Senior UX Designer (Fixed-Term)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer (Fixed-Term)

Company: PUBG Madison

Location: Madison, WI

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary (6-month fixed term)

Category: Game Design & User Experience

Date Posted: May 06, 2026

Experience Level: 5-8+ years

Remote Status: Remote OK (US/Canada), preference for local/relocation.

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and optimize intuitive user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) for a new, genre-defining shooter IP, directly impacting player engagement and satisfaction.

• Collaborate intensely within a cross-functional development team, including artists, engineers, and producers, to translate creative vision into tangible, player-centric gameplay experiences.

• Conduct rigorous user research, playtesting, and feedback analysis to identify and implement critical usability improvements throughout the development lifecycle.

• Leverage a variety of design tools and methodologies, from grey-boxing and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping, to iterate and refine game mechanics and player flows.

• Report directly to the Gameplay Technical Director, contributing strategic UX insights to high-level gameplay technical decisions and overall project direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a fixed-term, 6-month position, which is crucial for candidates to understand regarding career planning and benefits. The emphasis on a "shooter or action-oriented video game" focus strongly indicates the need for candidates with experience in fast-paced, responsive, and visually complex game genres.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and refine UI/UX structures, user flows, and interaction designs for core gameplay systems and player-facing features, ensuring clarity, usability, and an engaging player experience.

• Create detailed design documentation, including wireframes, flowcharts, mockups, and interactive prototypes, to effectively communicate design intentions to development teams.

• Actively participate in and lead user validation efforts, including self-guided play, formal playtests, user research sessions, and analysis of community feedback, translating findings into actionable design improvements.

• Provide constructive and actionable feedback during peer playtests, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and shared ownership of player experience quality.

• Own the communication strategy for in-game information, ensuring players can easily understand game mechanics, objectives, and narrative elements, thereby enhancing comprehension and immersion.

• Work closely with technical artists and engineers to understand engine capabilities and constraints, ensuring designs are technically feasible and optimized for performance on PC and console platforms.

• Contribute to the grey-boxing and early iteration phases of new features, rapidly prototyping and testing concepts to validate core gameplay loops and UX.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "grey-boxing, wireframing, flowcharts, mockups, and other prototyping techniques" signifies a need for a designer proficient in a range of fidelity levels, from conceptual to near-final. The responsibility to "Extract usability insights through self-guided play and validation, playtests, user research, team feedback, and community feedback" highlights a proactive, data-informed approach to design, essential for optimizing player experience in competitive gaming.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Game Design, Graphic Design, or a related field is typically expected for senior-level UX roles. Equivalent practical experience will be considered.

Experience: 5-8+ years of dedicated user experience design experience specifically within the console and PC gaming industry, with a demonstrated focus on shooter or action-oriented game genres.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in designing intuitive and engaging UI/UX for shooter or action-oriented video games.

• Strong portfolio showcasing successful UX design projects for console and PC games, with clear examples of problem-solving and impact.

• High proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD).

• Familiarity with game engines, particularly Unreal Engine due to its prevalence in AAA development, and an understanding of their technical constraints and design opportunities.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively within diverse, cross-functional game development teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with grey-boxing and level design principles to inform UX flow.

• Understanding of player psychology and behavioral economics as applied to game design.

• Experience with user research methodologies and tools.

• Basic knowledge of scripting or visual scripting within game engines.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and sprint planning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "track record of effective and proactive work in a remote environment" for remote hires is a critical differentiator, suggesting the need for candidates who can demonstrate strong self-discipline, communication, and collaboration skills without direct physical oversight. The portfolio requirement is paramount, needing to showcase relevant experience beyond just aesthetics, focusing on problem-solving and player-centric design outcomes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies of significant UX design contributions to shipped console or PC games, ideally within the shooter or action genres.

• Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact on player experience or game metrics (e.g., usability improvements, engagement metrics, player feedback trends).

• Demonstrate proficiency in various design artifacts, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI mockups, with an emphasis on how these artifacts facilitated development and improved player comprehension.

• Highlight experience in iterating on designs based on playtesting feedback, user research, and technical constraints, showing adaptability and a data-driven approach.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document user flows and interaction states for complex systems.

• Showcase your approach to creating and utilizing prototypes to test and validate design concepts before full implementation.

• Demonstrate experience in analyzing playtest feedback and user research data to inform design decisions and create iterative improvements.

• Illustrate your workflow for collaborating with engineers and artists to ensure design feasibility and consistent implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially in game development, the portfolio is not just a collection of work but a demonstration of design thinking. The emphasis should be on the process and impact, not just the final visuals. Candidates must be prepared to walk through their design decisions and explain the rationale behind them, linking their work directly to positive player outcomes and development efficiency.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Designers in the US gaming sector with 5-8+ years of experience, and considering the fixed-term nature of the role, an estimated annual salary range of $110,000 - $150,000 USD is anticipated. This range will be adjusted based on candidate experience, specific skill set, and whether the role is remote or on-site.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive total compensation package.

• Comprehensive employer-funded healthcare: 100% coverage for in-network medical care.

• Employer-paid premiums for dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D insurance.

• Generous time off: 20 days of prorated PTO, 12 paid holidays, and a studio-wide holiday break.

• Annual sick leave days.

• Annual reimbursements for health & wellness, video games, and continuing education.

• Industry-leading family planning and fertility care benefits, including gender-affirming care.

• For on-site staff: Free catered lunches, meal reimbursements, snacks, and beverages.

• Regular team outings and events.

• 401K with a company match.

Working Hours: Standard full-time employment, typically 40 hours per week. While flexibility may be offered, core hours for collaboration with the cross-functional team will be expected. A typical day includes attending stand-ups, participating in design critiques, and creating design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for senior-level UX roles in the US gaming industry. The specific fixed-term nature might influence the final offer, potentially including a higher hourly rate or a project completion bonus, though this is not explicitly stated. The comprehensive benefits package is a significant draw, especially the 100% employer-funded healthcare.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development, specifically focused on the shooter genre with a new intellectual property (IP) being developed. PUBG Madison is part of the larger PUBG Studios entity, known globally for its flagship battle royale title.

Company Size: PUBG Madison is a studio that has been recognized as a "Top Workplace" in 2025 and 2026, indicating a positive and strong company culture. While the exact studio size isn't specified, this recognition suggests a significant team size with a focus on employee satisfaction and collaborative environment. The broader PUBG Studios likely comprises hundreds or thousands of employees globally.

Founded: The original PUBG title was released in 2017. PUBG Madison is developing a new IP, suggesting a dynamic and forward-looking environment within the established PUBG brand.

Team Structure:

• The Senior UX Designer will be part of a cross-functional development team, working alongside artists, animators, engineers, producers, and other designers.

• This role reports to the Gameplay Technical Director, indicating a strong technical leadership influence on design decisions.

Methodology:

• Development likely follows an iterative, agile-like process, with regular playtesting and feedback loops to refine gameplay and UX.

• A strong emphasis is placed on player experience, requiring data-driven design decisions informed by user research and playtest feedback.

• The development of a new IP suggests a culture of innovation and experimentation, pushing the boundaries of the shooter genre.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Top Workplace" awards are a strong indicator of a positive culture, suggesting that candidates can expect a supportive and collaborative environment. The focus on developing a "new IP" implies an opportunity to shape a product from its early stages, which can be highly rewarding for experienced designers looking for creative ownership.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is explicitly a "Senior" UX Designer position, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy. Senior designers are expected to lead design efforts for significant features, mentor junior designers, and contribute to strategic design discussions. The fixed-term nature, however, means this specific role is for a defined project duration.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer reports to the Gameplay Technical Director. This suggests a close working relationship with technical leadership, ensuring that UX designs are aligned with gameplay mechanics and technical feasibility. It also implies that the Technical Director will be a key stakeholder in design reviews and approvals.

Operations Impact: As a Senior UX Designer, the impact is directly on the player experience, which is critical for the success of any game, especially in the competitive shooter genre. Effective UX design can lead to increased player retention, higher player satisfaction, positive reviews, and ultimately, stronger commercial performance for the new IP. The role influences how players perceive and interact with the game, shaping its overall appeal and accessibility.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in UX for shooter mechanics, player progression systems, or complex UI navigation within a AAA game development context.

• Leadership Development: While a fixed-term role, the seniority necessitates mentoring junior designers and potentially leading specific UX initiatives within the project. This experience can be valuable for future senior or lead roles.

• Portfolio Enhancement: A successful contribution to a new, high-profile IP can significantly enhance a designer's portfolio, opening doors to future permanent or lead positions within the gaming industry.

• Industry Networking: Working within a well-established studio like PUBG provides opportunities to build valuable professional connections.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a fixed-term role, the "Senior" title implies significant responsibility and the potential for substantial portfolio growth. Candidates should view this as an opportunity to gain experience on a major new project and demonstrate their capabilities, which could lead to further opportunities within PUBG or elsewhere in the industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: PUBG Madison offers a modern studio environment, as evidenced by its "Top Workplace" recognition. The description mentions a "state-of-the art studio and brand-new motion capture studio." For on-site staff, this includes amenities like free catered lunches and snacks.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Madison, WI. The company also offers remote work options for candidates located in the United States or Canada, with a preference for those willing to relocate or live locally.

Workspace Context:

• The environment is described as having a "positive, strong company culture" and is recognized as a Top Workplace. This suggests a collaborative and supportive atmosphere conducive to creative work.

• For on-site employees, the workspace will likely be equipped with standard professional tools and technology, including access to necessary software and hardware for game development and design.

• Opportunities for team interaction are provided through regular outings and events, fostering camaraderie and team cohesion.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week. While game development can involve crunch periods, the emphasis on work-life balance, as suggested by "Top Workplace" status and generous PTO, indicates an effort to maintain a sustainable work environment. Flexibility may be available, but core hours for team collaboration are essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role (remote option available but preference for local) means candidates should consider their preferred work arrangement. The "Top Workplace" status implies a company that values its employees and likely provides a well-resourced and positive physical or virtual workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and relevant experience. This is where your UX design case studies will be crucial.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Gameplay Technical Director (hiring manager) to delve deeper into your experience, design philosophy, and suitability for the role and team. Be prepared to discuss your approach to shooter game UX.

• Technical/Design Interview: This may involve a design exercise or a detailed portfolio review with other members of the design or development team. Expect to present specific projects and discuss your design decisions, problem-solving methodologies, and collaboration style.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential team members to assess cultural alignment and collaborative potential.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final discussion with senior leadership or HR, followed by an offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Prioritize projects that demonstrate your experience with shooter/action games, complex UI systems, and player-centric design.

• Showcase Process: Clearly articulate your problem-solving approach, research methodologies, and iterative design process for each case study. Use visuals to support your explanations.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the positive impact of your designs on player experience or game performance.

• Highlight Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked effectively with cross-functional teams (artists, engineers, producers) to bring designs to fruition.

• Be Ready to Present: Prepare a concise presentation of your key projects, focusing on the challenges, your solutions, and the outcomes. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions.

• Address Remote Work: If applying remotely, ensure your portfolio or resume highlights your experience and success in remote collaboration settings.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge that may require you to propose UX solutions for a specific gameplay scenario or UI element relevant to a shooter game.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, focusing on player needs and technical feasibility.

• Understand the common challenges in designing for fast-paced action games, such as information hierarchy, input responsiveness, and player feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the portfolio. Candidates must be ready to not only present their work but also to defend their design choices and demonstrate how they would approach challenges specific to shooter game UX within a collaborative, iterative development environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly preferred, explicitly mentioned), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD). Proficiency in at least one of these is critical.

• Game Engines: Familiarity with Unity and/or Unreal Engine is required, with a strong understanding of their technical constraints and opportunities for UX integration. Unreal Engine is particularly relevant for AAA shooter development.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or similar platforms are likely used for task tracking, documentation, and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for UX, understanding how to interpret player data from analytics platforms (e.g., player telemetry, heatmaps, user session recordings) can be beneficial for informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the UX designer role, but an understanding of how player accounts and progression are managed within a CRM context might offer broader game design insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is explicitly mentioned and is a key tool for modern UX design workflows, especially for interactive prototyping and collaboration. Familiarity with Unreal Engine is also a significant advantage given its widespread use in high-fidelity game development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A core value is prioritizing the player experience above all else, ensuring games are intuitive, enjoyable, and engaging.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working effectively within cross-functional teams, fostering open communication and mutual respect.

• Innovation & Iteration: A drive to push boundaries in game design, coupled with a willingness to iterate and improve designs based on feedback and data.

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to delivering high-quality products that meet or exceed player expectations and industry standards.

• Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a dynamic development environment, adapting to changing requirements and embracing new technologies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be active participants in all stages of development, working closely with artists, engineers, producers, and QA.

• Constructive Feedback: A culture of giving and receiving constructive feedback is essential for refining designs and fostering team growth.

• Shared Ownership: While designers lead specific UX efforts, the overall player experience is a shared responsibility across the development team.

• Open Communication: Encouraging direct and transparent communication to resolve issues efficiently and ensure alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Top Workplace" recognition strongly suggests a positive and collaborative culture. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how they embody these values, particularly in a remote or hybrid setting, and how they contribute to a positive team dynamic.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a New IP: The challenge of defining and establishing UX conventions for an entirely new game world and mechanics, without existing player familiarity.

• Balancing Player Needs with Technical Constraints: Navigating the complexities of game engine limitations and performance targets while ensuring an optimal player experience.

• Iterative Design Under Pressure: Managing feedback loops and iterative design changes within the fast-paced, deadline-driven environment of game development, especially for a fixed-term role.

• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring seamless communication and collaboration with a distributed team, maintaining design consistency and team cohesion.

• Defining Shooter UX: Continuously innovating and refining UX elements that are critical for success in the highly competitive shooter genre (e.g., responsive controls, clear HUDs, intuitive menus).

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AAA Game Development Experience: Gaining invaluable experience working on a high-profile, new IP from a globally recognized studio.

• Advanced UX Techniques: Deepening expertise in player research, usability testing, and prototyping specifically for shooter game mechanics.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Learning from and collaborating with experts in art, animation, engineering, and game design.

• Portfolio Development: A significant opportunity to add a major title to your professional portfolio, showcasing your ability to contribute to complex, large-scale game projects.

• Industry Exposure: Potentially gaining exposure to cutting-edge game development technologies and methodologies used by PUBG Studios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fixed-term nature means growth opportunities are primarily focused on skill development and portfolio enhancement rather than long-term career progression within this specific role. Candidates should leverage this role to gain specific, high-value experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing the core UI and HUD for a fast-paced shooter game. How do you balance information density with clarity?"

• "Walk me through a time you received critical feedback on a UX design for a game. How did you incorporate that feedback, and what was the outcome?"

• "How would you approach defining the player onboarding experience for a complex new shooter IP to ensure players understand the core mechanics quickly?"

• "Describe a challenging technical constraint you encountered in a previous game project and how you designed around it to maintain a good player experience."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about PUBG Studios and this specific new IP?"

• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team culture, especially in a remote or hybrid setting?"

• "Based on your research, what do you see as the biggest UX challenges and opportunities for a new shooter game in today's market?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your background, then detailing 2-3 key case studies. For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the results.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals (screenshots, mockups, flowcharts, video clips if possible) to illustrate your points. Ensure they are clear and directly support your narrative.

• Narrative: Tell a story. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions. Focus on problem-solving and the impact of your work.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted timeframe, leaving ample time for Q&A.

• Engagement: Be prepared to discuss your work in detail and answer specific questions about your design choices, technical considerations, and collaborative efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of technical UX skills, a deep understanding of shooter game mechanics, strong communication abilities, and a proven ability to collaborate effectively. Demonstrating an understanding of industry trends and player psychology will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to shooter/action games and complex UI/UX challenges. Ensure your case studies clearly demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your designs.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 5-8+ years of experience in game UX design, emphasizing your work on console and PC titles, particularly shooters. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Preparation for Remote Work Discussion: If applying remotely, be ready to discuss your experience with remote collaboration tools and strategies for effective communication and productivity in a distributed team.

• Company & Role Research: Thoroughly research PUBG Studios, their existing games, and the specific challenges of developing a new shooter IP. Understand the company's values and "Top Workplace" recognition to tailor your responses regarding culture fit.

• Practice Portfolio Presentation: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear articulation of your design process, rationale, and the outcomes of your work. Be prepared for in-depth questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions relevant to game UX design. All details should be verified directly with PUBG Madison before making application decisions. The fixed-term nature of this role is a critical factor to consider.