Lead UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UX Designer

Company: CD PROJEKT RED

Location: Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland

Job Type: Full-time

Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Game Design Operations

Date Posted: March 02, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the definition and execution of the overall user experience (UX) for Project Sirius, a new multiplayer game set in The Witcher universe.

• Ensure an inclusive, intuitive, immersive, rewarding, and memorable player experience through continuous research, observation, and iteration.

• Drive excellence in UI navigation, game flow, and moment-to-moment interactive clarity by fostering cross-departmental collaboration.

• Build, support, and mentor a team of UX designers, establishing best practices and methodologies for effective design operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the game development sector, specifically focusing on operationalizing UX design principles to create a compelling player experience for a AAA multiplayer title. The "Operations" aspect is inherent in the structured approach to defining, implementing, and refining the user journey across multiple development disciplines.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and own the UX strategy for Project Sirius, encompassing visual, interactive, and workflow design elements.

• Collaborate closely with the Lead UI Artist to create cohesive and accessible UI screens and layouts that enhance player engagement.

• Develop and maintain interaction guidelines for user interfaces, game menus, and end-to-end player journeys.

• Lead and mentor a team of UX designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design operations environment.

• Design and prototype user flows, navigation structures, and core usability systems, ensuring alignment with game mechanics and narrative.

• Define playtesting objectives and actively participate in usability studies to gather player feedback and drive iterative improvements.

• Translate insights from user research, marketing data, and community feedback into actionable design recommendations.

• Produce comprehensive design documentation, including wireframes, user flows, and interaction specifications, to guide implementation.

• Work closely with production teams to ensure UX designs are implemented effectively within project timelines and resource constraints.

• Maintain open communication channels with all project stakeholders to gather feedback and continuously refine the user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic UX leadership and hands-on design execution, emphasizing the operational aspects of bringing a complex game's user experience to life. This includes team management, process definition, and cross-functional alignment, critical for large-scale game development projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent knowledge and experience in UX design principles is essential.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated UX Design experience, with a proven track record of leadership responsibilities and at least one shipped AAA title.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in UX Design with a focus on interactive entertainment or complex digital products.

• Demonstrated experience in a leadership or mentorship role for UX/UI designers.

• Shipped at least one AAA video game title, showcasing an understanding of large-scale project development lifecycles.

• Deep knowledge of current game titles, UX trends, and industry best practices within the gaming sector.

• Proficiency with industry-standard prototyping and wireframing tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Expertise in collaboration tools like Miro for ideation, workflow mapping, and team communication.

• Strong understanding of UI/UX best practices, information architecture, and user-centered design principles.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts clearly.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a cross-functional team environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience as a UX Designer specifically on multiplayer games, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities.

• Familiarity with or experience creating prototypes and wireframes directly within Unreal Engine.

• Experience integrating UX features within a game engine environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on shipping a AAA title and experience with specific tools like Figma and Unreal Engine points to a need for candidates who can hit the ground running with established industry workflows and technologies. Leadership experience is key, indicating a need for process management and team operational efficiency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of one shipped AAA title, detailing your specific contributions to the UX design process.

• Present case studies that demonstrate your ability to define and refine player journeys, UI navigation, and interactive clarity.

• Include examples of UX design documentation, such as wireframes, user flows, and interaction specifications.

• Highlight instances where you translated user research, playtest feedback, or community insights into tangible design improvements.

Process Documentation:

• Detail your approach to user research, playtesting, and feedback integration within the development lifecycle.

• Illustrate your methods for collaborating with UI Artists, Game Designers, and Engineers to ensure cohesive UX implementation.

• Provide examples of how you establish and maintain design guidelines and documentation for complex projects.

• Showcase your ability to manage design tasks, prioritize workflows, and contribute to project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: A robust portfolio is critical for this role, as it serves as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to operationalize UX principles in a high-stakes development environment. The focus on AAA titles and process documentation underscores the need for a structured, results-oriented approach to UX design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: 31,800 - 43,725 PLN gross monthly.

Benefits:

• Relocation Support: Comprehensive package including flight tickets, company apartment for the first month, pet relocation, and shipping of belongings.

• Relocation Assistance: Support with legalization processes, finding residence, and tax settlements.

• Language Support: Polish lessons for foreign employees and their partners.

• Paid Leave: 20-26 days of holiday per year, paid sick leave, and paid maternity & paternity leave.

• Flexible Working Hours: Option to start the workday between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

• Professional Development: Access to internal workshops, external training, lectures, online tutorials, and e-learning classes.

• Cafeteria Platform: Subscription benefits, additional medical packages, and vouchers/codes for shops and cinemas.

• Company Swag: Gifts and merchandise, including welcome packs.

• Private Medical Healthcare: Comprehensive plans with dental care, accessible for partners and relatives.

• Health Checks: On-site tests, vaccinations, and professional medical advice.

• Psychological Care: Free mental health support and well-being webinars.

• Multisport Card: Access to a wide range of sports and fitness facilities.

• Dog-Friendly Office: Employees are welcome to bring their dogs to the studio.

• Social Events: Regular company gatherings and team-building activities.

• Office Amenities: Organic fruit, snacks, muesli, organic honey, vegan milk, and specialty coffee.

• International Environment: Opportunity to work with a diverse, global team.

• Long-Term Incentive Program: Potential eligibility for stock options after a vesting period.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with flexible start times between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Lead UX Designer role in Warsaw, reflecting the seniority and AAA game development context. The extensive benefits package, particularly the relocation support and professional development opportunities, aims to attract and retain top international talent, highlighting the company's investment in its employees' operational well-being and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development / Interactive Entertainment. 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 gaming industry, employing a substantial number of professionals across multiple studios. This size suggests a structured organization with established processes and a broad range of specialized teams.

Founded: CD PROJEKT RED was founded in 2002. Its history is marked by a commitment to quality, player-centric design, and ambitious storytelling, fostering a culture of innovation and dedication to crafting memorable gaming experiences.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team operates within the broader Game Design department, likely comprising multiple UX Designers, potentially with specializations (e.g., UI, Interaction, Systems).

• This role reports to the Design Director, indicating a clear hierarchy and strategic oversight.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on user research, playtesting, and player feedback to inform design decisions and iterate on user experience.

• Collaborative Workflow: Strong focus on cross-departmental teamwork, open communication, and constructive feedback to ensure holistic game development.

• Agile Principles: While not explicitly stated, the iterative nature of game development and the mention of implementing designs within timelines suggest an agile or hybrid agile methodology is likely employed.

• Player-Centricity: The core mission revolves around creating experiences that resonate deeply with players, making player needs and desires central to all design operations.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CD PROJEKT RED's reputation for quality and player focus is a significant cultural element. For operations professionals, this translates to a demanding yet rewarding environment where meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of player psychology are paramount. The company's scale implies robust operational frameworks for game development.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Lead-level position within the UX Design function, signifying a senior role with significant responsibility for both design strategy and team management. It bridges the gap between individual contributor expertise and managerial oversight, requiring a blend of deep UX knowledge and operational leadership skills.

Reporting Structure: The Lead UX Designer reports directly to the Design Director, indicating a strategic input into the overall game design vision. They will also be responsible for guiding and managing a team of UX Designers, defining their workflows and development paths.

Operations Impact: The UX design operations directly influence player engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction with Project Sirius. By ensuring an intuitive, immersive, and rewarding experience, the Lead UX Designer plays a critical role in the game's commercial success and player reception. Effective UX design operations can reduce development friction, minimize costly redesigns, and enhance the perceived quality of the final product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Unreal Engine integration for UX, advanced prototyping techniques, and emerging UX technologies in gaming.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a broader management role, overseeing larger design teams or multiple projects, and refining strategic operational planning.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to various aspects of AAA game development, including narrative design, technical art, game systems, and production management, fostering a holistic understanding of the development pipeline.

• Project Leadership: Opportunity to shape the foundational UX for a new IP within The Witcher universe, leaving a significant creative and operational mark on the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within the specialized field of game UX operations. The combination of leadership, technical depth, and strategic impact provides a strong foundation for a career in game development management or senior design roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Office-First" with a "hybrid mode" available, meaning the primary work environment is the Warsaw studio, with flexibility for remote work on certain days. This suggests a collaborative in-office culture supplemented by remote work capabilities.

Office Location(s): Warsaw, Poland. CD PROJEKT RED's studio in Warsaw is a central hub for its development activities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with dedicated spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal interactions. The dog-friendly policy also contributes to a relaxed and social atmosphere.

• Technology-Rich: Employees will have access to industry-standard hardware, software (including game development tools like Unreal Engine), and robust network infrastructure necessary for demanding game development tasks.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model and emphasis on communication mean that while remote collaboration tools are vital, in-person interactions are encouraged for key design discussions, team building, and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees to start their workday between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM, accommodating personal needs while ensuring core operational hours are covered for team collaboration and project continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and flexible hours are key operational considerations, aiming to balance individual employee needs with the collaborative demands of AAA game development. The office environment is designed to support both focused work and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, qualifications, and fit for the Lead UX Designer role and AAA game development.

• Technical Interview: In-depth discussion of UX design principles, processes, and experience, potentially including a review of portfolio case studies. Expect questions on information architecture, interaction design, and user research methodologies.

• Design Challenge/Task: Candidates may be given a practical exercise or case study to assess their problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to apply UX principles to specific game scenarios. This could involve evaluating existing UI, proposing new features, or refining a user flow.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with key team members, including potential direct reports and other leads, to assess collaborative style, communication skills, and alignment with CD PROJEKT RED's company values (curiosity, kindness, collaboration).

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership, potentially the Design Director or a higher-level executive, to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with clear case studies for each significant project, especially AAA titles. For each case study, outline the problem, your role and responsibilities, the process you followed, the solutions you implemented, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly articulate your leadership contributions, team management approach, and how you guided other designers.

• Showcase Process: Detail your UX process, including research methodologies, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and iteration. Emphasize how you translated player feedback and data into design decisions.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Include examples of your work using Figma, Sketch, or other relevant prototyping tools. If you have Unreal Engine experience, showcase relevant prototypes or workflows.

• Focus on Player Experience: For this role, emphasize how your designs contributed to an inclusive, intuitive, immersive, and rewarding player experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Familiarize yourself with The Witcher universe and the implications of a multiplayer RPG experience. Consider how UX principles might differ from single-player games.

• Think Player-Centric: Approach any challenge by first considering the player's perspective, needs, and potential pain points.

• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to clearly explain the "why" behind your design decisions, referencing UX principles and potential player impact.

• Embrace Collaboration: If the challenge involves collaboration, demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and incorporate feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only technical UX skills but also leadership capabilities and cultural fit. A strong, well-documented portfolio that showcases both individual contribution and leadership in process execution is paramount for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Prototyping & Design: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator). These are essential for creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.

• Collaboration & Ideation: Miro, Confluence, Jira. Crucial for team-wide brainstorming, workflow mapping, documentation, and project tracking.

• Game Engine: Unreal Engine. While not strictly a UX design tool, familiarity with or experience in implementing UX features within Unreal Engine is a significant advantage.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability tests (specific tools may vary).

• Game Analytics Platforms: While not directly operated by UX, understanding how game analytics (e.g., player progression, engagement metrics) inform UX decisions is key.

CRM & Automation: (Less directly relevant to this specific UX role, but understanding the broader ecosystem is beneficial)

• Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, Trello for task management and workflow tracking.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with industry-standard UX design and collaboration tools is a baseline requirement. Experience with Unreal Engine is a key differentiator, suggesting a need for designers who can bridge the gap between conceptual design and engine implementation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A fundamental value driving all design decisions, ensuring the player experience is paramount.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork across disciplines, with open communication and mutual respect.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to delivering high-quality, polished products that meet ambitious standards.

• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Encouraging exploration, experimentation, and a proactive approach to skill development and understanding new trends.

• Kindness & Inclusivity: Fostering a supportive and respectful environment where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: UX designers work intimately with UI artists, game designers, narrative designers, and engineers, forming integrated teams focused on specific game features or systems.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Regular design reviews, playtests, and feedback sessions are integral to the development process, ensuring continuous refinement and alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing insights, best practices, and lessons learned through internal presentations, workshops, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: CD PROJEKT RED's stated values of curiosity, kindness, and collaboration are central to their operational culture. For a Lead UX Designer, this means actively fostering these values within their team and ensuring their design operations contribute to a positive and productive work environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complexity and Intuition: Designing for a multiplayer RPG in The Witcher universe requires balancing deep, complex game systems with an intuitive and accessible user experience for a broad player base.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive and high-quality UX across potentially multiple platforms (PC, consoles) while optimizing for each.

• Team Leadership in a Hybrid Model: Effectively leading and mentoring a UX design team in a hybrid work environment, ensuring consistent quality and communication.

• Integrating New Technologies: Adapting to evolving game development technologies and player expectations, potentially including innovative UI/UX solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Game UX: Deepen expertise in specialized areas of game UX, such as accessibility, player onboarding, live-service game design, or complex system interfaces.

• Leadership & Management: Develop strategic leadership skills, project management techniques for design operations, and team building strategies.

• Unreal Engine Integration: Gain hands-on experience implementing UX directly within Unreal Engine, understanding its capabilities and limitations for UI development.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities for training, attending conferences, and engaging in knowledge-sharing initiatives to stay at the forefront of UX design in the gaming industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of leading UX design for ambitious AAA titles. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering a clear path for career progression within the specialized domain of game design operations and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the core UX for a new multiplayer RPG in an established universe like The Witcher, ensuring both player immersion and accessibility?" (Focus on your process, research methods, and how you'd balance depth with ease of use.)

• "Describe a time you had to lead a UX design team through a challenging project with tight deadlines. What was your approach to managing workflows, motivating the team, and ensuring quality?" (Highlight leadership, process management, and problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What aspects of CD PROJEKT RED's games or company culture appeal to you, and how do you see your values aligning with ours?" (Research their games, mission, and stated values. Be specific.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive environment within your design team, especially in a hybrid work setting?" (Showcase your leadership style and understanding of team dynamics.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, structure it as a narrative: the challenge, your role, the process, the solution, and the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., "reduced task completion time by X%", "improved player satisfaction scores by Y%").

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively – wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and even short video clips of gameplay related to your UX work.

• Explain Your Rationale: Be prepared to articulate the "why" behind your design decisions at every step.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly distinguish your contributions from those of others on the team, especially when discussing team projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on articulating a clear, player-centric design process, demonstrating leadership, and showcasing a deep understanding of the AAA game development context, particularly for RPGs and multiplayer titles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on smartrecruiters.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your AAA title experience and any multiplayer game design work. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your leadership role, design process, and the impact of your UX decisions on player experience.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "UX Design," "Lead," "AAA Title," "User Experience," "Interaction Design," "Prototyping," "Figma," "Unreal Engine," and "Team Leadership." Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership style, and problem-solving approach using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare specific examples for potential interview questions related to team management, player research, and game design challenges.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research CD PROJEKT RED's game portfolio, company mission, and stated values. Understand their approach to player engagement and narrative-driven experiences, and consider how your UX expertise can contribute to their unique game development culture.

⚠️ 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.