Dead Space developer Visceral Games are looking for a lead multiplayer designer for a new, currently unannounced, online action shooter. The job advertisement, originally spotted by Official Xbox Magazine on the EA Games Jobs website, relates to a vacancy at the Redwood City, California studio.

The advertisement dispels rumours that the new online shooter project may be connected to the studios previous two hit series, Dead Space and Dante’s Inferno, stating that the designer would be contributing to “a bold new franchise which is a cornerstone for the new EA Game Studio”.

Visceral Games’ last online game was Dead Space 2, released early last year and well-received by the critics, with a current Metacritic score average of 89 across all three platforms.

However, it was the multiplayer component which drew the most criticism in reviews, with aspects such as its blandness held against it.

While little information is currently known about this new project, Visceral Games is expected to release a downloadable title called The Ripper in 2012. The game is described as a re-imagining of the Jack The Ripper story, pitting the historic murderer against demons on the streets of London.

Rumours also suggest that a third instalment in the Dead Space series is currently under development, although there are no clues to when it may be announced, let alone released.