Senior UX Designer - Star Trek Fleet Command

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UX Designer - Star Trek Fleet Command Company: Scopely Location: Barcelona, Spain; United Kingdom; Ireland; Portugal Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product & Design Operations Date Posted: 2025-10-08 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the end-to-end User Experience (UX) design for new features and player-facing initiatives within the Star Trek Fleet Command mobile game.
• Translate complex game mechanics and player journey requirements into intuitive, engaging, and visually compelling user interfaces and interactions.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Game Designers, Artists, Product Managers, and Engineers, to ensure seamless integration of UX designs throughout the development lifecycle.
• Leverage player data, feedback, and market analysis to inform design decisions and drive continuous improvement in player experience and engagement metrics.
• Champion player-centric design principles, ensuring that all UX solutions are grounded in a deep understanding of player needs, motivations, and behaviors within the 4X Strategy MMO genre.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the "Midcore division" and specifically for "Star Trek Fleet Command," a 4X Strategy MMO. This implies a need for deep understanding of genre conventions, player engagement loops common in strategy games, and potentially complex UI structures inherent in such titles. The emphasis on "owning and delivering complete UX" suggests a high degree of autonomy and responsibility for the entire design process from concept to implementation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and iterate on user experiences for new game features, systems, and content updates, ensuring alignment with product goals and player expectations.
• Develop comprehensive UX documentation, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and detailed design specifications, to effectively communicate design intent to development teams.
• Conduct user research, usability testing, and competitive analysis to gather insights, identify pain points, and validate design solutions.
• Actively participate in design reviews, providing constructive feedback and contributing to the collective improvement of the game's user interface and overall player journey.
• Maintain and evolve the game's design system and pattern library to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all UX elements.
• Analyze player data and in-game metrics to understand user behavior, measure the impact of design changes, and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Stay abreast of emerging UX trends, mobile gaming best practices, and competitor innovations to bring fresh perspectives and cutting-edge solutions to the team.
• Advocate for the player throughout the development process, ensuring that design decisions prioritize usability, accessibility, and overall player satisfaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "find relevant references and comps, deconstructing them" and "identify weak points in designs, gaps in thinking, and opportunities to better deliver on goals" highlights the analytical and critical thinking aspects crucial for a Senior UX role, especially in a competitive genre like 4X Strategy MMOs. This goes beyond just creating interfaces to actively improving them based on industry standards and player insights.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for foundational understanding in user-centered design principles.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of dedicated experience in User Experience (UX) design, with a significant focus on mobile game development.
• Proven track record of successfully delivering complex features or initiatives from initial concept through to live product implementation, demonstrating ownership and accountability.
• Experience within the 4X Strategy, MMO, or similar complex mobile gaming genres is highly advantageous for understanding genre-specific player needs and design challenges.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in UX design methodologies, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and information architecture.
• Proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar.
• Strong ability to create detailed user flows, interaction designs, and high-fidelity mockups that effectively communicate complex ideas.
• Excellent visual communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and solutions clearly to diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively within an agile development environment, collaborating closely with game designers, artists, and engineers.
• Proficient in analyzing player feedback, game analytics, and market trends to drive data-informed design decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a creative, solutions-oriented mindset to tackle design challenges effectively.
• Adept at navigating ambiguity and taking initiative to define and drive design efforts forward.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with game development pipelines and understanding of technical constraints in mobile game production.
• Familiarity with game design principles, player psychology, and engagement loops specific to strategy and MMO genres.
• Knowledge of design systems and best practices for maintaining UI consistency and scalability.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative user research methods relevant to gaming.
• A portfolio showcasing a range of shipped game titles or significant UX contributions to live games.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "5+ years of experience specialising in Game UX development" and a "track record of delivering features or initiatives from concept to implementation" strongly suggests that candidates will be evaluated on their ability to not just design, but also manage the full lifecycle of UX features. The emphasis on "navigating ambiguity" and "solutions-oriented mindset" points towards a need for proactive problem-solvers who can thrive in a dynamic game development environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5 years of professional UX design work, with a strong emphasis on mobile game titles.
• Clear demonstration of end-to-end UX ownership, from initial concept and user research to final implementation and post-launch iteration.
• Case studies that highlight complex feature design, user flow optimization, and problem-solving within challenging game mechanics.
• Examples of interactive prototypes and detailed wireframes that illustrate your design process and decision-making.
• Evidence of collaboration with development teams and how your designs were translated into a functional product.

Process Documentation:

• Examples of user journey mapping and creating detailed user flows to represent player interactions within game systems.
• Demonstrations of how you incorporate player feedback, data analytics, and usability testing results into iterative design improvements.
• Documentation of your approach to working with technical constraints and collaborating with engineering teams to ensure feasible and effective implementation of UX designs.
• Showcase of your understanding of design systems and how you contribute to or leverage them for consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's seniority and focus on delivering complete UX, a robust portfolio is paramount. It should not just display finished screens but also the thought process, research, and iterative steps taken to arrive at those solutions. For a game UX role, demonstrating understanding of player engagement loops and genre-specific needs within the portfolio is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UX Designers with 5-10 years of experience in major European tech hubs (Barcelona, Dublin, UK, Portugal), the estimated annual salary range is between €55,000 - €85,000, depending on specific location, candidate experience, and qualifications.
• Barcelona, Spain: Expected range €55,000 - €75,000.
• Ireland: Expected range €60,000 - €80,000.
• United Kingdom: Expected range £55,000 - £75,000 (approximately €65,000 - €88,000).
• Portugal: Expected range €50,000 - €70,000.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision).
• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, public holidays, and sick leave.
• Retirement savings plan/pension contributions.
• Professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and access to learning resources.
• Flexible working arrangements (hybrid/remote options) to promote work-life balance.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options.
• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
• Relocation assistance for candidates moving to Barcelona (if applicable).

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week.
• Flexibility may be offered through hybrid or remote work arrangements, allowing for some adjustment of daily schedules to accommodate personal needs, while ensuring core collaboration hours are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimates based on common compensation structures for Senior UX Designers in the specified European locations, considering the cost of living and tech industry standards. Actual compensation will be determined by the company based on individual qualifications, experience, and the specific role's responsibilities. The hybrid/remote nature also influences potential compensation adjustments.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Mobile Gaming. Scopely operates within a highly competitive and rapidly evolving sector, known for its focus on live operations, player engagement, and data-driven decision-making. Company Size: Scopely is a large, global company with over 1,000 employees, indicating a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact within specialized teams like Star Trek Fleet Command. Founded: Scopely was founded in 2011. This history suggests a company that has matured and scaled, likely possessing robust operational frameworks while still fostering innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Star Trek Fleet Command team is part of Scopely's Midcore division, suggesting a focus on games that offer deeper engagement than casual titles but are more accessible than hardcore games.
• The UX team likely operates within a product-centric structure, with designers embedded in specific game teams or feature pods, reporting to a UX Lead or Director.
• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with Game Designers, Product Managers, Artists, Engineers, and Data Analysts to deliver cohesive player experiences.

Methodology:

• Scopely emphasizes a "directed-by-consumer™" approach, meaning player feedback and data are central to product development and live operations.
• Expect a data-driven culture where A/B testing, user analytics, and player feedback loops are integral to decision-making and design iteration.
• A strong focus on live-ops means continuous content updates, events, and feature enhancements, requiring agile development and ongoing UX support.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Scopely's acquisition by Savvy Games Group for $4.9 billion signifies substantial backing and a strong position in the market. This scale and investment suggest a commitment to high-quality game development and a professional, growth-oriented work environment for its operations and design teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior UX Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility and autonomy. It requires not only strong individual contribution but also the ability to mentor junior designers, influence design strategy, and take ownership of complex features. This level typically involves leading design initiatives and acting as a subject matter expert. Reporting Structure: The Senior UX Designer will likely report to a Lead UX Designer, Art Director, or Head of Product/Design for the Star Trek Fleet Command team. They will work closely with Product Managers and Game Designers, acting as a key collaborator in feature development. Operations Impact: The UX Designer's impact is directly tied to player engagement, retention, and monetization through the creation of intuitive and enjoyable player experiences. Well-designed UX can significantly influence key performance indicators (KPIs) such as session length, daily active users (DAU), and overall player satisfaction, directly contributing to the game's revenue and long-term success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead UX Designer role, managing a team of designers and setting the UX vision for a game or product.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of game UX, such as player onboarding, monetization design, or complex system interfaces.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to game design principles, technical development processes, and data analysis, fostering a well-rounded understanding of game production.
• Mentorship: The ability to mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall skill development of the design team.
• Product Influence: Opportunity to shape the strategic direction of game features and player experience based on UX expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "Senior" role, the expectation is that candidates will not only execute but also contribute strategically. The growth opportunities outlined reflect typical career paths for experienced UX professionals in the gaming industry, emphasizing leadership, specialization, and broader product influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Scopely offers a hybrid work environment, allowing for a blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility. Specific office locations are in Barcelona, Dublin, UK, and Portugal. Office Location(s):

• Barcelona, Spain: A vibrant European hub for technology and gaming.
• Dublin, Ireland: Known for its strong tech industry and international presence.
• United Kingdom: Multiple potential locations, likely major cities with significant tech scenes.
• Portugal: Emerging tech hubs offering a dynamic working environment. Workspace Context:
• The work environment is described as collaborative and focused on curiosity, improvement, and creativity.
• Expect access to modern design tools and technologies necessary for UX development.
• Opportunities for frequent interaction with team members, both in person (for hybrid employees) and remotely, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
• The culture is built around a passion for playing and making games, encouraging a deep connection to the product.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) apply.
• The hybrid model provides flexibility, allowing employees to balance office-based work with remote days. This structure aims to support work-life integration while ensuring effective team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility. Candidates should consider how they best thrive in such a setup and be prepared to articulate their approach to collaboration and productivity in a hybrid setting. The emphasis on "curiosity, improvement, creativity, and collaboration" suggests a culture valuing proactive contribution and continuous learning.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A more in-depth discussion, often with a Lead UX Designer or Art Director. This stage will heavily focus on reviewing your portfolio, discussing your design process, problem-solving approaches, and specific project contributions. Be prepared to walk through 2-3 key projects in detail.
• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or a live design challenge focused on a specific game feature or player problem. This assesses your practical design skills, critical thinking, and ability to work within given constraints.
• Team/Hiring Manager Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Game Designers, and potentially other team members, to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of the game, and overall fit with the team culture.
• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to confirm alignment and discuss broader strategic contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, your design process, the challenges you faced, and the quantifiable outcomes or impact (e.g., improved engagement, conversion rates, player satisfaction).
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. Showcase wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI designs. Explain your design decisions with rationale.
• Tailor to Gaming: Highlight projects that demonstrate your understanding of mobile gaming, player psychology, and genre-specific UX challenges (especially for 4X Strategy MMOs).
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handled feedback, how you collaborated with developers, and how you measured success.
• Showcase Process: Demonstrate your iterative process, including how you incorporated feedback and data to refine your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Game: Thoroughly research Star Trek Fleet Command, its core mechanics, target audience, and existing UX. Understand the 4X Strategy MMO genre.
• Think Critically: For any design challenge, break down the problem, identify key user needs and business goals, and consider potential constraints.
• Structure Your Approach: Clearly outline your proposed solution, including user flows, key screens, and rationale for your design decisions.
• Focus on Playability: In game design challenges, prioritize how your solution enhances the player experience, engagement, and fun.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "portfolio review" and potential "design challenge" is typical for UX roles. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design process, justify their decisions, and demonstrate how they translate player needs and business objectives into effective game experiences. Understanding the specific genre (4X Strategy MMO) will be critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX/UI Design Software: Figma (highly probable, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD.
• Prototyping Tools: Figma, InVision, ProtoPie, or similar for creating interactive prototypes.
• Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Slack, Asana for project management and team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Game Analytics Platforms: Tools like GameAnalytics, Firebase Analytics, or proprietary in-house analytics solutions for tracking player behavior and game performance.
• Data Visualization Tools: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboards for analyzing and presenting data insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly customer-facing CRM in the traditional sense, understanding how player data is managed and segmented within the game's backend systems is beneficial.
• Backend/Game Engine Context: Familiarity with game engines (e.g., Unity) and their UI systems can be advantageous, though not always a direct requirement for UX designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Figma is almost a given for modern UX roles. The ability to work with game analytics platforms and understand how to use data to inform design decisions is crucial for a Senior UX Designer in the gaming industry. While direct CRM tools might not be used, understanding player data management is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and prioritizing the player experience in all design decisions.
• Curiosity & Improvement: A drive to constantly learn, explore new ideas, and seek ways to enhance both the game and the team's processes.
• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging novel solutions and fresh perspectives to create engaging and memorable player experiences.
• Collaboration & Transparency: Working effectively with diverse teams, sharing work openly, and fostering a supportive environment where feedback is valued.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing player data and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork between UX, Game Design, Art, Product Management, and Engineering.
• Open communication channels and regular feedback loops are encouraged to ensure alignment and shared understanding.
• A culture that values constructive critique and collective problem-solving to achieve the best possible player experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes a blend of creative freedom ("curiosity, improvement, creativity") and rigorous execution ("data-driven," "player-centric"). This suggests a dynamic environment where designers are empowered to innovate but must ground their work in player needs and performance metrics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Player Needs with Business Goals: Effectively designing experiences that are both highly engaging for players and meet monetization or retention targets.
• Complex Game Systems: Navigating and designing intuitive interfaces for intricate 4X Strategy MMO mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players.
• Iterative Development: Adapting to frequent changes and updates in a live-ops environment, requiring flexibility and the ability to rapidly iterate on designs.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across multiple disciplines with varying priorities and perspectives.
• Maintaining UX Consistency: Upholding design principles and patterns across a large, evolving game with numerous features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Genre Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of 4X Strategy MMO player behavior and design patterns.
• Live Operations UX: Developing skills in optimizing live games for retention, engagement, and monetization through continuous UX improvements.
• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Learning from experienced game designers, artists, and data analysts to broaden understanding of game development.
• Leadership Skills: Opportunities to mentor junior designers and influence the strategic direction of UX within the game.
• Industry Trends: Staying ahead of the curve in mobile gaming UX, player engagement strategies, and emerging technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to senior UX roles in live-service games, particularly complex genres. The growth opportunities focus on deepening expertise within the gaming domain and developing leadership capabilities, crucial for career advancement in this field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a complex feature for a game with many existing systems. How did you approach it?" (Focus on process, research, and collaboration)
• "How do you balance player experience goals with business objectives like monetization or retention?" (Highlight player empathy and strategic thinking)
• "Walk us through a challenging UX problem you solved in a previous role, and how you measured its success." (Use a STAR method approach, emphasizing impact)
• "How do you stay updated on UX trends and apply them to game design?" (Showcase continuous learning and industry awareness)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Star Trek Fleet Command and the 4X Strategy MMO genre?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and research)
• "How do you approach collaboration with game designers, artists, and engineers?" (Emphasize teamwork and communication)
• "How would you contribute to a culture of curiosity and improvement within the UX team?" (Align with company values)
• "What are your thoughts on player-centered design in the context of mobile gaming?" (Showcase understanding of the core philosophy)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your approach, the solution, and the outcome.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., "Increased feature adoption by X%", "Reduced player drop-off by Y%").
• Explain Your Process: Clearly articulate your decision-making process, from initial research and ideation through to iteration and final implementation.
• Highlight Collaboration: Explain how you worked with other teams to achieve your design goals.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Focus on the most impactful projects and present them clearly and efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of UX principles, a proven ability to apply them within the gaming context, and strong collaborative skills. The ability to articulate design rationale and measure impact will be key differentiators.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Scopely careers page.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that best showcase your experience in mobile game UX, complex feature design, and end-to-end ownership. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your role, process, solutions, and impact.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords and experiences directly related to game UX design, mobile development, collaboration, and the 4X Strategy MMO genre. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Research Scopely & Star Trek Fleet Command: Familiarize yourself with the company's culture, values, and the specific game you'd be working on. Understand its core mechanics, target audience, and recent updates.
• Prepare for your Portfolio Review: Practice walking through your selected portfolio projects, focusing on clear explanations of your design process, rationale, and outcomes. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your work.

⚠️ 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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