and designed to support learning, wherever and however it takes place. To learn more, please visit our newsroom or macmillanlearning.com.

The Engagement

This is a contractor opportunity and does not constitute an offer of employment with Macmillan Learning.

We're expanding our interactive learning capabilities and looking for a Senior Game Design Consultant to bring dedicated game design expertise across a range of projects, from scenario-driven simulations to lightweight mini-games and interactives. You'll partner with a multidisciplinary group of product designers, researchers, product managers, software engineers, and content creators, contributing fresh game design thinking to how our learners and instructors experience our digital products.

Reporting to the Director of Product Design, your work will directly shape the interactive experiences that bring our learning content to life.

Scope of Services

You'll architect core loops, progression models, and level layouts for scenario-driven learning simulations.
You'll develop visual storyboards mapping narrative arcs, character contexts, and branching player choices.
You'll design lightweight mini-games and interactive widgets that complement digital course materials.
You'll break simulations into reusable components, variables, and rule sets to support templatized scenario development.
You'll collaborate with product designers, researchers, product managers, engineers, and content creators to align interactive concepts with learning goals.
You'll coordinate with engineers to ensure game mechanics translate cleanly into production builds.
You'll use AI tools to prototype assets and test game feel during the design process.

Expected Deliverables and Outcomes

Simulation Design Specifications: Documentation of core loops, progression models, and level layouts for scenario-driven simulations, structured for reuse across scenarios, industries, or difficulty tiers.
Storyboards and Narrative Maps: Visual storyboards covering narrative arcs, character contexts, and branching player-choice paths, delivered in a format ready for team review and engineering handoff.
Mini-Game and Interactive Prototypes: Playable prototypes of lightweight mini-games or interactive widgets for stakeholder review.
Engineering Handoff Documentation: Mechanics specifications prepared for the engineering team, aligned with the relevant engine or framework.

Experience and Capabilities

Required Capabilities

Demonstrated game design craft, with a portfolio showing strong mechanics, systems design, and player feedback loops.
Skilled at breaking simulations into reusable components, variables, and rule sets to support scenario templatization.
Strong visual storytelling and storyboarding ability, translating complex ideas into narrative arcs and branching paths.
Comfortable moving between high-level mechanics design, hands-on grayboxing, and narrative framing as an independent contributor.

Preferred Capabilities

Engine or framework literacy (e.g., Unity, Phaser, PixiJS, WebGL) sufficient to hand off specs to an engineering team.
Experience using AI generation tools to accelerate design workflows.
Background in EdTech or education-focused product work.
Interest in turning abstract concepts into satisfying, rewarding gameplay loops.

Engagement Parameters

Engagement type: Contractor
Duration: Estimated 6 month engagement
Time commitment: 40 hours/week
Location: Remote, US-based
Compensation: $70-$90/hour

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor (eeoc.gov/poster).

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Game Design Consultant

Edtech.com's Summary

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