Senior UX Designer at Turtle Rock Studios

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer

Company: Turtle Rock Studios

Location: Irvine, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Category: UX Design (Gaming)

Date Posted: June 9, 2025

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Flexible work arrangements available, including in-studio, hybrid, and fully remote throughout North America)

🎨 Role Summary

Drive the design of intuitive, engaging systems that enhance gameplay clarity and usability within upcoming AAA titles.
Shape the player experience from initial concepts through implementation, focusing on HUD, menus, in-game navigation, and overall interaction design.
Lead cross-functional collaboration efforts with game designers, engineers, UI artists, and producers to integrate seamless UX into game features and systems.
Champion user-centered design principles, accessibility, and inclusivity to ensure a wide range of players can enjoy the game.
Contribute to and maintain a scalable design system and clear documentation for UX/UI consistency across the studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the company's history with AAA competitive/co-op shooters (Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood), this Senior UX Designer role likely involves complex system design for high-action gameplay, requiring a deep understanding of player behavior in fast-paced environments. The emphasis on HUDs, menus, and in-game flows indicates a focus on critical, moment-to-moment player interaction and information delivery.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Develop detailed wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design solutions and align with core game mechanics.
Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams, including game design, engineering, and art, to ensure UX is seamlessly integrated and technically feasible.
Lead the design and implementation of interaction patterns for core game systems, such as inventory management, progression systems, communication tools, and control schemes.
Conduct user research, usability testing, and gather player feedback to identify pain points and iterate on designs to optimize player engagement and satisfaction.
Perform competitive analysis of successful game titles to benchmark UX approaches and identify innovative solutions relevant to the genre.
Contribute significantly to the creation and refinement of a comprehensive design system for both UX and UI, ensuring consistency and efficiency across projects.
Work in partnership with UI artists to translate UX wireframes and flows into visually cohesive, functional, and clear interface designs.
Break down complex UX experiences into manageable, shippable increments, making strategic trade-offs between design fidelity and production timelines.
Act as a champion for UX thinking within the studio, advocating for player needs and usability best practices.
Provide mentorship and guidance to junior UX designers, fostering growth and knowledge sharing within the team.
Actively participate in studio and team playtests to directly observe and evaluate UX in action, providing actionable feedback for iteration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work (prototyping, wireframes) and strategic leadership (leading design efforts, championing UX, mentoring). This indicates the role requires not just technical design skill but also strong communication, collaboration, and the ability to influence product direction through a deep understanding of player experience in the gaming context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Game Design, or a related field is typically preferred for a Senior UX Designer role in the gaming industry. Equivalent professional experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies is also highly valued.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in UX Design, specifically within the AAA game development industry. Proven experience working on shooter or RPG titles is highly desirable, as these genres often involve complex systems and interaction patterns relevant to this role. A strong portfolio showcasing this experience is essential.

Required Skills:

Expert-level proficiency in designing user experiences for complex systems within AAA games, including HUDs, menus, inventory, progression, and in-game flows.
Deep understanding of interaction design principles across multiple platforms, including PC and console, with expertise in controller, mouse, and keyboard input modalities.
Demonstrated professional experience with Unreal Engine 5 and UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) for implementing and prototyping UI/UX elements directly within the game engine.
Expert proficiency in industry-standard prototyping and design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), or similar software.
Proven ability to conduct user research, usability testing, and analyze player feedback to inform design decisions and drive iterative improvements.
Strong understanding of gameplay systems and how UX design directly impacts player comprehension, engagement, and overall game accessibility.
Experience scoping and estimating UX design effort for features and systems, contributing to production planning and roadmaps.
Exceptional communication, collaboration, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly to cross-functional teams.
A strong passion for video games and a keen awareness of current trends and emerging best practices in game UX design.

Preferred Skills:

Experience contributing to or building comprehensive UI/UX design systems for large-scale projects.
Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices for game design.
Experience mentoring or leading junior designers.
Knowledge of visual design principles and experience collaborating closely with UI artists.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Unreal Engine 5 and UMG experience is a significant detail, indicating that this role involves a level of technical implementation and direct work within the game engine, beyond just wireframing and prototyping in external tools. This suggests a need for designers who are comfortable working closely with engineering and understand the technical constraints and possibilities within Unreal Engine.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Your portfolio should prominently feature case studies of complex UX design solutions for games, particularly focusing on HUDs, menus, and core in-game systems.
Include examples demonstrating your process from initial research and wireframing through to interactive prototypes and implemented features.
Showcase your understanding of player needs and how your designs address specific gameplay challenges and enhance usability.
Highlight projects where you collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and how your UX solutions were integrated into the final product.

Process Documentation:

For each relevant project, clearly document your design process, including user research methodologies, competitive analysis findings, and how these informed your design decisions.
Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showing how you explored different solutions and refined your designs based on feedback and testing.
Explain your approach to validation and testing, including usability testing setups, data collection methods, and how you interpreted results to iterate on designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior role at a AAA studio like Turtle Rock, the portfolio needs to go beyond showing polished screens. It must clearly articulate the thought process, problem-solving approach, and collaborative efforts behind the final design. Demonstrating experience with complex systems and how you tackled specific usability challenges within a game context is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $120,000 - $160,000 USD per year.

This range is explicitly provided by the employer and reflects the competitive salary standards for a Senior UX Designer role in the Southern California area, particularly within the highly specialized and demanding AAA game development industry. Factors influencing the final offer within this range will likely include the candidate's specific experience level, depth of relevant portfolio work, proficiency with required tools (especially Unreal Engine), and overall cultural fit with the team and studio.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage for employees and their families (100% covered).
401k Matching program to support retirement savings.
Financial support options including a Student Loan Repayment Plan or College Savings Plan.
Structured Career Improvement Plan to support professional growth and skill development.
Flexible Work Arrangements, offering options for In-House (on-site in Irvine, CA), Hybrid, or Fully Remote work throughout North America.
Generous Time Off Policy to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
Company Events, including both In-Person and Virtual gatherings, fostering team connection and studio culture.
On-site perks for in-studio employees, including a Fully Stocked Kitchen and Sponsored Food Trucks.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a full-time role at a AAA game studio typically involves a standard work week of approximately 40 hours. However, the iterative and fast-paced nature of game development may occasionally require flexibility, especially during critical production phases. The flexible work arrangements suggest the studio supports different working styles while maintaining core collaboration hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and competitive for the location and industry. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being and financial planning, which is attractive in the competitive tech and gaming sectors. The inclusion of flexible work arrangements is a significant benefit, broadening the talent pool beyond the immediate Irvine area.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Computer Games / AAA Game Development. Turtle Rock Studios is a veteran in the industry, known for creating successful cooperative and competitive shooter titles. This context is crucial as it implies a focus on high-performance, responsive, and engaging player experiences where usability directly impacts gameplay success and player retention.

Company Size: Based on LinkedIn data, Turtle Rock Studios has between 51-200 employees. This size suggests a relatively focused studio where individuals can have a significant impact. For a Senior UX Designer, this likely means direct involvement in key design decisions and close collaboration across all disciplines.

Founded: Founded in 2002. With over two decades in the industry, Turtle Rock Studios has a strong legacy in developing successful titles. This history suggests a mature development process while maintaining a focus on innovation, particularly within the co-op shooter genre.

Team Structure:

The UX team likely operates within a larger Design department, collaborating closely with Game Designers, UI Artists, and Engineers.
Senior designers often lead specific features or systems, potentially mentoring junior team members.
Cross-functional collaboration is explicitly mentioned as a key responsibility, indicating a highly integrated team structure where design works hand-in-hand with other disciplines from concept to implementation.

Methodology:

The mention of prototyping, testing, and iteration points towards an agile or iterative development methodology common in game development.
Emphasis on user research and player feedback indicates a user-centered design approach.
The need for a scalable design system suggests a move towards more standardized and efficient design practices.

Company Website: https://turtlerockstudios.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Turtle Rock's history and focus on co-op/competitive shooters heavily influence the UX challenges and priorities. Usability, clarity under pressure, and intuitive controls are paramount in this genre. The company size suggests a close-knit environment where collaboration is key, and individual contributions are highly visible.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating expectations of significant experience, leadership potential, and the ability to independently drive complex design initiatives. Senior UX Designers are typically responsible for the overall usability and player experience of major features or systems.

Reporting Structure: A Senior UX Designer would likely report to a Lead UX Designer, Design Director, or potentially a Product Owner, depending on the specific team structure. They would be expected to work with minimal supervision and provide guidance to less experienced designers.

Design Impact: As a Senior designer on a AAA title, the impact of this role is substantial. The UX directly affects player engagement, retention, accessibility, and the overall success of the game. The designer will have significant influence on how players interact with core game mechanics and systems.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential for advancement to a Lead UX Designer role, managing a team and overseeing the UX strategy for larger parts of the game or future projects.
Opportunity to specialize further in specific areas of game UX, such as accessibility, systems design, or narrative UX.
Growth through mentoring junior designers and contributing to the studio's overall UX practices and design system.
Learning and development through working with cutting-edge technology (Unreal Engine 5) and contributing to a high-profile AAA title.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Senior title and responsibilities suggest a role with significant autonomy and impact. The opportunity to work on a new AAA title in Unreal Engine 5 provides strong potential for professional growth and skill development in cutting-edge game development practices.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Turtle Rock Studios offers flexible work arrangements, including In-House (on-site in Irvine, CA), Hybrid, and Fully Remote options across North America. This indicates a modern approach to work environment, balancing the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary on-site location is Irvine, CA. Specific address details are not provided, but Irvine is a major city in Orange County, known for its tech and creative industries. Accessibility via major freeways is typical for the area.

Design Workspace Context:

For in-studio employees, the workspace likely includes dedicated design areas, meeting rooms for collaboration and critiques, and access to relevant hardware and software.
The "Fully Stocked Kitchen + Sponsored Food Trucks" benefit suggests a comfortable and amenity-rich on-site environment.
For remote employees, the focus is on providing the necessary tools and infrastructure for effective collaboration and communication across distances.

Work Schedule: The flexible work arrangements (in-house, hybrid, remote) imply a degree of flexibility in daily schedules, though core hours for team collaboration and meetings are likely expected, especially given the need for close cross-functional interaction in game development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote options are a significant factor for potential applicants outside of the immediate Irvine area. This flexibility suggests a studio culture that trusts its employees and prioritizes talent acquisition regardless of location within North America. It also implies robust tools and processes for remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call (Recruiter/HR) to discuss basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
Portfolio review with members of the UX or Design team, focusing on your process, problem-solving skills, and relevant projects (especially game UX). Be prepared to walk through specific case studies in detail.
Technical interview or discussion focusing on your experience with Unreal Engine 5, UMG, and other required tools.
Potential design challenge or take-home assignment to evaluate your practical design skills and approach to a specific problem relevant to game UX.
Interviews with cross-functional team members (e.g., Game Design, Engineering, Production) to assess collaboration skills and how you integrate UX within the broader development process.
Final interview(s) with Design Leadership or Hiring Manager to discuss your senior-level experience, leadership potential, and strategic thinking.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Tailor your portfolio presentation to highlight projects most relevant to game UX, particularly those involving complex systems, HUDs, menus, and controls for PC/Console.
Structure case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, iteration, testing), your solutions, and the impact of your work on the player experience.
Be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency with Unreal Engine 5 and UMG, ideally showing how you've worked with these tools in a professional production environment.
Showcase your ability to document design decisions and contribute to design systems.
Emphasize your understanding of interaction design across different input methods (controller, mouse/keyboard).

Challenge Preparation:

If given a design challenge, focus on clearly articulating your thought process and rationale behind your design decisions.
Demonstrate your understanding of game mechanics and how UX supports or enhances gameplay.
Consider the constraints of the platform (PC/Console) and input methods in your proposed solution.
Be prepared to present your solution and explain your approach to a multidisciplinary audience.

ATS Keywords: UX Design, Game UX, UI/UX, User Experience, Interaction Design, Game Development, AAA Games, Unreal Engine 5, UMG, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, HUD Design, Menu Design, In-Game UI, System Design, Player Experience, Usability Testing, User Research, Competitive Analysis, Accessibility, Design System, Collaboration, Game Design, PC Gaming, Console Gaming, Controller, Mouse/Keyboard, Player Feedback, Gameplay Systems, Level Design (indirectly related), Production, Iteration, Documentation, Mentoring, Visual Integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior UX Designer in gaming is typically rigorous and highly focused on practical skills and domain expertise. Expect detailed portfolio reviews, potential design challenges, and in-depth discussions about your experience with specific tools and game genres. Preparation should focus on showcasing not just your design artifacts but also your strategic thinking, process, and collaborative abilities within a game development context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Unreal Engine 5 & UMG: Required. Direct experience working within the engine to implement and prototype UI/UX elements is essential. This indicates a need for designers who are comfortable with the technical aspects of game UI development.
Figma: Required. Used for wireframing, prototyping, and potentially contributing to the design system. Expertise in collaborative design workflows within Figma is valuable.
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Required (or similar tools). Used for creating and editing visual assets, potentially for mockups or collaboration with UI artists.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Tools for project management and task tracking (e.g., Jira, Trello) are likely used for managing design tasks and collaborating with engineering and production.
Version control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git) are standard in game development for managing project files, including UI/UX assets and documentation.
Handoff processes with engineers likely involve documentation and potentially working directly within UMG to prepare elements for implementation.

Research & Testing:

Tools for conducting and analyzing usability tests (e.g., lookback.io, custom in-game telemetry).
Software for creating surveys or gathering player feedback (e.g., SurveyMonkey, in-game feedback tools).
Analytics platforms may be used to track player behavior and measure the impact of UX changes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Unreal Engine 5 and UMG is a key technical requirement that differentiates this role from many general UX positions. Candidates must be prepared to demonstrate their ability to work directly within the game engine environment. Proficiency in industry-standard design and collaboration tools is also expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Player-Centricity: A core value is likely a deep focus on the player experience, ensuring designs are intuitive, engaging, and enhance gameplay.
Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working closely with all disciplines (game design, engineering, art, production) to create cohesive and impactful experiences.
Iteration & Feedback: Embracing a culture of prototyping, testing, gathering feedback, and continuously refining designs based on data and player input.
Quality & Usability: Commitment to delivering high-quality, highly usable interfaces and systems that meet the standards of AAA game development.
Accessibility & Inclusivity: Dedication to designing experiences that are accessible to a wide range of players with diverse needs.

Collaboration Style:

Likely involves regular stand-ups, design reviews, playtests, and cross-functional meetings.
Expect a collaborative environment where designers are expected to articulate their rationale and provide constructive feedback to others.
Given the remote/hybrid options, strong communication skills and comfort with digital collaboration tools are essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Team & Culture" section in the original description highlights collaboration, playing games together, and championing UX, which strongly suggests a team that values collective effort, shared passion for games, and advocating for the player. This aligns with common positive traits in game development studio cultures.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Designing complex, real-time interfaces (like HUDs) that need to convey critical information clearly and quickly without overwhelming the player in a fast-paced game.
Balancing the needs of different input methods (controller vs. mouse/keyboard) while maintaining a consistent and intuitive experience across platforms.
Integrating UX seamlessly with intricate gameplay systems (e.g., inventory, progression, crafting) in a way that is easy for players to understand and use.
Adapting design processes and collaboration methods to effectively work within a hybrid/remote team structure.
Staying ahead of emerging trends in game UX and player expectations in a rapidly evolving industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deepen expertise in Unreal Engine 5 and UMG, becoming a go-to resource for in-engine UI/UX implementation.
Develop specialized skills in specific areas of game UX, such as accessibility, systems design, or player psychology in gaming.
Opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and access online learning resources to stay current with best practices.
Potential for mentorship from experienced design leaders within the studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges in game UX, especially for a AAA shooter, are unique and demanding. They require not just design skill but also a deep understanding of player behavior, game mechanics, and technical constraints. The opportunities for growth are significant, particularly in mastering specialized game development tools and methodologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to walk through your design process for a complex game system from start to finish. Explain your research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases. Use specific examples from your portfolio.
Discuss how you approach designing for different input methods (controller vs. mouse/keyboard) and the unique challenges of each.
Explain how you gather and interpret player feedback and usability data to inform your design decisions.
Describe your experience contributing to or working with design systems and how they impact your workflow.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Turtle Rock Studios' games and understand their design philosophy, particularly regarding player experience and co-op/competitive gameplay.
Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate effectively with game designers, engineers, and artists. Provide examples of successful cross-functional projects.
Ask questions about the team structure, design process, and how UX is integrated into the overall game development pipeline.
Demonstrate your passion for games and understanding of the target audience for Turtle Rock's titles.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select 2-3 strong case studies that best showcase your Senior-level UX skills, focusing on complex systems and game-specific challenges.
For each case study, clearly explain the problem you were solving, your approach, your design decisions, and the outcome or impact on the player experience.
Include visuals of wireframes, flows, prototypes, and potentially in-engine implementations (if possible and appropriate, respecting NDAs).
Practice presenting your portfolio to ensure you can articulate your process and rationale concisely and engagingly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Success in a game UX interview hinges on demonstrating a deep understanding of both design principles and the unique constraints and opportunities of the gaming medium. Preparation should focus on showcasing relevant project experience, technical proficiency with game development tools, and strong collaborative skills within a studio environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

Submit your application through this link on the Turtle Rock Studios Greenhouse page.
Carefully review your resume and portfolio to ensure they highlight your relevant experience in AAA game UX design, particularly with shooter or RPG titles.
Customize your portfolio presentation to specifically address the requirements mentioned in the job description, focusing on complex systems, HUDs, menus, and your process.
Prepare to discuss your experience with Unreal Engine 5 and UMG in detail, providing specific examples of how you've used these tools.
Research Turtle Rock Studios, their games, and their design philosophy to demonstrate your understanding and genuine interest during interviews.

⚠️ 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.

Senior UX Designer