Senior UI Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Designer

Company: CD PROJEKT RED

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Game Development - UI/UX Design

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote Eligible

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design and execution of complex User Interface (UI) features for the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2 game, ensuring an immersive and intuitive player experience.

• Champion player-centered UI design principles, translating gameplay mechanics and narrative elements into functional and visually compelling interfaces that enhance player engagement.

• Drive cross-functional collaboration, aligning UI design vision with UX, art, and engineering teams to ensure seamless integration and technical feasibility throughout the game development pipeline.

• Establish and maintain high-level UI standards, style guides, and documentation to ensure design consistency and quality across the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior UI Designer, indicating a need for leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers. The focus on "player-centered design" and "enhancing immersion" points towards a deep understanding of player psychology and game design principles as they relate to UI. The mention of "Cyberpunk 2" and "RPGs" signifies a need for domain-specific aesthetic understanding.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Drive the end-to-end design process for intricate UI features, encompassing user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and final visual asset creation.

• Balance critical functionality with aesthetic appeal to ensure UI design seamlessly integrates with gameplay mechanics, leveraging a consistent visual language for enhanced player experience.

• Lead and facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration with UX designers, art directors, and engineering teams to achieve aligned goals and project milestones.

• Foster innovation in interaction design, exploring new paradigms and user engagement strategies to push the boundaries of in-game interfaces.

• Partner closely with engineering teams to oversee the implementation of UI designs, proactively troubleshooting integration challenges and ensuring technical readiness.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive design documentation, including detailed style guides and asset specifications, to ensure clear communication and implementation fidelity across the development team.

• Proactively research and champion emerging UI trends, technologies, and innovative approaches within the gaming industry, integrating them where appropriate to elevate the player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a full-cycle design ownership, from conceptualization to implementation oversight. The mention of "player experience," "gameplay mechanics," and "technical feasibility" highlights the critical balance required in game UI design. Leadership in "cross-functional collaboration" and "mentoring" is key for a senior role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of dedicated UI design experience within the video game industry, with a proven track record of designing player-centered interfaces for complex titles.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator for wireframing, prototyping, and detailed visual design.

• Deep understanding of game development pipelines, including the integration of UI elements with core gameplay systems and engine workflows.

• Expertise in creating intuitive user flows, detailed wireframes, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design intent.

• Proven ability to translate complex gameplay mechanics and narrative elements into clear, functional, and aesthetically pleasing UI designs.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, capable of articulating design concepts and rationale effectively in a multilingual and multicultural development environment.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the cyberpunk genre and an ability to translate its unique aesthetics and themes into compelling UI designs.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of player-centered UI designs for games, with detailed case studies on problem-solving and design process.

• Willingness and aptitude for learning new design tools, workflows, and engine-specific implementation methods.

• Meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering focus on delivering high-quality, polished user interfaces.

Preferred Skills:

• Passion for innovative UI design and a keen insight into modern UI trends across the gaming landscape.

• Experience working on AAA titles with intricate and complex UI systems.

• Residence within the Eastern Time Zone (North America) is preferred for hybrid/remote collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly emphasize practical, hands-on experience and a strong portfolio. The inclusion of specific tools like Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Unreal Engine (including Blueprints and Materials) is critical for ATS optimization and candidate targeting. The "Nice to Have" section provides valuable insights into what would make a candidate stand out.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 distinct game UI projects, detailing the problem statement, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), key design decisions, and final outcomes.

• Player-Centric Design Examples: Demonstrate how your UI designs have directly addressed player needs, improved usability, or enhanced immersion, with quantifiable results or user feedback where possible.

• Systemic Thinking: Illustrate your ability to design UI systems that are scalable, maintainable, and integrate seamlessly with game mechanics, rather than just standalone screens.

• Visual Design Excellence: Present high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that exhibit strong visual design principles, typography, color theory, and adherence to brand aesthetics (especially relevant for the cyberpunk genre).

• Technical Collaboration Evidence: Include examples or descriptions of how you have collaborated with engineers on UI implementation, demonstrating an understanding of technical constraints and feasibility.

Process Documentation:

• User Flow Diagrams: Provide examples of detailed user flow diagrams for complex in-game menus or interactive systems.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Showcase examples of wireframes and interactive prototypes created in tools like Figma or Adobe XD, illustrating your iterative design process.

• Style Guide Components: Include excerpts from style guides you have created or contributed to, detailing UI elements, typography, color palettes, and interaction patterns.

• Implementation Notes: If possible, provide examples of annotations or notes provided to engineering teams to clarify UI implementation details.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UI Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. This section details what CD PROJEKT RED will likely look for: evidence of robust process, systemic design thinking, technical understanding, and a strong visual portfolio that directly relates to game UI challenges. Emphasis on "player-centered" and "technical collaboration" is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,600 - $174,200 USD Annually

Benefits:

• Health & Well-Being:

  • Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Comprehensive mental health support, including access to 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-friendly events.

• Time Off & Financial:

  • 20 days of paid holiday per year (increasing to 26 days after two years of service).
  • 401K plan with employer matching contributions.

• Professional Development:

  • Access to trainings, lectures, and courses, including internal workshops, knowledge-sharing initiatives, online tutorials, and e-learning classes.

• Work-Life Integration:

  • Flexible working hours to accommodate personal schedules and optimize productivity.
  • Gym Membership Reimbursement.

Working Hours:

• Standard 40-hour work week.

• Flexible working hours are available, allowing for adjustments to start and end times, provided core operational needs and collaboration requirements are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided and is competitive for a Senior UI Designer role in the US. The benefits package is extensive, with a strong emphasis on health, well-being, and professional growth, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The inclusion of unique benefits like menstrual leave and a dog-friendly office (mentioned in additional information) adds to the company's appeal. The flexible working hours are a significant plus for work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development (AAA RPGs)

Company Size: Large (Likely 500-1000+ employees, based on AAA development scale)

Founded: 2002

Company Description: CD PROJEKT RED is renowned for creating critically acclaimed, story-driven RPGs that resonate deeply with players worldwide. Their mission is to craft revolutionary gaming experiences that connect with players on an emotional level. The company emphasizes a culture of passion, creativity, and pushing boundaries in game design. They actively share behind-the-scenes content through their YouTube channel and "Beyond the Game Blog" to foster transparency and connect with their community.

Team Structure:

• The UI Design team for Cyberpunk 2 is likely part of a larger Game Design or Art department.

• This Senior role will likely report to a Lead UI/UX Designer or a Game Design Director.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Game development often follows Agile methodologies, involving iterative cycles, frequent feedback, and adaptability.

• Player-Centric Design: A core philosophy focused on understanding and catering to player needs, preferences, and overall experience.

• Data-Informed Iteration: While subjective player feedback is crucial, data from playtesting and analytics (where applicable) informs design refinements.

• Cross-Functional Teamwork: Emphasis on constant communication and collaboration between diverse disciplines to achieve a cohesive final product.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding CD PROJEKT RED's reputation for narrative-driven RPGs and their commitment to player experience is key. The team structure implies a collaborative environment where senior members guide and influence design decisions. The mention of "Cyberpunk 2" and "RPGs" suggests a need for designers who understand and appreciate these genres.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor / Team Lead Potential

Reporting Structure: This role reports to a Lead UI/UX Designer or Game Design Director, with significant autonomy in managing UI design for specific features or systems within the Cyberpunk 2 project. The position involves guiding and mentoring other UI designers.

Operations Impact:

• Player Immersion: The UI is a critical gateway to the game world; exceptional UI design directly enhances player immersion, engagement, and overall satisfaction with the Cyberpunk 2 experience.

• Gameplay Comprehension: Clear and intuitive UI ensures players can easily understand and interact with complex game mechanics, systems, and information, reducing frustration and improving gameplay flow.

• Brand Consistency: The UI is a key component of the game's visual identity. This role ensures the UI aligns with the unique aesthetic and thematic elements of the Cyberpunk universe, reinforcing the brand.

• Development Efficiency: High-quality design documentation and effective collaboration contribute to smoother implementation by engineering teams, reducing development cycles and costs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Lead UI/UX Designer: Potential to advance to a Lead position, managing a larger team and taking on more strategic design responsibilities for future projects.

• Art Direction: Transition into an Art Direction role, focusing on the broader visual style and execution of game assets.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UI/UX, such as interaction design, accessibility, or technical UI implementation.

• Project Leadership: Take on leadership roles in defining the UI/UX vision for new game titles or major updates.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop leadership skills by formally mentoring junior designers and contributing to internal training programs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential within a leading AAA game development studio. The emphasis is on advancing within the design discipline, potentially moving into leadership or specialized roles, driven by the impact of UI on player experience and development success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role can be performed onsite in Boston, MA, or fully remote within specified US states. The office environment is described as dog-friendly and casual, fostering a relaxed yet collaborative atmosphere.

Office Location(s):

• Onsite: Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Boston office likely provides a dynamic workspace designed for collaboration, with amenities that encourage interaction and idea-sharing.

• Technology-Rich: Access to high-performance workstations and the latest design software is standard for game development studios.

• Creative Atmosphere: The casual dress code and dog-friendly policy contribute to a relaxed and creative environment conducive to innovation. Even for remote workers, the company culture aims to foster connection and engagement.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is expected.

• Flexible working hours are offered, allowing employees to adjust their start and end times, provided they meet their responsibilities and collaborate effectively with their teams, particularly across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid/remote flexibility is a major draw. For onsite work, the "dog-friendly" and "no dress-code" aspects suggest a company culture that values employee comfort and a less formal, more creative atmosphere. The mention of flexible hours is crucial for work-life balance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A dedicated session with hiring managers and/or senior designers to deep-dive into your portfolio. Expect to discuss your design process, decision-making rationale, and how you've tackled specific UI challenges. This may include a live design critique or problem-solving exercise.

• Cross-Functional Interview: An interview with potential collaborators from engineering, UX, or art teams to assess your communication, collaboration skills, and understanding of the development pipeline.

• Final Interview: A conversation with higher-level management (e.g., Game Director, Art Director) to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall vision for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your senior-level capabilities in game UI design, focusing on complexity, player impact, and genre relevance (cyberpunk, RPGs).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, present high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes (if possible), and clear user flows.

• Articulate Your Process: For each case study, clearly explain the problem, your approach, the tools used, your design decisions, and the outcome. Emphasize why you made certain choices.

• Highlight Technical Understanding: If applicable, discuss how your designs were implemented or how you collaborated with engineers. Mention Unreal Engine experience specifically.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Use a platform like Behance, a personal website, or a well-structured PDF.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercises: Be prepared for potential design challenges or take-home assignments that simulate real-world UI problems relevant to game development. Focus on rapid ideation, problem-solving, and clear articulation of your proposed solutions.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions about how you would handle specific design conflicts, technical limitations, or team disagreements.

• Genre Awareness: Brush up on current UI trends in RPGs and the cyberpunk genre. Understand how UI contributes to world-building and immersion in these specific contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to evaluate not just design skills but also cultural fit and collaborative ability. The portfolio review is highlighted as a critical stage, requiring candidates to demonstrate not only creativity but also a deep understanding of the game development lifecycle and player-centric design principles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative UI design. Expect to use it extensively for creating interactive flows and high-fidelity mockups.

• Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for creating and editing visual assets, textures, and complex graphical elements for the UI.

• Adobe Illustrator: Used for creating vector-based UI elements, icons, and scalable graphics.

Game Engine & Implementation:

• Unreal Engine: A core requirement. Proficiency in its UI implementation tools (e.g., UMG - Unreal Motion Graphics), Blueprints for scripting interactive UI logic, and understanding of Materials for UI elements is expected.

• Version Control Systems: Familiarity with systems like Git or Perforce is typical in game development for managing assets and code.

Prototyping & Collaboration:

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with tools like Adobe XD, InVision, or Axure may be beneficial for specific prototyping needs.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello is common for tracking tasks and project progress.

• Communication Platforms: Proficiency in tools like Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams for real-time team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section clearly outlines the essential technical toolkit. Expertise in Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and crucially, Unreal Engine (including Blueprints and Materials), is non-negotiable for this role. Understanding the game development pipeline and associated tools is also key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for Games: A deep-seated love for video games, particularly RPGs and the cyberpunk genre, driving a desire to create exceptional player experiences.

• Player-Centricity: An unwavering focus on the player, ensuring all design decisions prioritize usability, immersion, and overall satisfaction.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A commitment to working effectively within cross-functional teams, valuing diverse perspectives and contributing to a supportive team environment.

• Innovation & Excellence: A drive to push creative boundaries, explore new design solutions, and maintain the highest standards of quality in all aspects of work.

• Attention to Detail: A meticulous approach to design, ensuring that every element of the UI is polished, consistent, and contributes to the overall game experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive engagement with UX designers, engineers, artists, and narrative designers to ensure UI design is holistic and well-integrated.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive criticism and providing thoughtful feedback to colleagues to collectively improve design outcomes.

• Iterative Design Process: Embracing cycles of design, testing, and refinement based on feedback and technical constraints.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in internal workshops, design reviews, and sharing best practices to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at CD PROJEKT RED is geared towards passionate creators who value collaboration and player experience. For a Senior role, demonstrating leadership in upholding these values and fostering a positive team dynamic will be important.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Complexity and Simplicity: Designing UIs for deep RPG systems that are simultaneously intuitive and easy to navigate for a broad player base.

• Technical Constraints: Adapting ambitious design visions to the technical limitations and performance requirements of game engines and platforms.

• Genre Nuances: Capturing the specific aesthetic, tone, and thematic elements of the cyberpunk genre authentically within the UI.

• Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and effective communication across diverse teams (art, engineering, design, narrative) with potentially different priorities.

• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and design consistency when working with remote team members across different time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Unreal Engine Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Unreal Engine's UI tools and workflows.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential for attendance at leading game development and UI/UX conferences.

• Mentorship Programs: Formal or informal mentorship from senior design leads and opportunities to mentor junior designers.

• Exposure to AAA Development: Gaining invaluable experience on a high-profile AAA title with cutting-edge technology and design practices.

• Specialization Paths: Developing expertise in areas like UI accessibility, performance optimization, or advanced interaction design within games.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in AAA game development, particularly for complex RPGs. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for professional advancement and skill enhancement within a leading studio.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a complex game mechanic with a simple user interface. What was your approach and the outcome?" (Focus on user flow, information architecture, and iterative design.)

• "How would you approach designing a key UI feature for Cyberpunk 2, considering its unique genre and narrative?" (Demonstrate understanding of the cyberpunk aesthetic and player immersion.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating a style guide for a new UI system. What key elements would you include?" (Highlight documentation, consistency, and collaboration.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you specifically about CD PROJEKT RED and the Cyberpunk franchise?" (Show genuine passion and research.)

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially when working remotely?" (Highlight teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your journey, the solutions, and the impact.

• Focus on Rationale: Clearly explain why you made specific design decisions, linking them back to player needs, gameplay goals, or technical considerations.

• Highlight Senior Contributions: Emphasize leadership, mentorship, strategic thinking, and complex problem-solving in your project descriptions.

• Technical Showcase: Be ready to discuss your use of Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and especially Unreal Engine (Blueprints, UMG, Materials) in your projects.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful aspects. Have backup details ready if asked for more depth.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of game UI design principles, strong technical skills (especially with Unreal Engine), excellent communication, and a clear passion for the studio's work. The ability to articulate process and rationale is key for a senior role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI Designer position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is tailored to showcase relevant game UI design projects, with a strong emphasis on player-centered design, problem-solving, and the cyberpunk/RPG genre. Highlight your experience with Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Unreal Engine.

• Resume Optimization: Detail your 5+ years of experience in game UI design, specifically mentioning contributions to complex UI systems, mentorship, and any AAA titles. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and technical skills. Prepare specific examples for behavioral and situational questions, focusing on collaboration and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with CD PROJEKT RED's games, especially Cyberpunk 2, and their company culture. Understand their mission and values to align your responses during interviews.

⚠️ 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.

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