Sr. II UI Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Sr. II UI Engineer

Company: Undead Labs

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Software Engineering (Game UI)

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

Experience Level: 6+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, prototype, and implement high-quality user interfaces for State of Decay 3, leveraging advanced UI engineering principles.

• Develop and optimize custom design and asset pipelines to enhance UI authoring efficiency and streamline design-to-engineering handoffs.

• Contribute to the core UI framework, establishing best practices for critical areas such as localization, accessibility, input management, and data-binding.

• Address and improve UI performance by minimizing render cost, memory footprint, and JavaScript execution overhead.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior UI engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality work.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a Senior II UI Engineer, indicating a significant level of expertise and responsibility beyond a standard senior position. The focus on "influencing our processes and practices" and "leading by example" suggests a key contributor role in shaping the UI engineering discipline at Undead Labs, particularly for a flagship title like State of Decay 3.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with UI engineers, designers, and other disciplines to effectively prototype, iterate, and deliver polished UI solutions for State of Decay 3.

• Architect and build robust custom design and asset pipelines to streamline UI authoring workflows and improve the efficiency of handoffs between design and engineering teams.

• Drive the development and enhancement of the core UI framework, defining and enforcing best practices for critical UI concerns including internationalization (localization), accessibility standards, input management systems, and declarative data-binding.

• Proactively identify and resolve UI performance bottlenecks, focusing on optimizing render costs, reducing memory consumption, and minimizing JavaScript execution overhead to ensure a smooth player experience.

• Apply deep technical knowledge, critical thinking, and innovative ideas to the production of the game, contributing to the overall quality and player engagement.

• Take ownership of complex technical challenges, proactively identify and address issues within the UI systems, and implement effective solutions.

• Mentor and guide other developers on the UI engineering team, sharing expertise and helping to shape team-wide development practices, coding standards, and quality assurance processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on development, technical leadership, and process improvement. The focus on "custom design and asset pipelines" and "best practices around UI concerns" points to a need for a candidate who can not only code but also architect and optimize the entire UI development workflow.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 6+ years of dedicated experience in developing game user interfaces, or equivalent demonstrable experience in complex application UI development. Proven track record of shipping at least one title is a mandatory requirement.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in core web technologies: Strong HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills, with demonstrated experience in large-scale or complex application development.

• Deep understanding of game development environments, with working knowledge of Unreal Engine (versions 4 or 5, with a preference for 5).

• Excellent problem-solving abilities and a high degree of adaptability to evolving project requirements and technical challenges.

• Passionate about developer experience and workflows, with a proactive desire to improve how UI is created and integrated.

• Pragmatic approach to development, capable of balancing technical excellence with project constraints and business objectives.

• Effective communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical concepts to stakeholders and collaborate across diverse disciplines (design, art, programming).

• Experience in establishing and maintaining best practices for UI development, including areas like localization, accessibility, input management, and data-binding.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Coherent Gameface, a popular tool for developing in-game UIs using web technologies.

• Experience supporting and iterating on a live service title, understanding the demands of ongoing development and player feedback.

• Familiarity with the Svelte UI framework, indicating an interest in modern front-end development patterns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for having "shipped at least one title" is critical and implies a need for candidates who understand the full development lifecycle and the pressures of game release. The preference for Unreal Engine 5 and specific technologies like Coherent Gameface and Svelte indicate the specific technical stack and desired expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least one significant game UI project where you were instrumental in design, implementation, and optimization.

• Provide clear examples of complex UI components or systems you have architected, detailing the problem, your solution, and the resulting impact.

• Demonstrate experience with custom pipeline development for UI assets or workflows, illustrating efficiency gains or improved collaboration.

Process Documentation:

• Present case studies on how you've optimized UI workflows or asset pipelines, detailing the process improvements and measurable outcomes.

• Document your approach to addressing UI performance issues, including diagnostic methods, implemented solutions, and performance metrics achieved.

• Illustrate your experience with establishing and adhering to engineering best practices for UI development, such as code reviews, testing strategies, and documentation standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior II UI Engineer role, a portfolio is crucial. It should not just display visual work but also demonstrate deep technical understanding of UI architecture, performance optimization, pipeline creation, and best practice implementation within a game development context. The emphasis should be on the how and why behind their technical decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $180,000.00 - $215,000.00 per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision for employees, dependents, and partners.

• Generous paid time off policy with unlimited PTO, complemented by 18 company holidays and closure days.

• Retirement savings plan with a 401k offering and a 50% company match.

• Commuting assistance with subsidized transportation to and from the workplace.

• Access to professional development resources and opportunities for career advancement.

• Employee discounts on products within the Microsoft Games store.

Working Hours: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the company culture and unlimited PTO suggest a focus on results and flexibility, allowing for efficient work periods and adequate rest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is a strong indicator for senior-level engineering roles in the Seattle tech/gaming market. The benefits package indicates a company that invests in employee well-being and professional growth, with a particularly strong emphasis on work-life balance through unlimited PTO and holidays. The note about salary variations based on role complexity and location is standard.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development (Survival-Fantasy Franchise). Undead Labs is a key player in the gaming industry, known for its flagship "State of Decay" franchise. As an independent studio within Xbox Game Studios, they benefit from both creative autonomy and the resources of a larger entity, fostering a unique development environment.

Company Size: Undead Labs operates as a significant independent studio within Xbox Game Studios, suggesting a mid-to-large size for a game development studio, likely ranging from 100-500 employees, allowing for specialized teams while maintaining collaborative agility.

Founded: Founded in 2009, Undead Labs has a decade-plus history of developing and supporting its intellectual property, indicating a stable and experienced organization with established development methodologies.

Team Structure:

• The UI engineering team is likely composed of specialized engineers focused on different aspects of UI development, potentially including front-end web technologies, engine integration, and performance optimization.

• Reporting structure will likely involve a Lead UI Engineer or Engineering Manager, with senior members like the Sr. II UI Engineer expected to mentor and guide more junior team members.

Methodology:

• Data-driven iteration and analysis are implied, especially with the focus on performance optimization and user experience.

• Workflow planning and optimization are central, given the emphasis on custom pipelines and streamlining handoffs.

• Automation and efficiency practices are expected, particularly in pipeline development and the application of web technologies to game UI.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to quality, particularly within the context of developing and supporting a major franchise. The "independent member of Xbox Game Studios" status suggests a balance between the agility of a smaller studio and the resources of a larger publisher.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior II UI Engineer represents a highly experienced individual contributor role. This level implies not only deep technical expertise in UI engineering but also the ability to influence technical direction, mentor others, and contribute significantly to process improvements and best practices within the UI discipline. It's a role that bridges expert execution with technical leadership.

Reporting Structure: This role typically reports to a Lead UI Engineer, Engineering Manager, or potentially a Technical Director within the game development team. They will work collaboratively with leads from design, art, and other engineering disciplines.

Operations Impact: The UI Engineer's impact is direct and critical to the player experience. They translate game design and artistic vision into interactive interfaces that govern player engagement, progression, and overall usability. Their work directly influences player satisfaction, retention, and the perceived quality of the game. Optimizing UI performance also has a significant impact on the game's technical feasibility and reach across different platforms.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced animation systems, complex data-binding architectures, or cutting-edge web UI frameworks for games.

• Technical Leadership: Transition into roles like Lead UI Engineer, Technical Director, or Architect, focusing on system design, team mentorship, and strategic technical decisions for future titles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Expand knowledge into adjacent areas like engine programming, gameplay systems, or production pipelines through collaboration and focused learning.

• Industry Influence: Share expertise through talks at game development conferences or contributing to open-source projects related to game UI development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Sr. II" designation strongly suggests a path toward leadership or principal-level individual contribution. Growth opportunities would likely involve taking on more complex architectural challenges, leading feature development, or mentoring a larger group of engineers.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is specified as "On-site," indicating a traditional studio environment. This suggests a physical workspace designed for collaboration, creativity, and focused development within the Undead Labs Seattle office.

Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington, United States. This location places the candidate within a major hub for the gaming and technology industries, offering a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-disciplinary interaction, aligning with the company's stated methodology.

• Access to high-performance development hardware, necessary software licenses (e.g., Unreal Engine, development tools), and internal build systems will be standard.

• Opportunities for direct, in-person interaction with designers, artists, and other engineers are abundant, facilitating rapid iteration and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The mention of a standard 40-hour work week, combined with unlimited PTO, suggests a results-oriented environment that values both productivity and employee well-being. While core hours likely exist for collaboration, there may be flexibility in how the 40 hours are achieved, provided project deadlines and team needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: An on-site role in game development typically means being part of a dynamic, often intense, collaborative environment where real-time communication and in-person brainstorming are highly valued.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, likely focusing on the required years of experience, shipped titles, and core technical skills (HTML/CSS/JS, Unreal Engine).

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more in-depth interviews focusing on your technical skills. This may include coding challenges (live or take-home), discussions about your experience with specific technologies (Unreal Engine, JavaScript frameworks), and problem-solving scenarios related to UI architecture, performance, and workflow optimization.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design choices, technical implementations, challenges faced, and the impact of your work, especially for game UI projects.

• Cross-Disciplinary/Team Fit Interview: You will likely meet with potential peers (other engineers, designers) and possibly a lead or manager to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the Undead Labs team.

• Final Interview: A concluding discussion, potentially with a senior leader, to finalize the offer and discuss role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant projects. For a Sr. II role, prioritize complexity, impact, and technical depth.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate: the problem/goal, your specific role and contributions, the technical solutions implemented (tools, languages, frameworks), challenges encountered, and the measurable outcomes or impact (e.g., performance improvements, workflow efficiencies, positive player feedback).

• Highlight Technical Prowess: Detail your approach to architecture, performance optimization, pipeline creation, and adherence to best practices. Use diagrams or code snippets where appropriate to illustrate complex concepts.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with designers, artists, and other engineers, and how you incorporated their feedback.

• Showcase Passion: Express your enthusiasm for game development, UI engineering, and the "State of Decay" franchise.

Challenge Preparation:

• Algorithm & Data Structures: Refresh fundamentals, particularly those relevant to UI rendering, data management, and state management.

• JavaScript & Web Technologies: Be ready for questions or coding exercises involving complex JavaScript logic, DOM manipulation, performance optimization techniques, and potentially specific framework concepts if Svelte experience is highlighted.

• Unreal Engine UI: Understand Unreal's UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) system, its advantages and limitations, and how you would integrate web-based UI solutions within it.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare for hypothetical situations like "How would you debug a UI performance issue in real-time?" or "How would you design a scalable localization system for a complex game?"

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is standard for senior engineering roles in game development, with a strong emphasis on both technical depth and the ability to contribute to team processes and culture. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to articulate their technical decision-making and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Unreal Engine (UE4/UE5): The core game engine. Proficiency in its UI systems (UMG) and integration capabilities is essential.

• HTML/CSS/JavaScript: Fundamental for building the UI components and logic, especially if leveraging web technologies for in-game UI.

• JavaScript Frameworks/Libraries: Experience with modern frameworks like Svelte (preferred) or similar (React, Vue, Angular) for efficient UI development.

• Coherent Gameface: A specialized tool for integrating web technologies into game UIs, highly preferred for this role.

Analytics & Reporting:

• In-game Analytics Tools: Potential use of custom or integrated tools for tracking UI interaction, performance metrics, and user behavior within the game.

• Performance Profiling Tools: Unreal Engine's built-in profilers (e.g., Unreal Insights, GPU Visualizer) and browser-based developer tools for debugging and optimizing UI performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Version Control Systems: Git is standard for code management and collaboration.

• CI/CD Pipelines: Experience with continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines for automated testing and build processes, especially for asset and UI integration.

• Project Management Tools: Tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello are likely used for task tracking and workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack clearly points towards a modern approach to game UI development, blending traditional game engine capabilities with powerful web technologies. Candidates need to be proficient in both the engine's native UI system and the preferred web-based solutions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A deep commitment to delivering polished, high-quality game experiences, with meticulous attention to detail in UI design and implementation.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief that the best results come from working together across disciplines, valuing open communication, and mutual respect.

• Innovation & Creativity: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to game development, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in survival-fantasy gaming.

• Player Focus: A dedication to understanding and delighting the player base, with decisions ultimately aimed at enhancing the player experience in titles like State of Decay.

• Continuous Improvement: A drive to constantly learn, adapt, and refine processes and technologies to achieve greater efficiency and higher quality outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: UI Engineers are expected to be deeply integrated with design and art teams, participating actively in concepting, prototyping, and feedback loops.

• Open Communication & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to improve code, processes, and team dynamics.

• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise, document best practices, and mentor colleagues to elevate the collective skill level of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "creator of the hit survival-fantasy franchise" and "fan base of over 10 million players" highlights a strong player-centric culture. The studio's independence within Xbox Game Studios likely fosters a culture of ownership and shared responsibility for the quality of their games.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Performance and Fidelity: Achieving high visual fidelity and complex interactions in the UI while maintaining optimal performance on target hardware is a constant challenge in game development.

• Integrating Web Tech with Game Engines: Seamlessly integrating web-based UI frameworks with native game engine environments (like Unreal Engine) requires careful architecture and problem-solving.

• Evolving Player Expectations: Keeping pace with rapidly changing player expectations for UI sophistication, responsiveness, and accessibility.

• Large-Scale Project Management: Managing UI development for a large-scale AAA title like State of Decay 3, with numerous features, platforms, and localization requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Engine Features: Gaining deeper expertise in Unreal Engine's advanced features and evolving capabilities, particularly those relevant to UI and rendering.

• Emerging UI Technologies: Staying abreast of new web UI frameworks, performance optimization techniques, and cross-platform development tools.

• Leadership Skills: Developing mentorship, technical leadership, and project management skills through active contribution and formal/informal training.

• Industry Engagement: Opportunities to attend industry conferences (e.g., GDC), participate in workshops, and network with other professionals in the game development space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to AAA game development, particularly in a role that bridges traditional game engine work with modern web technologies. Growth opportunities are strongly geared towards advancing technical expertise and leadership within the game development domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• UI Architecture & Performance: "Describe a complex UI system you've designed. What were the key architectural decisions, and how did you ensure its performance and scalability?" (Prepare a case study focusing on technical implementation and measurable results.)

• Process Improvement: "How would you go about improving the UI asset pipeline to reduce iteration time between designers and engineers? What tools or methodologies would you consider?" (Focus on pragmatic solutions and understanding of workflow bottlenecks.)

• Collaboration & Mentorship: "Tell me about a time you had to collaborate with a difficult stakeholder or mentor a junior engineer. What was the situation, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Franchise Passion: "What excites you about the State of Decay franchise and the opportunity to work on State of Decay 3?" (Show genuine interest and understanding of the game's appeal.)

• Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to collaborate with game designers and artists on UI features? What is your approach to incorporating feedback?" (Emphasize adaptability, open communication, and a player-centric approach.)

• Technical Philosophy: "What are your thoughts on using web technologies for game UI? What are the pros and cons, and how do you mitigate the risks?" (Demonstrate a balanced, informed perspective.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling with Data: For each project, structure your narrative around the problem, your solution, and the impact. Use metrics (performance gains, efficiency improvements) to quantify your contributions.

• Technical Depth: Be ready to dive into the specifics of your code, architecture, and design decisions. Explain why you made certain choices.

• Showcase Adaptability: Highlight projects where you had to adapt to changing requirements or overcome unexpected technical hurdles.

• Engage Your Audience: Make it an interactive discussion rather than a passive presentation. Be prepared for questions and be enthusiastic about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical proficiency but also a strategic understanding of UI development within the context of game creation, along with strong collaborative and leadership potential.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Sr. II UI Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the Undead Labs careers portal via the provided Greenhouse link.

• Tailor your resume: Emphasize your experience with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Unreal Engine, and any experience with Coherent Gameface or Svelte. Quantify achievements related to shipped titles, performance optimization, and pipeline development.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most impactful game UI projects. Prepare a clear narrative for each, detailing your role, technical solutions, challenges, and outcomes. Be ready to present this virtually or on-site.

• Prepare for technical interviews: Brush up on core web technologies, Unreal Engine UI concepts, and common game development challenges. Practice explaining complex technical problems and solutions clearly.

• Research Undead Labs: Understand their games, company culture, and recent news. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your engagement and interest in the company and the State of Decay franchise.

⚠️ 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.