UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Designer Company: Niantic Location: Sunnyvale, California, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: User Experience (UX) Design / Product Design Date Posted: 2025-09-17T00:06:24 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on shaping groundbreaking, highly social, and innovative player experiences within Niantic's augmented reality platform.
• The UX Designer will champion player needs by blending intuition with data-driven insights to create seamless and engaging user journeys.
• Responsibilities include designing intuitive end-to-end flows, crafting thoughtful visual design, and building prototypes that effectively communicate concepts.
• The role requires strong storytelling abilities to translate complex use cases into simple, scalable solutions with a high attention to detail.
• Collaboration with engineers, product managers, and other creative professionals in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment is a key aspect of this position.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specifically for a UX Designer, not an operations role. The enhancement will focus on translating the provided information into a structured format, but the core job function remains UX Design. Operations-specific keywords and context will not be applicable.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead UX design efforts from concept to implementation for one or more player-facing experiences within Niantic's game portfolio.
• Develop comprehensive mockups, wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes to clearly articulate interaction models and design concepts.
• Create detailed design documentation that serves as a clear guide for engineering implementation and cross-functional understanding.
• Actively participate in team rituals, including conceptualization and brainstorming sessions, to contribute innovative ideas for new features and enhancements.
• Improve and extend existing design system patterns to ensure consistency and scalability across Niantic's product ecosystem.
• Integrate user research findings and player insights throughout all stages of the design exploration and iteration process.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional team members, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and marketing, to ensure cohesive product development.
• Contribute to the overall player experience strategy by advocating for user-centered design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are directly extracted from the provided job description, emphasizing the core duties of a UX Designer.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience is prioritized. Candidates are expected to possess a deep understanding of UX principles and practices.

Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in User Experience (UX) design.
• Demonstrated experience in interaction design for mobile and/or desktop applications, with a portfolio showcasing successful projects.
• Proven experience in wireframing and prototyping, with a strong command of tools like Figma, including proficiency in using and contributing to shared design libraries and patterns.
• Familiarity with mobile UX design patterns, particularly those applied in gaming, fitness, or activity-related experiences, is highly valued.
• Experience in creating implementation-ready UX mockups and flows that facilitate seamless developer implementation.
• Strong visual design skills are essential for crafting aesthetically pleasing and functional interfaces.
• Demonstrated creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop novel UX patterns when required to meet specific user needs or project goals.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced hybrid work environment, managing stress effectively and adapting to dynamic situations with little advance notice.
• Experience working collaboratively on cross-functional teams, with excellent written and verbal communication skills, including effective asynchronous communication.

Required Skills:

• UX Design
• Wireframing
• Prototyping (Figma proficiency)
• Visual Design
• User Research Integration
• Creative Problem-Solving
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Effective Communication (Written and Verbal)

Preferred Skills:

• UI implementation in Unity
• Japanese language proficiency

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level is inferred from the "3+ years" requirement, placing it in the mid-level range. Preferred skills are explicitly stated as "Plus if...".

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX design projects, with a strong emphasis on interaction design for mobile and/or desktop applications.
• Projects should clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to translate complex use cases into simple, scalable, and user-friendly solutions.
• Evidence of user-centered design processes, including user research integration, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design execution.
• Examples of design system contributions or adherence to established design patterns are highly valued.
• Case studies should highlight problem-solving approaches, design decisions, and the impact of those decisions on the user experience.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to be adept at creating clear and detailed design documentation, including interaction flows and wireframes, to guide development.
• The ability to articulate design rationale and decision-making processes is crucial.
• Experience in documenting and improving existing design system patterns is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly "operations" focused, the portfolio requirements are tailored to the UX design discipline, emphasizing process, documentation, and problem-solving within that context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $156,600.00 - $174,000.00 per year.

Benefits:

• Equity
• Bonuses
• Comprehensive Benefits Package (specifics to be detailed by recruiter)

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time workweek of approximately 40 hours is implied by the "Full-time" employment type.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits are directly extracted from the provided text. The working hours are inferred from the standard full-time designation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Augmented Reality (AR), Gaming, Location-Based Entertainment. Niantic's unique position in the industry revolves around its AR platform that powers spatial computing experiences in the real world, most notably with Pokémon GO. Company Size: Niantic is a significant player in the tech industry, with a global presence and multiple offices. The exact employee count isn't provided, but it's implied to be a medium to large-sized organization with established teams. Founded: Niantic was incubated out of the Maps team at Google, first creating Ingress and then Pokémon GO. This history highlights a foundation in innovative, data-driven, and globally scaled technology.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team is a creative and collaborative unit responsible for defining the player experience.
• This team likely works closely with Product Management, Engineering, User Research, and potentially Marketing teams.
• The reporting structure would typically place UX Designers under a Design Lead or Director, with close collaboration across product verticals.
• Cross-functional collaboration is a core aspect, with designers expected to partner with diverse stakeholders to bring experiences to life.

Methodology:

• Niantic's approach emphasizes data-driven insights from player behavior and user research to inform design decisions.
• The company fosters an iterative design process, valuing feedback and continuous improvement.
• A focus on innovation and creating novel experiences within the AR space is a key methodological driver.
• Balancing established design patterns with fresh ideas is encouraged.

Company Website: https://nianticlabs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company culture and team structure are inferred from the company description and the nature of a UX Design team within a tech company like Niantic.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a Mid-Level UX Designer, indicating a need for independent contribution and ownership of design tasks, but likely still working under senior guidance or within a defined product area. Reporting Structure: The UX Designer will report to a Design Manager or Lead, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineers on specific features or product areas. Operations Impact: While not an "operations" role, the UX Designer's work directly impacts player engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction, which are critical metrics for Niantic's success. Positive user experiences lead to increased player activity and community growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in interaction design, visual design, prototyping, and user research methodologies.
• Specialization: Potential to specialize in specific game genres, AR technologies, or user segments within Niantic's portfolio.
• Leadership Development: As experience grows, opportunities may arise to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives for larger features, or move into senior or lead UX designer roles.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Working on diverse projects provides exposure to different aspects of game development and product management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career growth is analyzed based on the mid-level designation and typical progression paths within design teams at tech companies.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Niantic is a "hybrid first" company, indicating a blend of in-office and remote work. The role requires a minimum of 2 days in the office per week. Office Location(s): The primary office for this role is Sunnyvale, California. Niantic also has offices in San Francisco, Bellevue, London, Tokyo, and Zürich.

Workspace Context:

• The Sunnyvale office likely provides a collaborative environment with resources for design work.
• As a hybrid role, candidates should be comfortable working both independently remotely and collaboratively in the office.
• The environment encourages intellectual curiosity and a passion for problem-solving, fostering a dynamic and engaging workplace.
• Opportunities for interaction with design, product, and engineering teams are ample, especially on in-office days.

Work Schedule: A hybrid work schedule is in place, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the Sunnyvale office (Wednesday plus one additional team-designated day). The remaining days can be worked remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are directly extracted from the provided text, focusing on the hybrid nature and office requirements.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and fit.
• Hiring Manager/Recruiter Screen: A discussion to understand your background, motivations, and basic qualifications.
• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: This is a crucial step where you'll likely present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially tackle a design exercise or case study. Be prepared to articulate your design decisions, problem-solving approach, and the impact of your work.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, and other team members to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or the head of design.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. For this role, prioritize mobile and/or desktop applications, especially those with social, gaming, or activity-tracking elements.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your process, your specific contributions, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes. Use visuals effectively (wireframes, mockups, prototypes).
• Highlight Figma Skills: Demonstrate your proficiency with Figma, including your use of components, libraries, and collaborative features.
• Showcase Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user engagement, positive feedback).
• Address Hybrid Work: Be ready to discuss how you manage collaboration and productivity in a hybrid environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Figma Proficiency: Practice creating quick prototypes or refining existing flows in Figma.
• Problem-Solving: Be prepared for hypothetical design challenges and think through user needs, constraints, and potential solutions logically.
• Communication: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips are generalized for a UX design role, drawing on common industry practices and the specific requirements mentioned in the job description.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for wireframing, prototyping, and visual design, including the use of shared design libraries and patterns.
• Unity: Experience implementing UI in Unity is a significant plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, UX Designers at Niantic would likely utilize analytics tools (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel) and potentially A/B testing platforms to gather player insights and measure the impact of design changes.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the core UX design responsibilities of this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Tool requirements are directly stated in the job description.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Niantic's culture emphasizes:

• Player-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of their global player base.
• Innovation: Driving forward the field of augmented reality and location-based experiences.
• Collaboration: Working effectively in cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
• Curiosity & Problem-Solving: A drive to explore new ideas and tackle complex challenges.
• Inclusion: Seeking and hiring diverse voices to enrich their products and workplace.

Collaboration Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented, with designers working closely with product managers, engineers, and researchers.
• Open to feedback and iterative design processes.
• Communication is key, both in-person and asynchronously, to ensure alignment across distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Values and collaboration style are inferred from the company description and the emphasis on teamwork and player experience.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Creating novel AR experiences while ensuring they are stable, performant, and scalable for millions of users.
• Designing for Real-World Interaction: Creating intuitive interfaces that seamlessly integrate digital elements with the physical world.
• Adapting to a Hybrid Environment: Effectively collaborating and maintaining productivity across remote and in-office workdays.
• Fast-Paced Development: Working in a dynamic environment where priorities can shift, requiring adaptability and efficient problem-solving.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AR/Location-Based Design Expertise: Deepen knowledge in designing for unique spatial computing contexts.
• Advanced Prototyping: Opportunities to explore more complex prototyping techniques and tools.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain insights into game development, engineering processes, and product strategy.
• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of AR and mobile UX design trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are contextualized based on the role and company industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a complex UX project you led from concept to launch. What was the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, and the outcome?"
• Collaboration: "Describe a time you had a disagreement with a PM or Engineer about a design decision. How did you handle it, and what was the resolution?"
• Problem-Solving: "How would you approach designing a feature for [Niantic game] that encourages more social interaction between players in the real world?"
• Figma Skills: Be prepared to discuss your workflow in Figma, how you use design systems, and your experience with collaborative features.
• Cultural Fit: "What interests you about Niantic's mission and its approach to AR gaming?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Research Niantic's games (Pokémon GO, Ingress, Pikmin Bloom, Monster Hunter Now) and understand their core player experiences and unique AR mechanics.
• Be ready to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with Niantic's emphasis on exploration, community, and real-world interaction.
• Understand the hybrid work model and how you contribute to a positive team dynamic in such an environment.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction to the project, Problem Statement, Your Role & Process, Design Solutions (with visuals), Key Decisions & Rationale, Outcomes & Learnings.
• Visuals: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and user flow diagrams to clearly communicate your design.
• Storytelling: Weave a narrative that highlights your problem-solving skills and the value you bring as a designer.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and focus on the most impactful aspects of your projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a UX Designer role, focusing on portfolio presentation, design thinking, and company-specific knowledge.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 3+ years of UX design experience, focusing on mobile/desktop interaction design, prototyping (Figma), and visual design skills. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is polished, mobile-friendly, and showcases your best work relevant to Niantic's games. Include detailed case studies that articulate your process and impact.
• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to clearly articulate your experience, design philosophy, and why you're a good fit for Niantic during interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio projects concisely.
• Research Niantic: Familiarize yourself with their games, company mission, and AR technology to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.