Senior UX Designer - Fruit Ninja

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer - Fruit Ninja Company: UserWise Services Location: Remote (EU Locations) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Game UX Design / Product Design Date Posted: January 16, 2026 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Architect the player journey and core experience for a new iteration of the iconic Fruit Ninja mobile game, focusing on intuitive user flows and engaging F2P mechanics.
• Define and maintain cohesive UX systems and interaction patterns that ensure a seamless and predictable player experience across the entire game ecosystem.
• Collaborate closely with Game Designers and Product Managers to translate abstract gameplay concepts into tangible, user-friendly interfaces and features.
• Drive insight-driven iteration through playtesting and player feedback, transforming data into actionable UX improvements.
• Provide mentorship and design reviews to junior team members, taking ownership of the UX vision and contributing to a high-quality, player-first product.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Senior UX Designer focused on mobile game development, with a strong emphasis on Free-to-Play (F2P) mechanics and systems thinking. The "Fruit Ninja" IP indicates a focus on casual mobile gaming, requiring a deep understanding of player psychology and engagement loops within that genre. The "systems thinker" and "architect the player journey" aspects highlight a need for strategic, holistic design rather than purely visual UI work.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Experience Architecture: Translate gameplay concepts and product requirements into comprehensive user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that prioritize player intent and ease of use.
• Systems Design: Develop and document consistent interaction patterns and UX systems that form the backbone of the game's user experience, ensuring scalability and maintainability.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Game Designers, Product Managers, Artists, and Engineers to align UX strategy with overall product vision, business objectives, and technical constraints.
• Player Research & Iteration: Plan and lead playtesting sessions, analyze player feedback and quantitative data, and translate findings into concrete, impactful UX improvements.
• UX Documentation & Specifications: Create clear, concise UX specifications, flow diagrams, and design documentation to guide development teams and ensure accurate feature implementation.
• Mentorship & Design Leadership: Provide guidance, constructive feedback, and mentorship to junior UX/UI designers, fostering a culture of design excellence within the team.
• Strategic Input: Contribute to product strategy discussions by providing UX perspectives on feature feasibility, player impact, and potential engagement drivers.
• Quality Assurance: Review implemented features to ensure they meet UX standards, design specifications, and deliver the intended player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic design thinking (architecting journeys, systems design) and hands-on execution (wireframing, prototyping, documentation). The explicit mention of "systems design" and "interaction patterns" points towards a need for a designer who can manage complexity and ensure consistency across a potentially large F2P game. "Insight-driven iteration" and "playtesting" highlight the importance of data and user feedback in the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• No specific degree is mandated, but a strong portfolio demonstrating UX design principles and practical application in mobile gaming is paramount. Bachelor's degree in HCI, Design, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred but not strictly required if experience and portfolio are exceptional.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of dedicated UX design experience.
• At least one successful Free-to-Play (F2P) mobile game title shipped and live in the market.
• Demonstrated experience in defining and implementing complex UX systems and interaction patterns.
• Proven track record of leading UX design initiatives from concept through to launch.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Mastery: Proficient in creating user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and user journey maps.
• Mobile Game UX: Deep understanding of mobile player behavior, F2P monetization models, player psychology, and common mobile game interaction paradigms.
• UX Tools Expertise: Expert proficiency in industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, or similar.
• Systems Thinking: Ability to analyze and design interconnected features, understanding how individual components contribute to the overall player experience and product ecosystem.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent ability to partner effectively with diverse teams including Game Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and Artists.
• Communication & Influence: Articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively to technical and non-technical stakeholders, advocating for the player.
• English Fluency: Fluent in spoken and written English for effective communication in a global team environment.
• Self-Starter Mentality: Proactive and independent, capable of thriving in a fully remote work setting.

Preferred Skills:

• Visual UI Design: Strong aesthetic sense with the ability to create high-fidelity UI mockups and understand visual hierarchy.
• Unity Knowledge: Familiarity with the Unity game engine, enabling basic review or polish of designs within the development environment.
• Data Analysis: Experience with analyzing player data and using insights to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "at least one shipped F2P title" is critical, indicating a need for practical experience with live-service games and their unique design challenges. "Systems Thinking" is a key differentiator for senior roles, suggesting the company seeks designers who can manage complexity and ensure consistency across a game's many interconnected features. The bonus points for Visual UI Design and Unity Knowledge suggest the company values designers who can contribute beyond core UX flows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies of Shipped Mobile Games: Showcase at least one F2P mobile game project with detailed explanations of your role, design process, and impact.
• User Flow & Interaction Design Examples: Provide clear examples of complex user flows, interaction patterns, and system designs you have created.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Demonstrate proficiency with tools like Figma or Adobe XD, including interactive prototypes that illustrate core game mechanics or features.
• Problem/Solution Framework: For each case study, clearly articulate the design problem, your proposed solution, the UX rationale, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Systemic Design Documentation: Include examples of how you have documented UX systems or interaction patterns for consistency across a product.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for mapping out user journeys and designing intuitive workflows for game features.
• User Research & Iteration: Detail your approach to conducting playtesting, gathering feedback, and iterating on designs based on player insights.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Provide examples of how you have documented and communicated UX requirements to engineering and art teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UX Designer role, especially in gaming, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond basic wireframes to demonstrate strategic thinking, an understanding of F2P mechanics, and the ability to manage complex systems. Case studies should highlight not just the output but the process and impact of their design decisions, including how they handled player feedback and collaborated with other disciplines.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the role is Senior UX Designer, fully remote within the EU, and for a recognized IP, a competitive salary range is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for experienced UX professionals in the EU, particularly in the gaming sector, the estimated range would be €60,000 - €90,000 per annum. This range accounts for varying cost of living across EU countries and the specialized nature of game UX. For example, Senior UX roles in countries like Germany or the Netherlands might lean towards the higher end, while those in Eastern European countries might be at the lower end, but still reflective of senior expertise.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: As detailed above, reflecting senior-level expertise and responsibility.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Coverage tailored to EU standards, potentially including dental and vision.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.
• Remote Work Stipend: Potential allowance for home office setup, internet, or co-working space.
• Professional Development Budget: Funds for courses, conferences, and tools to enhance skills.
• Stock Options/Performance Bonuses: Potential for equity or performance-based incentives as the company grows.
• Flexible Working Hours: Within the context of team collaboration and core working hours.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is remote and offers flexibility, core collaboration hours will likely be established to facilitate real-time communication and meetings with team members across different EU time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry data for Senior UX Designers in the EU, considering the remote nature and specialized gaming industry context. Benefits listed are typical for full-time roles in tech/gaming companies operating in the EU.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Mobile Gaming, Entertainment Software. UserWise Services is focused on developing and evolving established mobile game IPs. Company Size: Likely a growing studio, aiming to scale up for the new Fruit Ninja sequel. The description suggests a "veteran-led studio" with a "small, passionate, execution-focused team," implying a size ranging from 20-100 employees, potentially growing. Founded: The exact founding date isn't provided, but the mention of "next evolution" and "legendary mobile hit" suggests a company with experience in the mobile gaming space, possibly a spin-off or a studio with a history of successful titles.

Team Structure:

• The UX team is likely small, with the Senior UX Designer potentially leading or being the primary UX resource, supported by more junior designers or collaborating closely with UI artists.
• Reporting structure will likely be to a Head of Design, Lead Game Designer, or Product Director.
• Cross-functional collaboration is heavily emphasized, particularly with Game Designers and Product Managers, but also with Art and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Iterative Design: The team values "iterative design" and moving "from early prototypes to a polished, global launch," indicating a lean and agile approach.
• Player-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and catering to "player intent" and using "player data or feedback" to drive improvements.
• Systems-Oriented: A focus on creating "cohesive interaction patterns and UX systems" suggests a methodical approach to design consistency and scalability.

Company Website: https://www.userwise.io/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be focused on execution, quality, and player experience within the mobile gaming sector. The "veteran-led studio" and "small, passionate, execution-focused team" suggest a dynamic environment where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful. The focus on a major IP like Fruit Ninja implies a blend of leveraging existing brand recognition with innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior individual contributor role. It signifies a level of expertise and autonomy where the designer is expected to lead significant aspects of the product's UX strategy and execution, with minimal direct supervision on day-to-day tasks. Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Game Design Lead, Product Manager, or Head of Design. They will be a key voice in design discussions for the new Fruit Ninja title. Operations Impact: The role has a direct and substantial impact on the product's success by shaping the core player experience, influencing player retention, engagement, and monetization through intuitive and satisfying design. The "direct influence on how players engage with our product" highlights this significant impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership within UX: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer or UX Manager role as the team and studio expand.
• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like F2P monetization UX, player onboarding, or systems design for mobile games.
• Broadening Scope: Gain experience across different game genres or other UserWise Services projects.
• Contribution to Major IP: Build a strong portfolio and reputation by contributing to a globally recognized brand.
• Mentorship: Develop leadership and coaching skills by guiding junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This senior role offers significant potential for impact and growth within a specific, exciting niche of the gaming industry. The opportunity to shape a major IP from its next evolution provides a unique career development path.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company explicitly states "Remote - open to all EU locations" and "100% remote, flexible work." Office Location(s): Not applicable in the traditional sense. The team is distributed across the EU. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the team emphasizes collaboration through virtual means, likely utilizing tools like Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams for communication.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard UX design software (Figma, Adobe XD), project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana), and communication platforms.
• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings, design reviews, and potentially informal virtual "hangouts" to foster team cohesion.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexibility. Core hours will likely be established for essential team synchronization, but the remote nature allows for adapting the workday to personal productivity peaks, provided deliverables are met and collaboration needs are satisfied.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote aspect is a key feature, offering significant flexibility. The challenge and opportunity lie in maintaining strong team cohesion and effective collaboration in a distributed environment, which requires proactive communication and engagement from team members.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session with the hiring manager and/or lead designer to walk through selected case studies from the portfolio. Expect to discuss your design process, decision-making, and impact.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: A practical task designed to assess your skills in a specific area relevant to the role, such as designing a user flow for a new feature or proposing UX improvements for a given scenario. This might be a take-home assignment or a live working session.
• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Game Designers, Product Managers, or Engineers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to integrate into the team.
• Final Interview: A conversation with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Studio, Director of Product) to discuss overall fit, strategic thinking, and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best represent your experience with mobile games, F2P mechanics, and systems design.
• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process, key decisions made, challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact.
• Highlight Process: Showcase your methodology – how you approach user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing.
• Focus on Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., "improved conversion by X%," "reduced onboarding drop-off by Y%"). If quantitative data isn't available, articulate the qualitative benefits clearly.
• Prepare for "Why": Be ready to explain the rationale behind every design decision.
• Showcase Systems Thinking: If possible, include an example that demonstrates your ability to design cohesive interaction patterns or systems.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, ensure you thoroughly understand the game's genre, target audience, and potential business goals.
• Focus on Process: Even if the final output is a mockup, emphasize your thought process, the assumptions you made, and how you would validate your designs.
• Time Management: If it's a live exercise, be mindful of the time allocated and prioritize key elements.
• Communicate Your Thinking: Talk through your approach, even if working solo, to simulate explaining your process to others.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is typical for senior design roles, emphasizing portfolio depth and practical application. The design challenge will likely focus on core mobile game UX problems, potentially involving F2P mechanics or system design. Preparing to articulate your "why" and showcase systemic thinking will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely), Adobe XD, Sketch. Proficiency in at least one is mandatory.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams, Zoom.
• Project Management: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar tools for task tracking and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with mobile game analytics platforms (e.g., GameAnalytics, Firebase Analytics, DeltaDNA) is beneficial for understanding player behavior and informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable for this UX role, but an understanding of how user data is managed within a game context is useful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of Figma is almost a de facto standard for modern UX roles, so candidates should be comfortable showcasing their work within it. Familiarity with game-specific analytics tools is a strong plus for understanding player engagement metrics.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-First: A core value that drives all design decisions, ensuring the player experience is paramount.
• Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality execution and polished interfaces.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Valuing open communication and mutual support, especially in a remote setting.
• Innovation & Experimentation: Willingness to explore new ideas and approaches to gameplay and UX.
• Execution Focus: A pragmatic approach to getting things done efficiently and effectively.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First: Highly reliant on asynchronous and synchronous digital communication tools.
• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback during design reviews and team discussions.
• Cross-Disciplinary: Working closely with diverse teams to achieve shared goals.
• Agile & Iterative: Embracing flexibility and continuous improvement based on feedback and data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "execution-focused," "player-first thinking," and a "veteran-led studio" suggests a culture that is both skilled and driven, with a strong focus on delivering excellent products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Beloved IP: Balancing player expectations for a familiar experience with the need for innovation and freshness in a sequel.
• F2P Monetization UX: Crafting monetization strategies that are engaging and fair, without negatively impacting the core player experience.
• Systemic Complexity: Managing and designing interconnected systems in a mobile game to ensure coherence and avoid overwhelming players.
• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion, communication, and design alignment across distributed team members and time zones.
• Balancing Stakeholder Input: Effectively integrating feedback from various stakeholders (design, product, marketing, leadership) while championing the player experience.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into F2P Game Design: Gaining extensive experience in the nuances of free-to-play mechanics and their UX implications.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with game designers and product managers to understand broader game development strategy.
• Leadership Skills: Developing mentorship capabilities and potentially leading UX initiatives on future projects.
• Industry Trends: Staying ahead of the curve in mobile gaming UX, player engagement, and monetization best practices.
• Working on a Global Brand: Building a significant portfolio piece with high visibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to developing a sequel for a popular game and working in the F2P mobile space. The growth opportunities are significant for a designer looking to specialize in gaming UX and take on leadership responsibilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing the onboarding flow for a new Fruit Ninja player, considering both new and returning players?"
• "Describe a time you had to balance a complex F2P monetization mechanic with a positive player experience. What was your approach and outcome?"
• "Walk us through your process for designing and documenting a new core interaction system for a mobile game."
• "How do you ensure consistency in UX across a large, complex F2P mobile game?"
• "Imagine we're introducing a new power-up system; what UX considerations would you prioritize, and how would you test its effectiveness?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the Fruit Ninja IP and the opportunity to work on its next evolution?"
• "How do you contribute to a positive and productive team culture in a remote environment?"
• "Describe your experience working with game designers and product managers. How do you ensure alignment on vision and priorities?"
• "What are your thoughts on UserWise's approach to iterative design and player-centricity?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career, then dive into 2-3 detailed case studies. For each, clearly state the project goal, your role, the problem, your solution (showcasing flows, wireframes, prototypes), the process, and the results.
• Focus on "Why": Be prepared to defend your design decisions and explain the rationale behind them.
• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: If possible, use a case study that highlights how you've designed interconnected systems or maintained consistency.
• Highlight Collaboration: Briefly mention how you worked with other teams (designers, engineers, PMs).
• Be Concise & Engaging: Respect the interviewer's time, but be thorough and passionate about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect questions that probe your understanding of mobile game UX, F2P mechanics, and your ability to think systemically. Be prepared to articulate your design process and defend your decisions with clear reasoning and evidence from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features 2-3 case studies relevant to mobile game UX, ideally F2P titles, demonstrating your process, system design capabilities, and player-centric approach.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5+ years of UX experience, specific mobile game credits (especially F2P), proficiency in Figma/Adobe XD, and strong collaboration skills. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, your approach to complex systems, and your passion for mobile gaming during interviews.
• Research UserWise Services: Understand their mission and any other titles or projects they may have worked on to demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.