About the Role
Do you want to use Data and AI to creatively solve core game design problems, delighting users today and crafting the future of mobile gaming? Join Niantic Games, now part of the Scopely family, as a Product Manager on the Applied AI team. You will lead, innovate, and build outstanding AI-driven experiences across our suite of products, including Pokémon GO, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom.
Unlike a traditional platform role, you will partner directly with Game Designers, Producers, and ML Engineers to deploy AI features that directly touch the player—from personalized game loops to intelligent, adaptive gameplay.
Responsibilities
- Identify Gameplay Opportunities: Work with Game Producers and Designers to identify friction points or engagement opportunities where AI/ML can provide a unique solution (e.g., dynamic difficulty, personalized rewards, generative content).
- Drive the "AI for Fun" Roadmap: Create the vision and strategy for how Applied ML enhances the core game loop, ensuring features optimize for fun and retention, not just model accuracy.
- Cross-Discipline Translation: Act as the bridge between the ML Engineering team and the Game Teams. Translate "Game Design Intent" into "ML Requirements" and vice versa.
- Execution & Experimentation: Define success metrics that blend technical performance (latency/accuracy) with game KPIs (retention/DAU).
- Leverage the Ecosystem: Collaborate with Scopely’s central tech teams to adopt and adapt state-of-the-art ML technologies for Niantic’s location-based specific needs.
Qualifications
- 4+ years of Product Management experience, preferably in Gaming, Consumer Mobile, or Applied ML.
- 2+ years of professional experience in Machine Learning, Data Science, or Data Analytics.
- Passion for Games: A deep understanding of game mechanics (F2P, RPG, or Location-Based) and an intuition for what makes a game "fun."
- Technical Fluency: Experience working with Data Science or Machine Learning teams. You don't need to code, but you must understand the capabilities and limitations of LLMs, Reinforcement Learning, and Predictive Modeling.
- Adaptive Learner: Proven track record of picking up new domains quickly. You are comfortable stepping out of your comfort zone to tackle undefined problems.
- Collaborative Spirit: Experience managing trade-offs between creative desires and technical reality.
Plus If...
- Experience launching ML-driven features in a live service game (e.g., matchmaking, bots, personalization).
- Hands-on experience with Generative AI tools and workflows in a creative production environment.
- Experience managing platform services that have direct end-user UI components (e.g., Social, Identity, Payments).