Senior Tech UX/UI Designer - Diablo

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Tech UX/UI Designer - Diablo

Company: Blizzard Entertainment

Location: Irvine, California, United States / Village of Colonie, New York, United States

Job Type: OTHER

Category: Game Development Operations / Technical Art Operations

Date Posted: August 5, 2025

Experience Level: 8+ Years (Senior)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the development and enhancement of cutting-edge UX/UI design tools and pipelines within the Diablo franchise.

• Collaborate closely with engine engineers, game developers, and fellow UX/UI designers to integrate and optimize development workflows.

• Mentor and guide the UX/UI team on best practices for tool implementation and efficient design processes.

• Champion the continuous exploration and adoption of industry-leading UX/UI technologies and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is highly specialized, focusing on the operational and technical aspects of UX/UI design within a game development context. It bridges the gap between creative design and technical implementation, requiring a deep understanding of development tools, pipelines, and engine capabilities. The emphasis is on enabling and empowering the design team through robust technical solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design, scripting, and implementation of UX/UI development tools to significantly improve efficiency for the design and art teams.

• Partner with the engine and game engineering teams to plan, develop, and execute in-game UX/UI development tools that directly impact gameplay experience.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to the broader UX/UI team, ensuring adherence to implementation best practices and standards.

• Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with game development stakeholders to ensure alignment and gather feedback on tool development.

• Proactively research and advocate for adoption of cutting-edge UX/UI implementation tools and procedures within the video game industry.

• Refine and improve existing UX design, UI art, UI VFX, and UI Engine Tools to enhance overall development pipelines and collaborative workflows.

• Ensure adherence to the project's established visual and interaction patterns when designing and implementing new tools or features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of individual contribution (designing, scripting) and leadership (mentoring, stakeholder management). The focus on "improving existing UX design, UI art, UI VFX, UI Engine Tools, UX/UI Development pipelines and collaborative workflows" suggests a role heavily involved in process optimization and technical infrastructure for the design team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Game Design, or a related technical field is highly beneficial. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in UI implementation, Technical UX/UI design, or a closely related role within the software or game development industry, with a significant portion of this experience on public-facing products.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 8 years of experience as a UI implementer, Tech UX/UI designer, or similar role on public products.

• Proficiency in UX/UI implementation within modern game engines or platforms (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine, Noesis, HTML5).

• Demonstrated ability to adhere to and maintain a project's existing visual and interaction design patterns.

• Experience designing interfaces and tools for multiple control schemes (Controllers, Mouse & Keyboard, Touch Screen).

• Proven ability to receive and provide constructive, objective feedback to foster team growth and product improvement.

• A strong passion for video games, user experience (UX) design, and user interface (UI) design principles.

Preferred Skills:

• Deep passion for the Diablo franchise and the ARPG genre, understanding player motivations and community expectations.

• Interest in ARPG gameplay mechanics and actively participating in nurturing a healthy game community.

• Experience designing interfaces for a variety of platforms and diverse control schemes, demonstrating adaptability.

• Familiarity with scripting languages relevant to game development tools or UI implementation.

• Experience with UI VFX creation and implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "portfolio showing a solid grasp of usability design principles, user flows and prototypes you have created for UI screens, as well as samples of your visual design ability" is critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects that demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also thoughtful user-centered design and technical execution within a development context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Detailed case studies demonstrating the design and implementation of UX/UI development tools, highlighting efficiency improvements.

• Examples of user flow diagrams and interactive prototypes created for complex UI systems within games.

• Visual design samples that clearly articulate adherence to established style guides and interaction patterns.

• Demonstrations of technical implementation expertise, possibly including code snippets or explanations of tool integration within an engine.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you've documented and optimized UI development pipelines and workflows.

• Demonstrations of your approach to establishing and maintaining technical standards for UI implementation.

• Case studies detailing how you've mentored team members on best practices for tool usage and UI development.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should strongly emphasize the "Tech" aspect of the title. Beyond showcasing visual design and user flows, candidates need to demonstrate their ability to build, script, and integrate tools within a game engine environment, and how these tools led to tangible process improvements or efficiency gains for the team.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $92,920.00 - $171,814.00 Annually. This range is indicative of the expected base pay for new hires across all U.S. locations, with the final offer dependent on factors such as relevant experience, performance, and work location.

Benefits: Blizzard Entertainment offers a comprehensive suite of benefits to promote employee well-being, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans

• Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)

• Dependent Care Spending Accounts

• Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance

• Disability Insurance (Short-term and Long-term)

• 401(k) plan with a Company match

• Tuition Reimbursement program

• Charitable Donation Matching

• Generous Paid Time Off: Paid holidays, vacation, sick time, and floating holidays

• Compassion and Bereavement Leaves

• Parental Leave

• Mental Health & Wellbeing Programs

• Fitness Programs

• Free and discounted Blizzard games

• Various other voluntary benefit programs (e.g., supplemental life/disability, legal services, ID protection)

• Relocation assistance may be provided if the role requires geographic relocation.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is 40 hours. The role offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement, allowing for a mix of remote and on-site days, with the option to work on-site full-time if preferred.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a US national benchmark. Actual compensation will be localized. The benefits package is extensive, covering physical, mental, and financial well-being, which is a strong draw for professionals in demanding creative and technical fields.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Video Game Development. Blizzard Entertainment operates within a highly competitive and dynamic sector known for innovation, creativity, and demanding project timelines.

Company Size: Part of Activision Blizzard, a large global entity (hundreds of millions of monthly active users worldwide). Blizzard Entertainment itself is a significant division within this, employing a substantial number of individuals across multiple studios. This size offers resources and stability but also requires navigating larger organizational structures.

Founded: Blizzard Entertainment was founded in 1991. Its long history and consistent delivery of high-quality, genre-defining games have built a strong brand legacy and a dedicated player base.

Team Structure:

• The UX/UI team likely operates as a specialized unit within the larger game development structure for Diablo. It will include UX designers, UI designers, UI artists, and potentially UI engineers or technical artists.

• This role reports to the lead Tech UX/UI Designer, indicating a clear hierarchy and specialization within the UX/UI discipline.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: While not explicitly stated for this role, game development thrives on player data, playtesting feedback, and analytics to inform design decisions and tool improvements.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: A core function of this role is to plan and optimize the UX/UI development pipeline, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.

• Automation & Efficiency: The role is centered around creating tools that automate processes and enhance efficiency for designers and artists.

Company Website: https://careers.blizzard.com/global/en

📝 Enhancement Note: Blizzard's culture is known for its "developer-first" approach and a passion for creating high-quality games. The "developer-first" aspect translates to a focus on providing the tools and environment necessary for creative talent to excel, making this technical UX/UI role crucial. The company's commitment to diversity and inclusion is also a notable cultural element.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior-level position, indicating a high degree of autonomy, expertise, and responsibility. This role is expected to set technical direction and mentor junior team members.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Lead Tech UX/UI Designer, who likely oversees the entire technical UX/UI development effort for the Diablo project. This structure suggests a clear path for technical leadership and strategic input.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the efficiency and quality of the UX/UI development process, which in turn affects the overall player experience in Diablo. By improving tools and workflows, this position enables faster iteration and higher fidelity in the game's user interface.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in game engine tools, scripting, and pipeline optimization, potentially leading to a lead or principal technical artist/designer role.

• Leadership Development: Progress into a Lead Tech UX/UI Designer role, managing a team and setting strategic technical direction for UX/UI.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gain deeper insights into engine architecture, game design, and art pipelines through close collaboration, opening doors to broader technical art or design leadership roles.

• Franchise Impact: Contribute significantly to the evolution of iconic franchises like Diablo, building a strong resume within the gaming industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies an expectation of technical leadership and the ability to influence tool development strategy. Growth opportunities are likely tied to increasing scope of responsibility, leading specific tool initiatives, or moving into management within the operations or design technology space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in a hybrid work environment, with primary studio locations in Irvine, CA, and Albany, NY. This offers a blend of remote flexibility and in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Irvine, California (Southern California) and Village of Colonie, New York (near Albany). Both are established hubs with significant creative and technical talent pools.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a highly collaborative setting where designers, engineers, and artists work closely together. The hybrid model necessitates strong communication and coordination skills.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to Blizzard's proprietary development tools, game engines (likely Unreal Engine), and other industry-standard software for design, prototyping, and implementation.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the UX/UI team for mentoring and feedback, as well as frequent touchpoints with engineering and game development teams to ensure seamless tool integration and usability.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement offering flexibility. This allows for focused work periods, whether at home or in the office, and facilitates participation in team meetings and collaborative sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key factor. Candidates should be comfortable with both independent work and active participation in team-based, in-person activities. The studio locations are significant hubs for game development, providing access to a wealth of industry talent and resources.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A Talent Acquisition specialist will likely review your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role. Be prepared to clearly articulate your experience with development tools and process improvement.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect interviews with the Lead Tech UX/UI Designer and potentially senior engineers or designers. These will focus on your technical skills, experience with game engines, workflow optimization strategies, and your approach to tool development.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Focus on projects where you designed, scripted, or implemented tools that directly improved efficiency or solved complex workflow challenges. Clearly explain the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions with other members of the UX/UI team or cross-functional partners to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural alignment with Blizzard's values.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the team's goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: Showcase projects where your tools or process improvements led to quantifiable results (e.g., reduced development time, increased designer productivity, improved UI quality).

• Demonstrate Technical Depth: Include examples of scripting, engine integration, or complex workflow design. Explain the technical challenges you overcame.

• Highlight Collaboration: Provide examples of how you worked with engineers and artists, and how your contributions facilitated their work.

• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by the problem you solved. Be ready to verbally walk through your contributions and thought process for each piece.

• Tailor to Diablo: If possible, show an understanding of the Diablo franchise and how your skills could specifically benefit its UX/UI development.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential technical challenges or case studies that might involve designing a workflow for a specific UI feature or proposing improvements to an existing toolset.

• Practice articulating complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

• Think about how you would approach mentoring junior team members on tool best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It needs to go beyond static UI mockups and demonstrate practical, technical contributions to the development process. Candidates should prepare to discuss the "how" and "why" behind their tool development and process optimization efforts.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engines: Deep expertise in at least one major engine like Unreal Engine or Unity is essential. This includes understanding their UI systems (e.g., UMG in Unreal, UI Toolkit in Unity) and asset pipelines.

• Scripting/Programming: Proficiency in scripting languages relevant to tool development (e.g., Python, C#, Lua) and potentially C++ for engine-level work.

• Design & Prototyping Tools: Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Axure, or similar for creating UI mockups, user flows, and interactive prototypes.

• Visual Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) for asset creation and refinement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms used in game development to track UI performance and user behavior, though direct analysis might be handled by other teams.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a traditional CRM role, understanding project management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) and version control systems (e.g., Perforce, Git) is crucial for collaborative development workflows.

• Experience with automation tools for build processes, asset pipelines, or testing frameworks would be highly beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Specific knowledge of Unreal Engine's UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) or Unity's UI Toolkit and their respective scripting capabilities would be a significant advantage. The ability to integrate custom tools into these engine environments is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A drive to create high-quality, polished experiences, both in the game's UI and the tools that build it.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to achieve shared goals, valuing input from engineers, artists, and designers.

• Innovation: Continuously seeking out new technologies and methodologies to improve the development process and player experience.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities, delivering on commitments, and being proactive in problem-solving.

• Player Focus: A deep understanding and passion for the player experience, ensuring that all design and tool decisions ultimately serve the player.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively engaging with engineers to understand engine capabilities and limitations, and with artists/designers to gather requirements and feedback.

• Process Review & Feedback: Participating in regular reviews of workflows and tools, providing and receiving constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share expertise, mentor team members, and contribute to a culture of learning and skill development within the UX/UI team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Blizzard emphasizes a culture of passion for games and a commitment to quality. This role's success hinges on strong collaborative skills and a willingness to be a proactive member of a creative and technical team, sharing knowledge and driving best practices.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Technical Complexity: Navigating the intricacies of game engines and proprietary development tools to create efficient and robust solutions.

• Balancing Design and Technical Needs: Ensuring that the tools empower creative freedom while maintaining technical stability and adherence to project constraints.

• Cross-Team Dependencies: Managing dependencies and communication across multiple disciplines (engineering, art, design) to ensure seamless tool integration and adoption.

• Evolving Technology: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in game development technology and adapting tools and workflows accordingly.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Engine Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Unreal Engine or Unity, including specialized training on their UI systems and tool development frameworks.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential for attending relevant conferences (e.g., GDC) or workshops focused on game development tools, pipelines, and UX/UI best practices.

• Mentorship from Leads: Direct guidance and mentorship from experienced lead designers and engineers, fostering rapid skill development and career progression.

• Contribution to Iconic Franchises: The opportunity to work on and significantly impact the development of globally recognized games like Diablo.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present significant growth opportunities. By tackling the complexities of engine integration and cross-team dependencies, professionals can build highly sought-after skills in game development operations and technical design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed or improved a UX/UI development tool. What problem were you solving, what was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on process, impact, and technical solution).

• "How do you balance the need for creative flexibility with the technical constraints of a game engine when developing UI tools?" (Assess understanding of trade-offs and problem-solving).

• "How would you approach mentoring junior designers on best practices for using new UI development tools you've implemented?" (Evaluate leadership and communication skills).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What aspects of the Diablo franchise appeal to you, and how do you see your role contributing to its player experience?" (Gauge passion and strategic thinking).

• "How do you handle receiving constructive criticism on your designs or tools?" (Assess receptiveness to feedback).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The STAR Method: For each portfolio piece, structure your explanation using Situation, Task, Action, Result.

• Focus on the "Tech": Clearly articulate the technical aspects of your work – the tools you built, the systems you integrated, the scripting you used.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visual aids (screenshots, videos, interactive prototypes) to demonstrate your work effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or specific examples to show the positive impact of your contributions on efficiency or quality.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your design decisions, technical implementation, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a candidate who is not only a skilled designer but also a technically proficient problem-solver and a collaborative team player. Demonstrating a clear understanding of development pipelines and the ability to improve them will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Tech UX/UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Blizzard Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your technical UX/UI design skills, tool development, and process optimization within a game development context. Prioritize examples that show tangible improvements.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 8+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing technical skills, engine proficiency (Unreal/Unity), scripting capabilities, and successful collaborations on public products. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your process, technical solutions, and collaborative approach. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions using the STAR method, focusing on your contributions to development tools and workflows.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Blizzard Entertainment's history, its major franchises (especially Diablo), and its stated company values. Understand the hybrid work model and the studio locations.

⚠️ 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.