Game Data Analyst

Description

From the moment we plugged in our first PC in October ’94, Monolith has been obsessed with combining stunning visuals, inventive narratives and cutting-edge technology to bring a distinctive gaming experience to both PC and console.  Starting with our first PC game, the terrifying, first-person action game Blood, straight through to our upcoming third-person action game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, our passion for storytelling and dedication to creating unique gaming experiences continues to drive us to bring immersive gaming experiences to our fans. 

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a next-generation, third-person action game set in Middle-earth that explores an original story of vengeance and redemption.  Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is in development for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC.

Monolith Productions, a division of WB Games, is looking for a Game Data Analyst with a unique background bringing together both technical knowhow and business acumen to work closely with the Development team from pre-production through shipped product to provide crucial game knowledge to help drive Development decisions. The Game Data Analyst will help gather, refine and prepare data in pursuit of analytic insight and recommendations on development. This position will work closely with the game development team (producers, designer and etc.) to provide product analysis, game coverage heat maps, feature design/how features are being used and recommendations based on these findings and on-going live supports for our games.

Extract analytics through complex SQL queries and leverage simple quantitative analysis to monitor game performance, tune mechanics and identify new features to improve user conversion, retention and help monitor quality of product through all stages of development. This is a heavily metrics-driven role crucial to delivering engaging games that are fun, iconic, and meet the company’s goals.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with game designers to understand current and new features in order to identify & define in-game development and BI hooks, events.
  
• Based on the identified hooks, write complex set of SQL queries in order to extract and analyze big, complex, multi-dimensional datasets with variety of tools.
  
• Own instrumentation of analytics and tracking hooks during development phase; establish best practices for repeated application.
  
• Generate actionable reports and recommendations on features that will improve retention, monetization and acquisition. Identify pain points and work with product management, design and product development to implement strategies to address key problem areas.
  
• Share insights with executive leadership and game teams regularly. Create cogent reports that are simultaneously data-rich and easily digested.
  
• Work closely with development, DGS BI and QA teams to make assure timely implementation and sanity of the identified BI hooks, events, data warehouse tables and etc.
  
• Work closely with the game designer and producer to create, balance, and optimize the game.

• BS/BA in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics or equivalent. An MA/MS/MBA in Business, Commerce, Statistics, Economics is a plus.
  
• 3 years’ experience as a data analyst or data engineer, with a strong preference for experience in the digital game industry.
  
• Strong SQL skills using a variety of common tools, and familiarity with leading relational or analytical databases (MS SQL Server, Vertica).
  
• Strong analytic skills and facility with Excel, experience with business intelligence software (e.g., Tableau).
  
• Familiarity with current Gen consoles, next Gen consoles, iOS, Android and Facebook games marketplaces
  
• Ability to deep dive in large sample of data and extract insight.
  
• Must have strong organizational skills and be able to manage multiple time critical objectives simultaneously.
  
• Must be a resourceful and creative problem solver, a self-starter with high level of initiative.
  
• Must be passionate about deriving insights from data which can improve game performance – strong attention to detail and natural curiosity.
  
• Enjoys a fast paced environment with opportunities to grow.
  
• Exceptional PowerPoint presentation skills.
  
• Ability to recommend changes to drive business objectives.
  
• Ability to present data in a variety of formats to clients.
  
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues across different disciplines and locations to achieve results.
  
• Strong presentation / story telling skills and the ability to communicate different types of audience (technical leads, senior level management and etc.)
  
• Excellent communication skills required, both written and verbal.
  
• Passion for gaming, mobile and social networking.