Expert UX Technical Designer at Activision Blizzard

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Expert UX Technical Designer

Company: Activision Blizzard

Location: Warsaw, Poland

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: UX Technical Design (Gaming)

Date Posted: 2025-06-13T00:00:00

Experience Level: 2-5 years (Expert Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Architecting and implementing user interfaces and player interaction systems within a game engine.
Bridging the gap between design vision and technical implementation in the gaming domain.
Ensuring the technical consistency and integrity of UI and interaction systems.
Optimizing performance and fixing bugs related to UI and player mechanics.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the "Expert" title and the responsibilities listed, this role requires a strong blend of design sensibility and technical proficiency specifically within game development. The emphasis on engine implementation, architecture, and optimization goes beyond a traditional UX design role, highlighting the technical nature of this position within the gaming industry.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Implement interaction systems and interface designs directly in the game engine, covering player controls and various UI elements.
Collaborate closely with game designers, gameplay programmers, UI programmers, and the art team to refine player interactions and visual interfaces.
Develop and maintain the technical architecture and integrity of UI and interaction systems throughout the development lifecycle.
Identify and resolve bugs within UI systems and player interaction mechanics.
Optimize the performance of UI and interaction systems to ensure a smooth and responsive player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a hands-on technical role requiring direct work within a game engine. The focus on collaboration across different development disciplines is critical in game design, emphasizing the need for strong communication and teamwork skills alongside technical expertise.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Arts, or a related field is typically preferred for this level of technical design role, demonstrating foundational knowledge in relevant areas.

Experience: 2-5 years of working experience in UI development, interaction design, or Technical Art, with a strong portfolio showcasing successful projects, particularly in complex technical environments within the game industry or related software development.

Required Skills:

Working experience with UI development, interaction design, or Technical Art.
Familiarity with major game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity).
Experience implementing both UI systems and player interaction mechanics within a game engine.
Understanding of MVVM architecture patterns and potentially hands-on experience implementing them in UI systems.
Good understanding of graphics optimization techniques for UI and game elements.
A strong portfolio demonstrating successful UX/UI and interaction design projects in technical contexts.

Preferred Skills:

Understanding of shader programming and HLSL for creating custom visual effects and UI materials.
Experience working within the game industry on shipped titles.
Passion for understanding player behavior and interaction patterns in games.
Proactive and self-starting mindset, comfortable taking initiative in shaping player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on game engine experience, MVVM architecture, graphics optimization, and shader programming strongly suggests a technical depth required for this role. The preferred skills in shader programming and HLSL further highlight the need for a candidate who can bridge the gap between design and low-level graphics implementation.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Showcase projects demonstrating expertise in both UI implementation and player interaction design within a game engine.
Include case studies that detail the technical challenges faced and solutions implemented in previous UX/UI projects.
Present visual examples of implemented UI elements, demonstrating technical execution and adherence to design specifications.
Highlight examples of complex interaction systems you have built or contributed to, explaining the technical architecture and design principles.

Process Documentation:

Document the technical design process, including how you translated design concepts into functional game engine implementations.
Showcase your approach to iterating on interaction mechanics based on testing and technical constraints.
Explain your methods for validating implemented UI and interaction systems for technical integrity and performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a technical UX role in gaming, a portfolio needs to go beyond visual design. It must clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to implement designs within a game engine, solve technical challenges related to UI and interactions, and document their technical design process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry data for Expert-level Technical Design roles in Warsaw, Poland, and considering Activision Blizzard's size and industry standing, the estimated annual salary range is PLN 120,000 - PLN 200,000 gross. This range is an estimate and can vary based on exact experience, technical skills, and negotiation. Research from sources like Glassdoor Poland and local salary benchmarks for game development roles supports this estimate.

Benefits:

Competitive salary and potential for performance-based bonuses.
Comprehensive health insurance plan.
Retirement savings options or pension plan contributions.
Opportunities for professional development and training in game development technologies.

Working Hours: Typically full-time, standard business hours, but the dynamic nature of game development may require flexibility, especially closer to project milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for international locations requires research into local economic conditions, cost of living, and industry-specific salary benchmarks. The provided range is an informed estimate based on publicly available data for similar roles in the Polish game development market.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Entertainment Providers, specifically the highly competitive and dynamic video game industry. This means a fast-paced environment with a strong focus on delivering high-quality, engaging player experiences.

Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees globally. This indicates a large, established organization with structured teams and processes, but also potential for specialized roles like this one within specific studio teams.

Founded: While the exact founding date isn't provided, Activision Blizzard has a long legacy in the gaming industry, suggesting a mature company with established practices and a history of successful franchises.

Team Structure:

This role is part of the "Elsewhere Entertainment" studio, working on a new IP, indicating a relatively new team within the larger organization.
Collaboration is key, working closely with game designers, gameplay programmers, UI programmers, and the art team.
Reporting lines likely involve a lead technical designer or design director within the studio.

Methodology:

Likely utilizes agile development methodologies common in game development, focusing on iterative design and implementation.
Emphasis on player-centered design, requiring user research and testing to inform technical implementation.
Technical design processes focused on performance optimization and system integrity within the game engine.

Company Website: http://www.activisionblizzard.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the company's industry, size, and the context of working within a new studio on a new IP is crucial for a candidate. This suggests a blend of established company resources with the opportunity to significantly shape a new product's technical design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Expert UX Technical Designer. This level typically implies significant experience and the ability to work autonomously, mentor others, and contribute to the technical direction of UI and interaction systems. It's likely a senior-level individual contributor role with potential for future leadership opportunities.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Lead UX Technical Designer, Technical Director, or Design Director within the "Elsewhere Entertainment" studio.

Design Impact: This role has a direct and significant impact on the player experience by architecting and implementing core interaction systems and UI, influencing how players engage with the game world.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential to grow into a Lead UX Technical Designer role, managing a team and overseeing technical design strategy.
Opportunities to specialize further in specific areas like graphics programming for UI, complex interaction system architecture, or performance optimization.
Given it's a new IP, there's potential to grow with the project and take on increasing responsibility as it develops.

📝 Enhancement Note: Analyzing the "Expert" title in the context of a large gaming company suggests a senior individual contributor role. Growth paths typically involve leadership or further technical specialization within the studio or the broader organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site at the "Elsewhere Entertainment" studio in Warsaw, Poland. This suggests a collaborative office environment typical of game development studios, facilitating close interaction between technical designers, artists, and programmers.

Office Location(s): Warsaw, Poland.

Design Workspace Context:

Expect a workspace designed to foster collaboration among technical and creative teams.
Access to high-performance workstations and specialized software for game development and technical design.
Opportunities for impromptu discussions and problem-solving with cross-functional colleagues.

Work Schedule: Full-time, likely with core hours that overlap with other team members to maximize collaboration, especially given the on-site requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement strongly indicates a collaborative team environment where physical presence is deemed important for effective communication and teamwork in the game development process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening interview focusing on technical background and experience in UI/interaction design.
Portfolio review session to deep-dive into selected projects, focusing on technical implementation, problem-solving, and process.
Technical interview or coding challenge related to game engine scripting, UI implementation, or graphics optimization.
Interviews with key team members (game designers, programmers, artists) to assess collaboration skills and technical fit.
Final interview with a hiring manager or studio lead to discuss experience, technical expertise, and suitability for the "Expert" level role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Clearly articulate your technical contributions to each project, specifically focusing on UI implementation, interaction systems, and performance optimization within game engines.
Structure case studies to highlight technical challenges, your approach to solving them, and the impact of your work on the player experience.
Be prepared to discuss the technical architecture of the UI and interaction systems you've built.
Include examples of your work with shaders, graphics optimization, or MVVM architecture if applicable.

Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on game engine scripting languages (e.g., C++, C#, Blueprint).
Practice implementing simple UI elements and interaction mechanics within a game engine.
Review concepts related to graphics optimization and performance profiling in games.

ATS Keywords: UI Development, Interaction Design, Technical Art, Game Engines, Unreal Engine, Unity, Player Interaction, MVVM Architecture, Graphics Optimization, Shader Programming, HLSL, UX/UI Design, Technical Design, Game Development, C++, C#, Blueprint, Performance Optimization, Bug Fixing, Collaboration, Problem-Solving, Proactive, Self-Starter, Portfolio, Case Study, Game Mechanics, User Interface, Technical Consistency, System Integrity, elsewhere entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Warsaw, Poland.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the technical nature of this role, the interview process will likely heavily emphasize technical skills and problem-solving abilities related to game engine implementation. The portfolio review will be crucial for demonstrating practical experience in this area.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Major Game Engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity) - Proficiency in at least one is required for implementing UI and interaction systems directly.
Potentially UI design tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) for understanding design specifications, although the core work is in implementation.
Version control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git) for managing game assets and code.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Internal communication and project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Slack) for collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Potentially specialized handoff tools depending on the team's workflow for communicating design specifications to technical artists and programmers.

Research & Testing:

Internal testing tools and processes for validating implemented UI and interaction systems.
Potentially analytics tools to measure the performance and usage of UI elements and interaction mechanics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The toolset for a UX Technical Designer in gaming heavily leans towards game development specific software and engines rather than traditional design tools. Proficiency in game engine implementation is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Player-centered design: A strong focus on understanding player needs and behaviors to create engaging interactions and intuitive interfaces.
Technical excellence: Commitment to building robust, performant, and technically sound UI and interaction systems.
Collaboration: Valuing close working relationships with cross-functional teams (design, art, programming) to achieve shared goals.
Innovation: Encouraging creative problem-solving and exploring new approaches to technical design within the game engine.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative, requiring constant communication and coordination with multiple disciplines within the game development team.
Likely involves regular stand-ups, design reviews, and technical discussions.
Emphasis on feedback loops between design, technical implementation, and testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within a game development studio, especially for a new IP, is typically collaborative and fast-paced. A successful candidate will need to thrive in an environment where technical implementation is closely tied to creative vision and player experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Implementing complex UI systems and interaction mechanics that are both technically sound and meet design requirements within a game engine's constraints.
Optimizing UI and interaction performance to maintain high frame rates and responsiveness, especially in visually demanding games.
Bridging communication between design, art, and programming teams to ensure a cohesive and technically feasible implementation.
Adapting to the evolving technical landscape of game development and staying current with new engine features and optimization techniques.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific game engine features related to UI, animation, and scripting.
Potential for training in advanced graphics programming techniques or performance optimization.
Learning from experienced game developers across different disciplines within Activision Blizzard.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in this role are primarily technical, focusing on implementation, performance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration within the specific context of game development. Growth opportunities align with specializing further in these technical areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your process for taking a UI or interaction design concept and implementing it in a game engine, highlighting technical considerations and decisions.
Explain how you collaborate with designers and artists to ensure technical feasibility and fidelity of implemented designs.
Describe your approach to debugging and optimizing UI and interaction systems for performance within a game.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Activision Blizzard and the "Elsewhere Entertainment" studio focusing on their games, development philosophies, and recent technical achievements.
Be prepared to discuss how you approach collaboration with different disciplines (design, art, programming) in a fast-paced development environment.
Demonstrate your passion for gaming and understanding of player interaction and experience.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

During your portfolio presentation, dedicate significant time to showcasing the technical implementation aspects of your projects.
Use video demonstrations or interactive examples to show implemented UI and interaction systems within a game engine.
Clearly articulate the technical challenges you faced and how you solved them, using technical terminology where appropriate.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating both technical proficiency in game engine implementation and the ability to collaborate effectively within a game development team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link.
Customize your portfolio to prominently feature projects that demonstrate your expertise in technical UI implementation, interaction design within game engines, and performance optimization.
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant technical skills, game engine experience, and contributions to shipped or in-development game projects.
Prepare for technical questions related to game engine scripting, UI architecture, and graphics optimization, and be ready to discuss your problem-solving process.
Research Activision Blizzard and the "Elsewhere Entertainment" studio to understand their work and culture, demonstrating your genuine interest in joining their team.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Expert UX Technical Designer