Lead UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UI Engineer Company: CD PROJEKT RED Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Engineering / Software Development / Game Development Date Posted: 2025-10-29 Experience Level: 10+ years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the development and implementation of user interface (UI) features for a new multiplayer game within the Witcher universe.
• Manage a team of UI engineers, focusing on professional development, performance management, hiring, and promotions.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with designers, artists, and other engineering teams to ensure seamless integration and alignment of UI elements with overall game vision and player experience.
• Oversee the maintenance, optimization, and enhancement of existing UI systems and frameworks, ensuring high-quality, accessible, and performant user interfaces.
• Develop and implement tools to empower UI artists and designers, streamlining content creation and iteration workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is critical for shaping the player's interaction with the game. The emphasis on leading a team, collaborating across disciplines, and managing the entire UI development lifecycle, from new feature creation to bug fixing and optimization, indicates a senior-level position with significant ownership and impact on the game's success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Management:
  • Manage direct reports, including conducting regular 1:1s, facilitating performance reviews, and guiding hiring and promotion processes.
  • Foster a collaborative and growth-oriented environment for the UI engineering team.
  • Support the professional development and career progression of team members.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Work closely with game designers, UI artists, and other engineering disciplines to translate creative vision into functional UI elements.
  • Act as a key point of contact for UI development, ensuring clear communication and alignment across departments.
  • Understand and integrate feedback from various stakeholders to refine UI features.
• UI Development & Implementation:
  • Lead the design, implementation, and enhancement of core UI features and systems.
  • Develop and maintain the user interface framework, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
  • Create and integrate tools to support UI artists and designers in their content creation workflows.
• System Maintenance & Optimization:
  • Ensure the ongoing maintenance and optimization of existing UI systems for performance, stability, and accessibility.
  • Proactively identify and address bugs within the game's user interface and UI framework.
  • Implement best practices for code architecture, debugging, and performance tuning.
• Project Delivery & Quality Assurance:
  • Manage task assignments and ensure timely completion of UI development milestones.
  • Uphold high standards for code quality, readability, and maintainability.
  • Contribute to a culture of quality and attention to detail throughout the development process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a dual focus on people management and technical leadership. The emphasis on "managing and completing tasks effectively and on time, while creating high quality code" suggests a need for strong project management skills alongside technical expertise in UI development and C++/Unreal Engine.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic foundation in Computer Science, Game Development, or a related field is implicitly valued, complemented by extensive practical experience.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience as a UI programmer or engineer specifically within the video game industry.
• At least 3 years of proven leadership experience, managing engineering teams or significant projects.
• Demonstrated experience in understanding and catering to player needs regarding modern video game user interfaces.
• Experience in designing and implementing accessible user interfaces for diverse player bases.

Required Skills:

• Leadership & Management: Proven ability to manage, mentor, and develop a team of engineers, including performance management, hiring, and career pathing.
• C++ Programming: Strong, in-depth proficiency in C++ for game development.
• Unreal Engine: Extensive experience with Unreal Engine, particularly in UI development contexts.
• UI Framework Development: Expertise in designing, building, and maintaining robust UI frameworks.
• Algorithms & Code Architecture: Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and best practices in code architecture for complex systems.
• Debugging & Optimization: Advanced skills in identifying, diagnosing, and resolving bugs, as well as optimizing UI performance for various platforms.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to UI implementation, ensuring pixel-perfect execution and adherence to design specifications.
• Teamwork & Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team and communicate technical concepts clearly.
• Independent Work: Capacity to take ownership of tasks and drive them to completion with minimal supervision.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage respectfully in a multicultural and multilingual environment across different time zones.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with Common UI within Unreal Engine.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Nice to have" section suggests that while Common UI is beneficial, the core requirements are strong C++ and Unreal Engine experience, coupled with leadership and a deep understanding of player-centric UI design. The emphasis on accessibility is also a key differentiator for modern game development.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• UI Framework Design: Showcase examples of UI frameworks or systems you have designed or significantly contributed to, highlighting their architecture, scalability, and reusability.
• Complex UI Implementations: Present case studies of intricate UI features or systems you have developed, demonstrating problem-solving skills and technical execution.
• Performance Optimization: Include examples of how you have optimized UI performance, detailing the methodologies used and the impact on frame rates or load times.
• Tool Development: If applicable, provide examples of tools or scripts you've created to assist artists and designers in their workflows, illustrating efficiency gains.
• Accessibility Implementation: Demonstrate how you have incorporated accessibility features into UI designs and implementations.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing UI development workflows, including how you integrate with design and art pipelines.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and how UI development fits within sprint cycles and project management frameworks.
• Code Review & Quality Assurance: Demonstrate an understanding of robust code review processes and QA methodologies for UI components.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Lead UI Engineer role, the portfolio should not only exhibit technical skill but also leadership and process-oriented thinking. Candidates should be ready to articulate not just what they built, but how they built it, how they led others in building it, and how they ensured its quality and efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $168,200 - $257,000 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Health & Well-Being:
  • Company-paid medical healthcare (including dental, vision, and mental health coverage).
  • Free mental health support, offering counseling, psychiatric care, and well-being webinars.
  • Menstrual leave: An additional day off for employees experiencing period pain.
  • RED Parents Network: Support for working parents, including childcare benefits and family events.
• Time Off & Retirement:
  • Paid leave: 20 days of holiday per year, increasing to 26 days after two years of service.
  • 401K plan with employer matching contributions.
• Professional Development & Perks:
  • Flexible working hours to accommodate work-life balance.
  • Comprehensive training opportunities, including internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes.
  • A welcome pack filled with company merchandise and goodies.
  • Gym Membership Reimbursement.
• Work Environment:
  • Dog-friendly office environment.
  • Casual dress code.

Working Hours:

• Flexible working hours are offered, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The role requires working in-office in Boston, MA, in either a hybrid or full-time capacity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is substantial, reflecting the senior leadership and specialized technical expertise required for this role. The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing employee well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of "discretionary stock options" is also a significant potential component of total compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development. CD PROJEKT RED is renowned for creating critically acclaimed, story-driven RPGs, most notably "The Witcher" series and "Cyberpunk 2077." Company Size: CD PROJEKT RED is a significant player in the global gaming industry. While the exact employee count for the Boston office isn't specified, the overall company is large and established, suggesting ample resources and a structured environment. Founded: CD PROJEKT RED was founded in 2002. This long history in the industry signifies stability, deep expertise, and a proven track record of developing high-quality, ambitious titles.

Team Structure:

• The UI team for Project Sirius will likely operate as a specialized unit within the larger game development studio.
• As a Lead, you will manage direct reports within this UI team.
• Close collaboration is expected with other game development teams, including Design, Art, AI, Gameplay Engineering, and QA, forming a matrixed project environment.
• The reporting structure will place the Lead UI Engineer under a higher-level engineering director or producer, with direct reports being UI Engineers.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: CD PROJEKT RED likely employs agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) to manage the iterative and collaborative nature of game development.
• Data-Driven Design: While creativity is paramount, decisions regarding UI implementation and features are often informed by player feedback, playtesting data, and analytics to ensure player engagement and satisfaction.
• Iterative Improvement: The company's culture emphasizes continuous refinement and improvement, both in game content and development processes.

Company Website: https://www.cdprojekt.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: CD PROJEKT RED is known for its passion for storytelling and creating immersive worlds. The company culture likely values creativity, dedication, and a commitment to delivering high-quality player experiences. The "Lead UI Engineer" role is positioned to be a key contributor to realizing this vision through exceptional user interfaces.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior / Lead Engineering position. It signifies a transition from an individual contributor role to one with significant people management and technical direction responsibilities. The scope includes not only individual technical contribution but also team performance, strategic planning for UI development, and cross-departmental influence.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UI Engineer will report to a Senior Engineering Manager or Director of Engineering and will directly manage a team of UI Engineers. This structure requires strong interpersonal skills for management and excellent technical communication for collaboration with peers and senior leadership.

Operations Impact: The UI is the primary interface between the player and the game world. A Lead UI Engineer's impact is profound:

• Player Engagement: A well-designed, intuitive, and responsive UI significantly enhances player immersion and satisfaction, directly contributing to positive reviews and player retention.
• Development Efficiency: By optimizing UI frameworks and providing effective tools, the Lead can drastically improve the productivity of UI artists and designers, accelerating development timelines.
• Game Accessibility: Ensuring the UI is accessible to a wide range of players broadens the game's market appeal and aligns with ethical development practices.
• Brand Representation: The UI is a direct reflection of the game's overall quality and aesthetic, influencing player perception of the CD PROJEKT RED brand.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced UI architecture, performance optimization, or specific engine features.
• Leadership Progression: Advance to an Engineering Manager or Director role, overseeing larger teams or multiple disciplines.
• Cross-Disciplinary Roles: Transition into broader game design or technical leadership roles.
• Project Leadership: Take on more significant project management responsibilities for future titles or major game updates.
• Mentorship: Become a key mentor for junior and mid-level engineers within the studio, shaping future talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for seasoned engineers to step into leadership. The emphasis is on developing not just technical skills but also management and strategic thinking, crucial for advancing within a AAA game development studio.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job requires working in the Boston office. CD PROJEKT RED is known for its vibrant and creative studio environments. The "in-office in a hybrid or full-time capacity" suggests a structured approach to office presence, likely with a core number of days dedicated to in-person collaboration. Office Location(s): Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The specific office amenities and location within Boston would need to be confirmed, but it's expected to be a modern, well-equipped facility conducive to creative work.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Space: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration among teams. This is essential for a role that bridges design, art, and engineering.
• Tools & Technology: Access to high-performance workstations, development kits, and the full suite of game development software and tools used by CD PROJEKT RED.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular face-to-face interaction with UI engineers, designers, artists, and other development leads, promoting synergy and rapid problem-solving.

Work Schedule:

• Flexible working hours are a stated perk, allowing for a degree of autonomy in managing one's workday. This flexibility is crucial for balancing demanding game development cycles with personal life, especially in a hybrid work model.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model, with an expectation of in-office presence (likely 3 days a week as indicated by AI analysis), is common in AAA game development to balance focused work with essential in-person collaboration. The dog-friendly office and casual dress code contribute to a relaxed yet productive atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on your leadership experience and core technical skills.
2. Technical Interview(s): Expect in-depth discussions on C++, Unreal Engine, UI architecture, algorithms, and debugging strategies. This may involve whiteboard exercises or live coding challenges.
3. Leadership & Collaboration Interview: An interview focusing on your management style, experience leading teams, conflict resolution, and cross-functional collaboration. You may discuss past team successes and challenges.
4. Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio. This is a crucial step to showcase your technical expertise, leadership impact, and ability to articulate complex projects.
5. Hiring Manager / Senior Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior management to assess cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Leadership: For this lead role, highlight projects where you not only contributed technically but also guided a team, mentored junior members, or influenced technical direction.
• Showcase Process & Impact: Don't just show final UI. Detail the process of development: design iterations, technical challenges overcome, collaboration with artists/designers, and the quantifiable impact (e.g., performance improvements, feature adoption rates).
• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your portfolio into clear sections (e.g., UI Frameworks, Feature Implementations, Tools, Leadership Examples). Use visual aids effectively.
• Quantify Achievements: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., "Reduced UI load times by 20%," "Streamlined asset integration process, saving X hours per week").
• Address Accessibility: If you have examples of implementing accessible UI features, be sure to highlight them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Problem-Solving: Be ready to solve complex C++ or Unreal Engine problems related to UI, performance, or system design.
• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare for questions about how you would handle team conflicts, motivate engineers, manage underperforming team members, or delegate tasks effectively.
• Game Design Collaboration: Practice explaining how you would translate abstract game design concepts into concrete UI solutions and how you would negotiate scope or technical constraints with designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It needs to demonstrate not just individual technical prowess but also the ability to lead, mentor, and drive complex technical initiatives within a team. Candidates should prepare to speak extensively about their leadership experiences and the strategic thinking behind their technical decisions.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• C++: The core programming language for game logic and engine development at CD PROJEKT RED.
• Unreal Engine: The primary game engine. Proficiency with its UI systems (UMG, Slate, Common UI) is essential.
• Version Control Systems: Git (likely via Perforce or a similar enterprise solution) for managing code repositories.
• IDEs: Visual Studio or Rider for C++ development.

Analytics & Reporting:

• In-game Analytics Tools: Tools for tracking player interaction with UI elements, performance metrics, and bug reporting within the game.
• Performance Profiling Tools: Unreal Engine's built-in profiling tools (e.g., Unreal Insights, Console Commands) for diagnosing UI performance bottlenecks.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Tools like Jira, Confluence, or similar for task tracking, sprint planning, and documentation.
• Build Systems: Understanding of build pipelines and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) principles as they apply to game development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of C++ and Unreal Engine's UI frameworks is non-negotiable. The role also requires familiarity with industry-standard development tools for version control, debugging, and project management, as well as an understanding of how to leverage analytics and profiling tools to optimize the player experience.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for Games: A deep-seated love for video games and a commitment to creating exceptional player experiences.
• Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high standards in all aspects of development, from code to artistic implementation.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of collective effort and open communication to achieve ambitious goals.
• Innovation & Creativity: Encouragement of new ideas and approaches to game design and development.
• Player-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and fulfilling player expectations, ensuring the UI serves the player effectively.

Collaboration Style:

• Open Communication: Fostering an environment where feedback is openly shared and constructive criticism is welcomed and acted upon.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Emphasizing collaboration between UI engineers, game designers, artists, and other development disciplines to ensure a cohesive and polished final product.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, technical solutions, and lessons learned across teams through presentations, documentation, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: CD PROJEKT RED's culture is heavily influenced by its mission to create story-driven RPGs. This translates into a team that is likely passionate, detail-oriented, and deeply invested in the player experience. The Lead UI Engineer will be instrumental in fostering a collaborative environment where technical excellence meets creative vision.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Technical Debt and New Features: Effectively managing the need to maintain and optimize existing UI systems while simultaneously developing new, innovative features for a complex multiplayer game.
• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Ensuring seamless integration and communication between UI engineering, game design, and art teams, especially in a large, distributed or hybrid work environment.
• Performance Optimization: Achieving high UI performance across potentially diverse hardware configurations in a multiplayer context, which can be resource-intensive.
• Scalability for Multiplayer: Designing UI systems that can scale effectively to support a growing player base, new game modes, and evolving content within a live service environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Unreal Engine Features: Gaining deeper expertise in cutting-edge Unreal Engine functionalities relevant to UI and game development.
• Leadership Skills: Developing advanced people management, team-building, and strategic planning skills through hands-on experience.
• Game Design Principles: Broadening understanding of game design, player psychology, and user experience principles to inform UI decisions.
• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging trends in UI/UX design, game development technologies, and player engagement strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role will provide significant opportunities to tackle complex technical and leadership challenges within the AAA gaming space. The inherent complexities of multiplayer game development and live services offer a rich environment for continuous learning and professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UI Architecture & Design: "Describe a complex UI system you've designed. What were the key architectural decisions, trade-offs, and how did you ensure scalability and maintainability?" (Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking and understanding of long-term implications.)
• Team Leadership & Motivation: "How do you motivate your team to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines? Share an example of a time you had to manage a difficult team situation or underperforming individual." (Prepare to discuss your management philosophy and practical application.)
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: "How do you approach collaborating with game designers and artists who may have different priorities or visions for the UI? Describe a situation where you had to negotiate or find a compromise." (Showcase your ability to bridge gaps and find common ground.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Passion for CD PROJEKT RED: "What excites you about CD PROJEKT RED and Project Sirius specifically? How do you see your role contributing to our mission?" (Research the company's recent work and articulate your genuine interest.)
• Adaptability & Learning: "How do you stay current with evolving UI technologies and game development trends? Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly." (Highlight your proactive approach to learning.)
• Values Alignment: "Our values include quality, collaboration, and player-centricity. How do these align with your own professional values and how would you foster them within your team?" (Connect your personal values to the company's stated ethos.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, don't just present screens; explain the problem, your approach, the challenges, the solutions, and the outcomes. Emphasize your leadership role.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your code, design choices, and technical implementation. Be prepared to explain the 'why' behind your decisions.
• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use data to illustrate the success of your UI solutions.
• Showcase Your Team's Work: As a lead, it's important to acknowledge and highlight the contributions of your team members while clearly defining your leadership role and contributions.
• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows well, stays within the allotted time, and effectively communicates your expertise and leadership potential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will be rigorous, testing both technical depth and leadership capabilities. Candidates should prepare to articulate their experience with specific examples, demonstrating not just what they know, but how they apply it in a leadership context and how they contribute to a collaborative, high-quality development environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the SmartRecruiters platform.
• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume prominently features your 7+ years of UI programming experience in games and your 3+ years of leadership experience. Use keywords from the job description like "Unreal Engine," "C++," "UI Framework," "Leadership," "Performance Optimization," and "Team Management."
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your UI development expertise, leadership capabilities, and problem-solving skills. For each project, prepare to discuss the technical challenges, your specific contributions, team dynamics, and quantifiable results.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your career progression, leadership philosophy, and passion for game development, particularly within the Witcher universe. Practice explaining your portfolio projects concisely and effectively.
• Research CD PROJEKT RED: Understand the company's mission, its games, and its culture. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about Project Sirius, the UI team's current focus, and the company's approach to development.

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