Senior UI / UX Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI / UX Designer

Company: Astrid Entertainment

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Game Design & Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Oversee the end-to-end player-facing user experience (UX) for core game systems, including inventory, crafting, building, decorating, and dialogue.

• Design and implement user interfaces (UI) such as the HUD, menus, and moment-to-moment input systems to ensure clarity and an excellent feel.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive UI design system to guide internal teams and external vendors, ensuring visual consistency and efficient asset utilization.

• Collaborate closely with UI engineers and direct outsourced graphic designers to achieve a high level of visual polish, including iconography and color palettes.

• Leverage Unreal Engine (UMG) for UI implementation and work alongside a dedicated UI engineer to bring designs to life in-game.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Game Design & Development Operations category, focusing on the operational aspects of bringing a game's user interface and experience to fruition. The emphasis on owning the player-facing experience end-to-end, implementing in Unreal Engine, and managing a design system indicates a strong operational component beyond pure creative design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• User Experience Ownership: Take full ownership of the UX for all core game systems, meticulously defining flows, information architecture, interaction patterns, and layout to ensure intuitiveness and depth.

• Interface Design: Create and refine the Heads-Up Display (HUD), in-game menus, and all screens related to player interaction and progression, prioritizing readability and a satisfying user experience.

• End-to-End Design Process: Produce wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final mock-ups, guiding them through the entire implementation process to final deployment.

• In-Engine Implementation: Actively build and wire UI elements within Unreal Engine (UMG), working collaboratively with a dedicated UI engineer to ensure seamless integration and functionality.

• Design System Management: Define, document, and maintain a robust UI design system that serves as a single source of truth for internal teams and external graphic designers, ensuring consistency and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Artistic Direction: Provide clear direction to outsourced graphic designers for crucial visual elements such as iconography, color schemes, and overall visual polish to enhance the game's aesthetic appeal.

• Iterative Development & Playtesting: Conduct regular playtesting sessions to gather user feedback and rapidly iterate on UI/UX designs, adapting designs as the game evolves and player needs become clearer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on, operational approach to UI/UX design within a game development context. The inclusion of "Own the UX," "Build and wire up your UI in Unreal (UMG)," and "Define and maintain a UI design system" highlights the operational expectation of not just designing but also ensuring the successful implementation and ongoing management of the game's user interface infrastructure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred, though equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of dedicated UI/UX design experience specifically for video games, with a proven track record that includes at least one shipped title or substantial in-development project work.

Required Skills:

• UX Design Mastery: Proven ability to design complex game systems (e.g., inventory, crafting, building) that are simple to pick up for newcomers but offer deep mastery for advanced players, without sacrificing accessibility for either group.

• Unreal Engine (UMG) Proficiency: Hands-on experience implementing UI designs within Unreal Engine's UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) framework is essential. Candidates with exceptional UX skills but lighter Unreal experience will be considered, but practical application is strongly expected.

• Information Architecture: Strong understanding of structuring complex information hierarchically and logically to create intuitive navigation and data presentation within game interfaces.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize user flows, test concepts, and communicate design intent effectively.

• Design System Development: Experience in defining and maintaining a comprehensive UI design system, including component libraries, style guides, and best practices for consistent application.

• Figma / Adobe Suite Fluency: Demonstrated expertise in industry-standard design tools such as Figma and/or the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Game Genre Understanding: Demonstrable understanding and passion for "cosy" / life-sim / management games and adventure games, as the role involves designing a hybrid of these genres.

Preferred Skills:

• Graphic Design Acumen: A strong visual sense and ability to contribute to the aesthetic direction of the UI, including iconography, color theory, and typography.

• Playtesting & User Research: Experience planning, conducting, and analyzing results from user playtests and other qualitative research methods to inform design decisions.

• Interaction Design: Deep understanding of interaction design principles to create responsive, engaging, and satisfying user feedback loops within the UI.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team of engineers, artists, and designers, communicating design rationale clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "UX - Making the game simple to pick up but deep to master" is the highest priority, followed by Unreal (UMG) implementation. This indicates that while visual design is valued, the core operational responsibility lies in creating robust, scalable, and user-friendly game systems through excellent UX and practical implementation skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Systems-Rich Game Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies of UI/UX design for systems-rich games (life-sim, management, adventure genres preferred). These should clearly demonstrate your design process from concept to implementation.

• Process Documentation: For each case study, clearly outline your approach to information architecture, user flow mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing. Explain the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Unreal Engine (UMG) Implementation Samples: Include evidence, such as screenshots, video captures, or a playable demo, of UI elements you have personally built and implemented using Unreal Engine's UMG. Highlight specific challenges overcome.

• Design System Examples: Present examples of UI design systems you have developed or contributed to, showcasing component libraries, style guides, and how they ensure consistency across a project.

• Impact & Iteration: Demonstrate how your designs have positively impacted user experience, supported game depth, and how you have iterated based on feedback or playtesting results. Quantifiable results are a strong plus.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for mapping out complex user flows and information architecture for game systems, showing how you break down intricate mechanics into understandable interfaces.

• Implementation & Automation: Provide examples of how you have worked with engineers to implement UI designs, and any strategies you employ to streamline the UI development process or automate repetitive tasks.

• Measurement & Analysis: Detail your methods for using playtesting feedback, analytics (if applicable), and user research to measure the effectiveness of your UI/UX designs and identify areas for optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of operational capability. It must go beyond aesthetic mock-ups to demonstrate a deep understanding of game systems, user-centric design processes, practical implementation skills in Unreal Engine, and the ability to manage a scalable design system.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for Senior UI/UX Designers with 5-10 years of experience in the United States, particularly within the gaming sector, the estimated salary range is between $120,000 and $170,000 annually. This range can vary based on specific location within the US (considering cost of living), the candidate's exact experience, and the depth of their Unreal Engine (UMG) proficiency.

Benefits:

• Great Compensation Package: A competitive base salary designed to reflect your experience and contributions.

• Equity: Opportunity to share in the company's success through stock options or other equity grants.

• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage for you and potentially your dependents.

• Pension Plan: Retirement savings plan to support long-term financial security.

• Unlimited Vacation Days: A flexible approach to time off, emphasizing trust and work-life balance, with the expectation of delivering results.

• Flexible Remote Work Hours: Ability to set your own working hours as long as team collaboration and delivery commitments are met.

• Expanded Benefits: Commitment to continuously enhancing benefits and perks to support the well-being and professional growth of the team.

Working Hours: The company operates with flexible remote work hours, allowing team members to structure their days around core collaboration times and project deliverables. While a standard full-time commitment is expected (approximately 40 hours per week), the emphasis is on results rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on aggregated data from reputable compensation survey sites for senior game UI/UX designers in the US, factoring in the remote nature of the role and the company's stated commitment to competitive compensation. The benefits listed are directly from the job description, highlighting key incentives for operations and creative professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Gaming / Entertainment Technology. Astrid Entertainment is a gaming studio focused on creating cooperative, open-world simulation experiences that emphasize connection, problem-solving, and shared discovery.

Company Size: The team spans the US, UK, and beyond, indicating a growing, distributed workforce. While specific numbers aren't provided, the mention of "regular in-person meetups" suggests a size that can facilitate such gatherings, likely ranging from 50-200 employees at present, with potential for growth.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company is focused on its "first project," suggesting it is a relatively new or early-stage venture, likely in a growth phase.

Team Structure:

• Distributed & Collaborative: The team operates on a fully remote model, with members spread across different regions (US, UK, and beyond).

• Cross-functional: The Senior UI/UX Designer will work closely with UI engineers, other game designers, and potentially art directors and producers.

• Culture of Trust: The emphasis on "unlimited vacation days" and "flexible remote work hours" points to a culture that trusts its employees to manage their time effectively and deliver results. Regular in-person meetups are planned to foster culture and alignment.

Methodology:

• Player-Centric Design: The core philosophy revolves around creating experiences that foster connection, problem-solving, and discovery, with a strong focus on UX that is easy to learn but deep to master.

• Iterative Development: The process involves regular playtesting and quick iteration to adapt designs based on player feedback and the evolving game state.

• Community-Driven Play: The game is designed to be shaped by community interaction, implying a design approach that supports emergent gameplay and player agency.

Company Website: https://astridentertainment.com/ (Implied from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "multiplayer creative experiences" and "community-driven play" suggests a culture that values collaboration, player feedback, and innovative design. The remote-first approach with periodic in-person meetups indicates a modern operational structure aimed at attracting talent globally while fostering team cohesion.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a Senior-level position within the game development operations, specifically focused on the critical player-facing systems. It requires a blend of strategic UX thinking, hands-on implementation skills, and the ability to manage and scale design processes through a design system. The "ownership" aspect implies significant responsibility and autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI/UX Designer will work closely with a UI engineer and report to a lead designer or a product manager overseeing core game systems. The role also involves directing outsourced graphic designers, indicating a leadership component in managing external resources.

Operations Impact: The UI/UX is described as a "huge amount of this game," directly impacting player engagement, comprehension, and enjoyment. Effective UI/UX operations are critical for the game's success, influencing player retention, satisfaction, and the overall perception of depth and polish. This role has a direct impact on the game's marketability and player adoption rates.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership in UI/UX: Potential to grow into a Lead UI/UX Designer or Art Director role, overseeing larger teams and more complex projects within Astrid Entertainment.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like interaction design, design systems, or Unreal Engine implementation for UI.

• Broader Game Design Involvement: As the company grows and releases more titles, there may be opportunities to contribute to the broader game design strategy or mentor junior designers.

• Impactful Projects: The chance to shape the user experience of a highly anticipated, novel gaming experience from its early stages, offering significant professional satisfaction and portfolio value.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential by being at the forefront of developing a new IP. The operational responsibilities, such as managing a design system and directing outsourced talent, provide a pathway to more senior leadership roles within game development operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. The company embraces a remote-first work model, allowing employees to work from anywhere within the United States.

Office Location(s): Primarily remote within the United States. While the team spans the US, UK, and beyond, the specific operational base for this role is within the US, with the possibility of regular in-person meetups.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office Setup: Employees are expected to maintain a productive home office environment conducive to focused design work and collaboration.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: The team relies heavily on digital tools for communication, project management, and asset sharing.

• In-Person Syncs: Periodic in-person meetups are organized to foster team culture, facilitate intensive collaborative sessions, and build stronger interpersonal relationships. This provides opportunities for direct, face-to-face interaction with colleagues and leadership.

Work Schedule: Flexible remote work hours are a key feature, allowing team members to balance personal needs with project demands. The emphasis is on delivering results, encouraging autonomy in how and when work is completed, provided team collaboration and deadlines are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first environment with periodic in-person gatherings signifies a modern operational approach designed to attract top talent globally while ensuring team cohesion and cultural development through intentional in-person interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on relevant experience, shipped titles, and direct examples of UI/UX design for systems-rich games.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: An in-depth discussion with a hiring manager or lead designer to walk through your portfolio. This will focus on your design process, problem-solving approach, and specific contributions to past projects, especially regarding complexity and intuitiveness.

• Technical/Practical Assessment: A practical exercise, potentially involving a design challenge or a discussion about implementing UI in Unreal Engine (UMG). This may involve working alongside a UI engineer to assess your technical aptitude and collaboration style.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: Conversations with potential team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with Astrid Entertainment's culture of trust, experimentation, and player-centric design.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to review overall fit, discuss compensation, and confirm expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your specific role and contributions, your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), and the final outcome.

• Highlight Process Over Polish: While visual appeal is important, emphasize the why behind your design choices. Detail your information architecture, user flows, and how you tackled complexity.

• Demonstrate Unreal Engine (UMG) Skills: Include clear examples of UI you've built in UMG. Explain the technical challenges and how you overcame them. If possible, provide video walkthroughs or interactive demos.

• Focus on Systems Complexity: Since the game is systems-rich, highlight your experience with designing for inventory, crafting, building, or other deep mechanics. Show how you made these systems accessible.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, use data (e.g., from playtests, user feedback, or even shipped game metrics) to demonstrate the positive impact of your UI/UX designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Game: Research Astrid Entertainment's vision for their first project – a cooperative open-world sim focused on connection and discovery. Think about how UI/UX supports these goals.

• Design System Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building or maintaining a UI design system for a game of this nature, considering scalability and collaboration with external vendors.

• Unreal Engine (UMG) Scenarios: Brush up on UMG features and common UI implementation patterns. Be ready to discuss how you'd approach specific UI elements or flows within the engine.

• Iterative Design: Prepare to discuss how you handle feedback, iterate on designs, and manage scope changes in a dynamic development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process strongly emphasizes the portfolio and practical application, particularly in Unreal Engine. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creative vision but also the operational capability to execute and manage complex UI systems within a game development pipeline.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Unreal Engine (UMG): The core engine for implementing UI. Proficiency in UMG is a primary requirement for building and wiring UI elements directly within the game environment.

• Figma: A leading collaborative interface design tool, expected for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity mock-ups.

• Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Essential for graphic design tasks, asset creation, image manipulation, and potentially creating visual assets for UI elements or style guides.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Playtesting Software/Tools: While not explicitly named, expect to use or integrate with tools that facilitate playtesting, feedback collection, and analysis (e.g., user survey tools, session recording, bug tracking).

• Data Analysis Tools: Proficiency in analyzing playtesting data and potentially in-game analytics to inform design iterations and measure UX effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Likely candidates include Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar platforms for task management, bug tracking, and workflow coordination.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools such as Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication and team coordination.

• Version Control Systems (e.g., Git): While more typically for code, understanding version control principles can be beneficial for managing design assets and changes, especially when working closely with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on tools essential for modern game development UI/UX operations, with a strong emphasis on Unreal Engine (UMG) for implementation and collaborative design tools like Figma for the design phase.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the player's needs, ensuring the UI/UX is intuitive, engaging, and enhances the overall game experience.

• Collaboration & Trust: A culture that values open communication, mutual respect, and autonomy. The remote-first model with flexible hours is built on trust that team members will deliver results.

• Excellence & Polish: A dedication to high-quality work, paying attention to the details that elevate the player experience, from core functionality to subtle animations and feedback.

• Innovation & Discovery: Encouraging creative problem-solving and the development of novel gameplay experiences that foster shared discovery and connection among players.

• Continuous Improvement: Embracing iteration, playtesting, and feedback as integral parts of the development process to constantly refine and enhance the game.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First Communication: Primarily conducted through digital channels (Slack, Discord, video conferencing), requiring clear, concise, and proactive communication.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with UI engineers, game designers, and potentially artists, requiring the ability to translate design intent into technical requirements and vice-versa.

• Feedback-Driven: An open environment where constructive feedback is encouraged and expected, both for giving and receiving, to drive design improvements.

• Shared Ownership: A sense of collective responsibility for the game's success, where team members are empowered to contribute ideas and solutions across disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values, particularly "player-centricity," "collaboration & trust," and "excellence & polish," directly inform the operational expectations for the Senior UI/UX Designer. Success in this role requires embodying these values in daily work and interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Simplicity and Depth: The primary challenge is creating a UI that is welcoming and easy for new players to grasp, while simultaneously offering the depth and complexity that expert players will appreciate, without overwhelming the user.

• Remote Team Cohesion: Maintaining strong team culture and effective collaboration across different time zones and without constant in-person interaction requires deliberate effort and skilled communication.

• Early-Stage Development: Working on a first-of-its-kind project means navigating ambiguity, evolving requirements, and the inherent uncertainties of game development, requiring adaptability and resilience.

• Technical Implementation Constraints: Translating intricate UX designs into functional UI within Unreal Engine (UMG) requires a strong understanding of engine capabilities and limitations, necessitating close collaboration with engineers.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Game Systems Design: Opportunity to gain extensive experience in designing for complex simulation and cooperative gameplay mechanics.

• Unreal Engine (UMG) Expertise: Significant opportunity to become highly proficient in Unreal Engine's UI implementation tools and workflows.

• Design System Scalability: Experience in building and scaling a design system for a large-scale, multi-platform game.

• Leadership in a Growing Studio: Potential to influence the direction of UI/UX operations and contribute to building best practices within a burgeoning entertainment company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in innovative game development but also represent significant growth opportunities for a proactive and skilled operations professional. Overcoming these challenges will build valuable experience and expertise.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a complex game mechanic (e.g., crafting, inventory management) and designing an intuitive UI for it. How do you ensure both simplicity for new players and depth for experts?" Preparation: Focus on your information architecture, user flow mapping, wireframing, prototyping, and playtesting methodologies. Use a specific example from your portfolio.

• "How would you approach building and maintaining a UI design system for a game like ours, considering we work remotely and use outsourced graphic designers?" Preparation: Discuss your experience with design system components, style guides, documentation, and collaboration tools. Emphasize how you ensure consistency and scalability.

• "Walk us through a UI element or flow you implemented in Unreal Engine (UMG). What were the technical challenges, and how did you overcome them?" Preparation: Be ready to present a clear example from your portfolio, detailing your direct involvement in UMG implementation and your collaboration with engineers.

• "How do you balance creative vision with technical constraints and project deadlines in a game development environment?" Preparation: Discuss your experience with iterative design, managing scope, and collaborating with engineering teams to find practical solutions. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Astrid Entertainment and our vision for cooperative, open-world sims?" Preparation: Research the company's mission and game concept. Connect your passion for UX and game design to their specific goals.

• "How do you approach collaboration within a remote-first team, especially when directing external resources like graphic designers?" Preparation: Highlight your communication skills, experience with collaboration tools, and ability to provide clear, actionable feedback.

• "Our culture emphasizes trust and unlimited vacation. How do you ensure accountability and productivity in such an environment?" Preparation: Discuss your self-management skills, focus on results, and proactive communication strategies. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project or by skill. For each project, have a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Emphasize Process: Clearly articulate your UX methodology. Use diagrams for user flows and information architecture. Show wireframes and prototypes to illustrate your thinking.

• Showcase UMG Work: Dedicate a section to your Unreal Engine implementation. Use video demonstrations or playable builds if possible. Point out specific UMG features you utilized.

• Highlight Systems Design: For this role, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to design for complexity. Select projects that showcase your skill in handling inventory, crafting, building, or other intricate game systems.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs you made, and how you handled challenges. Be concise and articulate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to the specific requirements of the Senior UI/UX Designer role at Astrid Entertainment, emphasizing the blend of creative UX thinking, practical Unreal Engine implementation, and operational management of design systems within a remote, collaborative environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience with systems-rich games, Unreal Engine (UMG) implementation, and UI design systems. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your process for handling complexity and making it intuitive.

• Resume Optimization: Use keywords from the job description such as "UI/UX Design," "Unreal Engine (UMG)," "Figma," "Information Architecture," "Design Systems," and "Game Design." Quantify achievements where possible, e.g., "Shipped X titles" or "Improved user flow efficiency by Y%."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, especially for complex systems. Prepare specific examples of your work in UMG and how you've managed design systems. Be ready to discuss your understanding of cosy/life-sim/adventure game genres.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Astrid Entertainment's mission and the concept of their first project. Understand their remote-first culture and values, and prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their team and operational approach.

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

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