Lead UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead UI

Company: Cloud Imperium Games

Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Job Type: Full time

Category: Game Development - UI/UX Design & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-08-26

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and production of diegetic user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) within an immersive sci-fi universe, ensuring seamless player interaction with game elements.

• Drive the creative vision and execution of all UI/UX deliverables for a AAA game title, from initial concept through to final implementation in the game engine.

• Mentor, guide, and develop a dedicated team of UI Artists, UI Designers, and UX Designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Game Design, Art Direction, Technical Art, Programming, Audio, Narrative, and Monetization, to ensure UI/UX alignment and integration.

• Directly implement UI elements within the game engine using proprietary internal tools, bridging the gap between design and technical execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Lead UI position within the AAA game development industry, focusing on creating diegetic interfaces that are integrated into the game world. The emphasis on "diegetic" means the UI is part of the game's narrative and world, not just an overlay. The role requires strong leadership and team management skills alongside deep UI/UX design expertise.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the creation of innovative and engaging user interfaces in close collaboration with Game Design and Art Direction teams, translating creative concepts into functional designs.

• Continuously seek opportunities to enhance the team's efficiency, workflow, and overall contribution to the project's success.

• Integrate UI assets and functionalities directly into the game engine using Cloud Imperium Games' internal development tools.

• Provide strong leadership, mentorship, and professional development support to UI Artists, UI Designers, and UX Designers within the team.

• Oversee the quality, consistency, and timely delivery of all UI/UX assets and features produced by the team.

• Partner with designers and the art direction to establish and refine visual guidelines, ensuring the creative vision for UI elements is consistently applied.

• Ensure cohesive UI/UX experiences by collaborating with cross-functional teams such as Audio, Art, Game Design, Narrative, and Monetization departments.

• Work closely with the UI Director to faithfully translate their creative vision into the final game implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design, technical implementation within a proprietary engine, and significant leadership duties. The emphasis on "diegetic UI" and integration with "game engine" points to a need for candidates who understand not just aesthetics but also how UI functions within a game's interactive systems.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in UI/UX design principles is paramount. A background in graphic design, interaction design, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Senior UI Artist or UI Designer within the game development industry, coupled with at least 2 years of team leadership experience on AAA game productions.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in UI/UX design principles specifically applied to video games, evidenced by a diverse and compelling portfolio.

• Strong understanding and application of user-centered design (UCD) methodologies to create intuitive and effective player experiences.

• High proficiency with industry-standard design and prototyping tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and prototyping software such as Figma, Miro, or similar.

• Familiarity with Agile/Lean methodologies and project management tools like Jira, essential for efficient workflow and collaboration in a fast-paced development environment.

• Solid understanding of game design principles and how UI/UX contributes to overall gameplay mechanics and player engagement.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills, capable of effectively conveying ideas and strategies to team members, peers, and senior leadership.

• Proven ability to quickly identify and resolve technical challenges and design constraints inherent in game development.

• High degree of autonomy, initiative, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work.

• Demonstrated curiosity and passion for tackling complex problems through creative design solutions.

• Proven ability to effectively manage, mentor, and coach team members, fostering their professional growth. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with in-engine UI implementation tools or proprietary game engines.

• Familiarity with technical art pipelines and collaboration with technical artists.

• Experience in developing UI for complex simulation or space-themed games.

• Knowledge of accessibility standards in UI/UX design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical experience and a strong portfolio over formal education. The mention of "diegetic UI," "game engine," and specific tools like "Figma" and "Jira" are critical for candidates to highlight. The leadership experience requirement is key for a "Lead" role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UI/UX design projects, with a strong emphasis on video game interfaces.

• Case studies demonstrating the application of user-centered design principles and problem-solving within UI/UX contexts.

• Examples of diegetic UI design, such as in-world displays, holographic projections, or integrated cockpit interfaces.

• Visuals and/or interactive prototypes of UI systems, illustrating workflow, information architecture, and user flow.

• Evidence of collaboration with game designers, artists, and programmers, detailing your role and contributions. Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow documentation, wireframing, and prototyping processes used in previous projects.

• Demonstrations of how you have iterated on UI designs based on feedback, testing, and technical constraints.

• Documentation illustrating your approach to maintaining UI consistency across different game features and platforms.

• Evidence of how you have managed and organized UI assets and design specifications for development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical and must showcase not only design skills but also leadership, collaboration, and the ability to work within a game development pipeline. Specific examples of diegetic UI and technical implementation are highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Lead UI positions in AAA game development in Montreal, Canada, with 5-10 years of experience and leadership responsibilities, the estimated salary range is CAD $100,000 - $140,000 annually. This range accounts for the specialized skills, leadership demands, and the cost of living in Montreal.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., RRSP matching) or equivalent.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.

• Access to company-provided hardware and software for design work.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time employment, typically 40 hours per week. While core hours are expected for team collaboration and meetings, there may be flexibility depending on project needs and team agreements, especially for on-site roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimate is based on market research for similar roles in Montreal's game development sector. Benefits are standard for full-time roles in the Canadian tech/gaming industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development. Cloud Imperium Games is a prominent player in the AAA space, known for its ambitious, crowdfunded projects like Star Citizen and Squadron 42, which focus on deep simulation and persistent online worlds.

Company Size: Over 1,000 employees globally. This indicates a large, established studio capable of undertaking complex, long-term development projects, offering opportunities for specialization and large-scale collaboration.

Founded: 2012 by Chris Roberts. The company's relatively recent founding, coupled with its ambitious scope and community-driven funding model, suggests a culture that values innovation, direct player engagement, and pushing technological boundaries.

Team Structure:

• The UI/UX team is likely structured with a Lead UI overseeing multiple UI Artists, UI Designers, and UX Designers.

• Reporting structure typically involves the Lead UI reporting to a UI Director or Head of UI/UX, and potentially to a Game Director or Production Manager.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with the UI team working closely with Game Design, Art, Programming, and Technical Art departments to ensure cohesive game development. Methodology:

• Data-driven design decisions are encouraged, leveraging player feedback and analytics where available.

• Agile/Lean methodologies are employed for iterative development, allowing for flexibility and rapid response to evolving project requirements.

• Emphasis on a strong creative vision, with detailed visual guidelines and creative direction provided by art leadership.

Company Website: https://cloudimperiumgames.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's crowdfunded model and focus on ambitious AAA titles shape its culture. Candidates should be prepared for a dynamic environment where community feedback and innovation are key. The emphasis on "best damn space sim ever" suggests a commitment to deep, immersive experiences.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position within the UI/UX discipline. As a Lead UI, you are responsible for not only your own design output but also for the performance, growth, and direction of a team. This role serves as a critical bridge between individual contributor roles and higher-level management or director positions.

Reporting Structure: You will report to the UI Director and work closely with other department leads (e.g., Game Design Lead, Art Director, Technical Director). Your team members will report directly to you.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX team's work directly impacts player immersion, usability, and overall satisfaction. Effective UI/UX design is crucial for making complex game systems accessible and engaging, thereby influencing player retention, enjoyment, and ultimately, the commercial success of the game. Your leadership ensures this critical function is executed at the highest level.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UI/UX for complex games, such as diegetic interfaces, VR/AR integration, or advanced data visualization.

• Leadership Advancement: Progress to UI Director, Head of UI/UX, or similar senior management roles within the company or the broader gaming industry.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to other areas of game development through collaboration, potentially leading to roles in game design, technical art, or production management.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning titles, enhancing your professional profile and reputation within the game development community.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, moving from a senior individual contributor to a team leader and potential director. The impact on the player experience is substantial, making it a rewarding career path for passionate UI/UX professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site role in Montreal, Canada. Cloud Imperium Games typically maintains modern office spaces designed to foster collaboration and creativity among development teams.

Office Location(s): Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This location is a major hub for the video game industry, offering a vibrant ecosystem of talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with team members often working in close proximity to facilitate communication and quick iteration.

• Access to high-performance workstations and the latest software tools required for AAA game development, including specialized UI/UX software and the company's proprietary game engine.

• Opportunities for informal and formal collaboration sessions with designers, artists, programmers, and other stakeholders.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical for full-time employees. However, the demanding nature of AAA game development, especially during critical project phases, may require occasional overtime or flexible scheduling to meet deadlines. The on-site nature ensures direct engagement and participation in team activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Montreal suggests a hands-on, collaborative environment. Candidates should be prepared for a dynamic studio setting where teamwork and direct interaction are prioritized.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter review of application and resume, focusing on relevant experience and qualifications.

• Portfolio Review: A crucial step where your submitted portfolio is evaluated by the hiring manager and potentially senior team members for design quality, relevant experience, and leadership potential. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio and discuss specific projects.

• Technical/Design Interview: An in-depth discussion about your UI/UX design philosophy, process, and technical skills. You may be asked to solve a design challenge or discuss solutions to hypothetical problems related to diegetic UI.

• Leadership Interview: An assessment of your leadership style, team management experience, communication skills, and ability to mentor and develop a team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a Director or Executive, focusing on cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall alignment with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase your best and most relevant work. For this role, prioritize AAA game UI/UX projects, especially those involving diegetic interfaces or complex systems.

• Highlight Leadership: If possible, include projects where you led a team, managed deliverables, or influenced design direction.

• Explain Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools used, your role, the challenges faced, and the outcomes. Use case studies to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and user-centered design thinking.

• Showcase Diegetic UI: Ensure your portfolio includes strong examples of in-world UI, HUDs, and interactive displays that are part of the game's narrative.

• Technical Integration: Briefly mention how your designs were implemented or would be implemented, demonstrating an understanding of the development pipeline.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing a specific diegetic UI element (e.g., a ship’s navigation console, a mission briefing screen).

• Prepare to articulate your leadership philosophy and how you motivate and manage design teams.

• Practice explaining complex design decisions and their rationale clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a mixed audience of designers, programmers, and executives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates must demonstrate not only exceptional design skills but also leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of game development pipelines, with a specific focus on diegetic UI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects are essential for creating UI assets, mockups, and motion graphics.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Miro, or similar tools are expected for wireframing, interactive prototyping, and collaborative design sessions.

• Project Management: Jira is a standard tool for tracking tasks, sprints, and project progress within Agile/Lean frameworks.

• Internal Game Engine: While specific engine details are proprietary, candidates should be prepared to learn and work with Cloud Imperium Games' internal tools for UI implementation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for this role, understanding how UI/UX impacts player engagement metrics is beneficial. Familiarity with tools that can track user interaction or A/B testing results would be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UI/UX role, but understanding how UI integrates with game systems (e.g., inventory management, mission progression) is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and prototyping tools is a must. Experience with Jira and an understanding of game engine workflows are also critical. The ability to adapt to proprietary internal tools is expected.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Ambition: A drive to push boundaries in game development and create groundbreaking experiences, as reflected in their crowdfunded model and ambitious project scope.

• Player-Centricity: A deep commitment to their community and delivering high-quality experiences that resonate with players, evident in their open development approach.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on cross-functional teamwork to achieve complex development goals, requiring strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellence & Quality: A dedication to producing AAA-quality games, with a meticulous approach to design, art, and technical implementation.

• Passion: A shared enthusiasm for gaming and creating immersive worlds, fostering a motivated and dedicated work environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with frequent interaction between UI/UX designers, game designers, artists, and programmers.

• Iterative design processes are common, involving regular feedback loops and revisions based on team input and playtesting.

• Open communication channels are encouraged to ensure alignment across diverse disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should align with a culture that values ambition, community, and collaborative excellence in game development. The "Best Damn Space Sim Ever" ethos implies a pursuit of perfection and a passion for the genre.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Technical Complexity: Integrating diegetic UI seamlessly into a complex game engine and ensuring it functions correctly across various game systems presents significant technical hurdles.

• Scope Management: Leading UI/UX for a large-scale, long-term AAA project requires robust planning, prioritization, and adaptability to evolving design requirements.

• Team Leadership: Effectively managing, mentoring, and motivating a diverse team of artists and designers, especially under project deadlines, is a continuous challenge.

• Balancing Vision and Execution: Translating ambitious creative visions into practical, implementable UI solutions that meet both player expectations and technical constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UI/UX Techniques: Opportunities to explore cutting-edge UI/UX methodologies, particularly within the context of immersive simulations and space games.

• Leadership Development: Formal and informal training in team management, project leadership, and strategic planning.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend gaming industry conferences and events, network with peers, and stay abreast of emerging trends.

• Technical Skill Enhancement: Learning to work with proprietary game engines and advanced development tools, broadening technical expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for lead roles on ambitious AAA projects, offering substantial opportunities for professional growth and skill development in both design and leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to designing diegetic UI for a spaceship's cockpit. What are the key considerations for player immersion and functionality?"

• "How would you ensure UI/UX consistency across different gameplay systems (e.g., combat, trading, exploration) within a vast open-world game?"

• "Walk me through a time you had to resolve a significant technical challenge related to UI implementation. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you balance creative vision with technical constraints and project deadlines when leading a design team?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Cloud Imperium Games and our approach to game development, particularly our crowdfunded model and ambitious projects like Star Citizen?"

• "Describe your ideal team culture for a UI/UX department. How do you foster collaboration and innovation?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UI/UX design and game development?"

• "What are your thoughts on user-centered design in the context of creating immersive, diegetic interfaces?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating progression from concept to final implementation.

• Storytelling: For each key project, tell a story: the problem, your role, your process, the challenges, and the successful outcome. Quantify impact where possible.

• Highlight Leadership: Explicitly point out instances where you led teams, mentored individuals, or influenced design direction.

• Technical Context: Briefly explain the technical environment or tools used for implementation to show an understanding of the development pipeline.

• Diegetic Focus: Ensure your presentation emphasizes your experience with diegetic UI and its unique challenges and rewards.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, a deep understanding of diegetic UI principles, and the ability to collaborate effectively within a AAA game development environment. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead UI position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Cloud Imperium Games careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in AAA game development, UI/UX leadership, and diegetic interface design. Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and prominently features your most relevant work.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly list your years of experience in senior UI/UX roles and team leadership, along with specific tools and methodologies used (e.g., Adobe Suite, Figma, Jira, Agile). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, leadership philosophy, and how you approach challenges specific to game UI development. Prepare to present your portfolio and discuss key projects in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Cloud Imperium Games' projects (Star Citizen, Squadron 42), their community engagement strategies, and their overall vision for creating ambitious AAA games. Understand their commitment to diegetic UI.

⚠️ 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.