Senior UI Tools Programmer (CONTRACT)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI Tools Programmer (CONTRACT)

Company: PlayStation Global

Location: San Diego, CA, United States

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Software Engineering / Game Development Tools

Date Posted: 2026-07-27T15:44:34

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and enhance proprietary UI editor tools for a leading game development studio, focusing on user interface implementation.

• Contribute to the maintenance and improvement of existing content-generation tools and their associated runtime systems.

• Collaborate closely with UI designers, artists, and other programmers to troubleshoot issues, propose solutions, and elevate the overall quality of UI development tools.

• Support critical pipeline elements including fonts, localization, and PC development within the game engine's toolchain.

• Uphold high standards of code quality, maintainability, and performance through rigorous testing, profiling, and adherence to best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is for a senior-level programmer focused on the tools that enable UI development, rather than direct UI design or implementation within the game engine itself. The emphasis is on building and refining the systems that artists and designers use, requiring a deep understanding of software architecture, C#, and .NET, with a strong preference for C++ and console development experience. The "CONTRACT" nature of the role implies project-based work, potentially with specific deliverables and timelines.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and iterate on new features for the studio's proprietary UI Editor, ensuring extensibility and user-friendliness.

• Actively participate in the maintenance and enhancement of existing content-generation tools, addressing bugs and performance bottlenecks.

• Provide robust support for the integration and management of fonts, the localization pipeline, and PC-specific development requirements.

• Offer technical support and guidance to UI designers, artists, and fellow programmers who utilize the developed tools.

• Write clear, maintainable, portable, and efficient C# and .NET code, adhering strictly to established coding standards and best practices.

• Conduct thorough profiling and performance tuning of code and systems to identify and eliminate performance bottlenecks impacting tool efficiency and game runtime.

• Execute comprehensive testing and debugging of your own code and contribute to the quality assurance of code written by other team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of new feature development and ongoing system maintenance, typical for a senior role in a mature product development environment like the "MLB - The Show" series. The explicit mention of "platform-specific interfaces" and "console development" indicates a need for familiarity with console SDKs and platform constraints, even when working on tools.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or an equivalent field is required. Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of professional programming experience within the game industry is mandatory.

• Proven track record of developing and shipping multiple titles on console platforms is essential. Required Skills:

• Expertise in C# and .NET application development: Deep understanding of the .NET framework, object-oriented programming principles, and C# language features for building robust applications.

• Game Industry Programming: Extensive experience in game development environments, understanding the unique challenges and workflows of the industry.

• Console Development Experience: Familiarity with developing and shipping games for major console platforms (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox).

• Code Quality & Testing: Strong commitment to writing high-quality, maintainable code and implementing sound testing procedures, including unit testing and integration testing.

• Problem-Solving: Ability to analyze complex technical problems, devise effective solutions, and implement them efficiently.

• Teamwork & Communication: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (designers, artists, other programmers).

Preferred Skills:

• C++ Programming: Experience with C++ is highly advantageous, particularly for deeper engine integration or performance-critical tool components.

• Multi-threaded Systems: Familiarity with designing, implementing, and debugging multi-threaded applications for improved performance and responsiveness.

• UI/UX Tooling: Prior experience developing tools specifically for UI/UX workflows in game development.

• Localization Pipelines: Understanding of internationalization and localization processes, especially as they relate to UI elements and toolchains.

• Performance Tuning: Advanced skills in profiling and optimizing code for both tool performance and runtime game performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distinction between "Required" and "Preferred" skills is critical. While C# and .NET expertise are paramount for the UI Editor, C++ proficiency and console experience suggest that the candidate might need to interface with lower-level engine systems or understand platform-specific tool requirements. The emphasis on "shipping several games on consoles" implies a need for practical, production-level experience rather than academic or hobbyist projects.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate C#/.NET Proficiency: Showcase projects that highlight advanced C# and .NET development, such as custom application frameworks, complex data management systems, or robust scripting engines.

• UI Tooling Examples: Include examples of tools or plugins developed for game engines or other creative software that facilitate content creation, workflow automation, or data manipulation for artists and designers.

• System Architecture Design: Present examples of how you've designed and implemented scalable and maintainable software systems, emphasizing modularity and extensibility.

• Performance Optimization Case Studies: Detail projects where you significantly improved the performance of tools or runtime systems, including the methodologies used for profiling and optimization.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Analysis & Design: Be prepared to discuss how you analyze existing workflows and design new tool features or systems to streamline processes for UI implementation.

• Tool Development Lifecycle: Articulate your understanding of the full tool development lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration Documentation: Provide examples of how you've documented tool functionalities, usage guidelines, and best practices for designers and artists to ensure effective adoption and integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a tools programmer role, the portfolio should emphasize the tools themselves and their impact on development workflows, rather than just the end-product game. Demonstrating the ability to build robust, efficient, and user-friendly software tools is key. Focus on projects where you solved complex technical challenges related to content generation, data management, or workflow automation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated base pay for this contract role is $75 USD per hour. Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage are provided for this position. Working Hours:

• This is a full-time contract position, typically aligned with a standard 40-hour work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is provided as an hourly rate, which is common for contract roles. The $75/hour estimate aligns with senior-level programming roles in high-cost-of-living areas like San Diego, especially within the specialized and competitive gaming industry. The benefits package is standard for contract positions, though it's important to note that the depth and specifics of these benefits can vary by staffing partner.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development & Entertainment. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is a global leader in interactive entertainment, known for its PlayStation brand and critically acclaimed first-party game studios.

Company Size: SIE is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, employing tens of thousands of people globally. San Diego Studio, specifically, is a significant development team within SIE.

Founded: Sony Interactive Entertainment (as Sony Computer Entertainment) was founded in 1993, with PlayStation launching in 1994. San Diego Studio has a long history, contributing to multiple successful game franchises.

Team Structure:

• UI Tools Team: This role is part of a specialized team responsible for developing and maintaining the internal tools used for UI creation. This team likely consists of senior programmers, tool engineers, and potentially technical artists.

• Reporting Structure: As a Senior UI Tools Programmer, you will report to a Lead Programmer or Engineering Manager within the San Diego Studio's technology or tools department.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with UI Designers, UI Artists, Gameplay Programmers, and potentially QA teams is essential to ensure the tools meet the needs of various disciplines.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Expect to work within an Agile or modified Agile framework, utilizing iterative development cycles, sprint planning, and regular feedback loops.

• Data-Driven Tool Improvement: While not explicitly stated, a data-driven approach to identifying tool bottlenecks and areas for improvement is likely, using profiling and user feedback.

• Best Practices in Software Engineering: Emphasis on writing clean, maintainable, and performant code, with a strong focus on testing and debugging.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: San Diego Studio is known for its flagship title, "MLB - The Show," a highly detailed and visually rich sports simulation. This context implies a need for tools that can handle complex data, dynamic content, and sophisticated visual elements, all while maintaining high performance standards for a console audience. The company culture often emphasizes innovation, passion for gaming, and a collaborative, albeit demanding, development environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor (Tools Programming). This role is focused on deep technical expertise and contribution to the development of core engineering tools, rather than direct management of people.

Reporting Structure: You will report to a technical lead or engineering manager, contributing to the strategic direction of the UI tools pipeline.

Operations Impact: Your work will directly impact the efficiency and quality of UI development across multiple game projects. By improving the tools, you enable designers and artists to create more compelling and performant user interfaces faster, ultimately enhancing the player experience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in C#, .NET, C++, and game engine architecture, becoming a go-to expert for UI tooling challenges.

• Cross-Disciplinary Knowledge: Gain in-depth understanding of UI design principles, art pipelines, and console development specifics through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor more junior programmers or tool developers within the team.

• Project Leadership: Potential to lead specific tool development initiatives or feature sets within larger projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" or "Sales Operations" role, the principles of efficiency, process improvement, and enabling other teams (designers, artists) are core to operations. This role offers growth in specialized technical areas vital to game development toolchains.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role at PlayStation's San Diego Studio. This suggests a collaborative, studio-based environment common in game development.

Office Location(s): San Diego, CA, United States. This location is known for its vibrant tech and gaming scene.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic office setting where close interaction with designers, artists, and other engineers is encouraged and necessary for effective tool development.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to PlayStation's internal development tools, game engines, and the necessary hardware for testing and debugging on target platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, code reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions are integral to the daily workflow.

Work Schedule:

• Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for overtime during critical project phases, common in game development. Flexibility may be offered within the on-site framework, subject to team and project needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Working on-site in a game studio environment often means being immersed in a creative and fast-paced culture. This can be highly motivating for those passionate about game development, offering direct interaction with the end product and the teams that build it.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on your C#/.NET, game industry, and console development experience.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more technical interviews, likely including:

  • C#/.NET Deep Dive: Questions on language features, framework knowledge, memory management, and object-oriented design principles.
  • Algorithm & Data Structure Problems: Solving coding challenges, potentially related to UI data management or tool efficiency.
  • System Design: Discussing how you would approach designing or improving specific tool features or systems.
  • Debugging Scenarios: Presenting hypothetical bugs or performance issues and asking how you would diagnose and resolve them.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discussing specific projects, your role, the technical challenges, and the impact of your work.

• Behavioral/Cultural Fit Interview: Assessing your teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving approach, and alignment with the studio's culture.

• Manager/Lead Interview: Final discussion with the hiring manager or lead developer to confirm fit and discuss role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Prioritize Relevant Projects: Showcase projects demonstrating your C#/.NET expertise, game development tools, or complex software systems.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you solved, your specific contributions, the technologies used, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., improved performance by X%, reduced development time by Y%, enabled Z new features).

• Code Samples: Be prepared to share well-documented code samples (if possible and permitted) or describe your coding patterns and architectural decisions in detail.

• Focus on Tooling: If you have direct experience building game development tools (editors, plugins, build systems), highlight these prominently.

• Explain Your Role: Clearly define your responsibilities and contributions, especially in team-based projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Prepare for Live Coding: Practice solving coding problems under timed conditions, focusing on clarity and efficiency.

• System Design Scenarios: Think about how to design scalable and maintainable systems, considering factors like performance, extensibility, and maintainability.

• Articulate Your Thought Process: Be ready to explain your reasoning, assumptions, and trade-offs during technical discussions and coding challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review for a tools programmer is about demonstrating practical application of skills. Be ready to talk shop about C#, .NET, design patterns, and how you've built software that makes other developers' lives easier and more productive.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• C#/.NET Framework: The core language and framework for developing the UI Editor and potentially other internal tools.

• Proprietary UI Editor: The specific internal tool you will be developing and maintaining. Expect it to be built on a robust framework, potentially C++ or C# based.

• Game Engine (e.g., Unreal Engine, proprietary engine): While developing tools, you'll need to understand how they integrate with the game engine's systems and workflows.

• Version Control Systems (e.g., Perforce, Git): Essential for managing code changes and collaboration in a team environment.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Profiling Tools (e.g., Visual Studio Profiler, platform-specific profilers): Critical for identifying performance bottlenecks in tools and game runtime.

• Debugging Tools (e.g., Visual Studio Debugger, WinDbg): Essential for troubleshooting complex issues.

CRM & Automation:

• Issue Tracking Systems (e.g., Jira, Bugzilla): Used for managing tasks, bugs, and feature requests.

• Build Systems: Understanding of how tools integrate into automated build pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "proprietary UI Editor" is the key system. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with building or extending such tools, understanding that they might need to learn a new, specific toolset quickly. Familiarity with common game development tools and workflows is a strong advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to delivering high-quality, robust, and performant tools that meet stringent game development demands.

• Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open communication, constructive feedback, and effective teamwork across disciplines (programming, art, design).

• Innovation & Problem Solving: Encouraging creative solutions to technical challenges and a proactive approach to improving development processes.

• Passion for Gaming: A genuine interest in video games and the PlayStation brand, driving a desire to contribute to world-class entertainment experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: Working in cycles where tools are developed, tested by users, and refined based on feedback.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Actively engaging with UI designers and artists to understand their needs and translate them into effective tool features.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of technical knowledge, best practices, and solutions through code reviews, documentation, and team discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at major game studios like PlayStation's San Diego Studio is often driven by a shared passion for creating exceptional gaming experiences. This means high expectations for quality and performance, but also a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Tool Complexity and Usability: Developing powerful tools that are also intuitive and efficient for non-programmers (artists, designers) to use.

• Platform-Specific Constraints: Adapting tools and ensuring compatibility with various console hardware and software requirements.

• Keeping Pace with Engine/Game Updates: Ensuring tools remain compatible and efficient as the underlying game engine and game features evolve.

• Legacy System Maintenance: Debugging and enhancing older tool codebases while introducing new functionalities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Engine Architecture: Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the game engine's UI systems and how the tools interface with them.

• Advanced C++/C# Techniques: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like metaprogramming, advanced memory management, and performance optimization.

• Exposure to AAA Game Development: Working on a highly successful, AAA game franchise ("MLB - The Show") provides invaluable industry experience.

• Mentorship from Senior Engineers: Learning from experienced professionals in a challenging and rewarding environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a unique opportunity to work on the "behind-the-scenes" technology that enables creative expression in AAA gaming, offering significant technical depth and exposure to the cutting edge of interactive entertainment development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex UI tool you've developed or significantly improved. What were the technical challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on C#, .NET, system design, and problem-solving).

• "How would you approach designing a system for managing and optimizing game UI assets (e.g., textures, fonts, layouts) within a toolchain?" (Assess system design thinking and understanding of UI pipelines).

• "Imagine a scenario where your UI editor is causing performance issues on a specific console. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve the problem?" (Evaluate debugging and performance tuning methodologies). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working on the tools for 'MLB - The Show' or the PlayStation brand?" (Gauge passion and alignment with the company's products).

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with non-programmers (e.g., artists, designers) to develop a tool or feature. How did you ensure their needs were met?" (Assess communication and cross-functional collaboration skills).

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in C#, .NET, and game development tooling?" (Understand commitment to continuous learning). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your solution, your specific contributions, the technologies used, and the impact/results.

• Demonstrate Tooling Logic: Be prepared to explain the underlying logic and architecture of the tools you've built, not just their features.

• Quantify Everything: Use metrics whenever possible (e.g., "reduced build times by 30%", "enabled artists to create 2x more UI elements per sprint").

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect interviewers to ask detailed technical questions about your portfolio projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, demonstrating immediate value and a strong grasp of the required technologies is paramount. Be prepared to articulate your experience concisely and effectively, highlighting how your skills directly address the needs of a senior tools programmer in a AAA game studio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse application link provided.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of game industry experience, strong C# and .NET expertise, and any console development achievements. Use keywords from the job description such as "UI Tools Programmer," "C#," ".NET," "Console Development," "Performance Tuning," and "Localization Pipeline."

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that showcases your best C#/.NET projects, especially any custom tools, editors, or complex software systems you have developed. Be ready to discuss your contributions and the impact of your work.

• Practice Technical Questions: Review common C#/.NET interview questions, algorithm and data structure problems, and system design scenarios. Practice articulating your thought process clearly.

• Research PlayStation & San Diego Studio: Understand the company's mission, its flagship titles (like "MLB - The Show"), and the general culture of game development studios.

⚠️ 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.