TECHNICAL UI DESIGNER - 12 Month Contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Technical UI Designer - 12 Month Contract

Company: Keywords Studios

Location: Gateshead, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: UI/UX Design, Technical Art, Game Development Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-15

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the technical implementation of User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) within game development, bridging the gap between design and engineering.

• Responsibilities include structuring, planning, and implementing UI features using scripting languages and visual scripting tools within game engines.

• A key aspect involves authoring tools and workflows to enhance efficiency for the wider UI/UX team, promoting best practices.

• The position requires ensuring interfaces are performant, scalable across various platforms and resolutions, and meet AAA quality standards.

• This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension, operating on a hybrid model with specific in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Technical UI Designer," the responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a "Technical Artist" focus within the UI/UX discipline, emphasizing implementation, tool creation, and engine-specific solutions rather than pure UX research or high-level UI design strategy. The "Operations" aspect comes from optimizing workflows, ensuring technical feasibility, and supporting the production pipeline for UI elements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with engineers, scripters, UX designers, and UI artists to implement diverse UI features, including 2D/3D layouts, logical menu flows, animations, AR elements, and Heads-Up Displays (HUDs).

• Utilize text-based scripting languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript, C++) or visual scripting languages (e.g., Unreal Blueprints, Unity Visual Scripting) for the precise implementation of UI logic and functionality.

• Refine and improve UI implementations based on critical feedback from design requirements, art direction, and overall creative vision to achieve optimal results.

• Guarantee that user interfaces scale correctly across a range of different platform screen resolutions and maintain high performance without frame rate drops, ensuring a seamless user experience.

• Develop and author custom tools and workflows that empower other UI artists, streamlining their processes and enhancing overall team productivity and efficiency.

• Create and implement UI shaders and materials, leveraging knowledge of graphics programming to achieve specific visual effects like health bar glows, holographic HUDs, or advanced screen transitions.

• Provide regular reports and updates on progress, challenges, and technical considerations to Technical Directors and Project Managers.

• Maintain a meticulous eye for detail, particularly concerning typography, layout consistency, and visual polish across all UI elements.

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment, actively contributing to a positive and productive studio culture.

• Employ a proactive problem-solving mentality to effectively debug and resolve complex UI systems and technical issues that arise during development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of direct implementation and tool development, positioning the candidate as a key contributor to the UI pipeline's technical backbone. The emphasis on "tool authoring" and "shader/material knowledge" suggests a senior or lead-leaning technical art role within the UI domain.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Game Design, Digital Art, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is highly beneficial for understanding core technical concepts and design principles.

Experience: 3+ years of professional game development experience, specifically within game engines, is required. This includes a proven track record of implementing UI screens, widgets, logic, and data flows in a collaborative environment, and experience in rapid prototyping from concept to completion with full ownership.

Required Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in game development, with a strong focus on working within game engines.

• Demonstrated experience in implementing UI screens, widgets, logic, and complex data flows in close collaboration with various game development disciplines.

• Proven ability in rapid prototyping to test the feasibility of UI concepts, taking an idea from initial conception through to a functional prototype with complete ownership.

• Experience in polishing UI features to meet AAA quality standards and maintaining them throughout the entire production cycle, actively promoting and adhering to best practices.

• Proficiency in at least one text-based scripting language commonly used in game development (e.g., Python, JavaScript, C++).

• Experience with visual scripting systems such as Unreal Engine's Blueprints or Unity's Visual Scripting.

• Solid understanding of UI/UX principles, including layout, navigation, accessibility, and user flow.

• Strong debugging skills for identifying and resolving technical issues within UI systems.

• Excellent attention to detail, with a keen eye for typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• A collaborative and inclusive attitude, with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• A proactive problem-solving mentality, capable of tackling complex technical challenges. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other UI systems such as Unity UI, Unreal Engine UI (UMG), ImGui, WPF, or Qt.

• Familiarity with additional game engines like Frostbite or other versions of Unity.

• Knowledge of shader development and material creation specifically for UI elements.

• Experience with AR (Augmented Reality) UI implementation.

• Understanding of cross-platform development considerations and performance optimization techniques for UI.

• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git, Perforce) in a team development environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Essential Skills" list is derived from the "Essential Skills + Experience" section of the raw description, broken down into actionable skills. The "Preferred Skills" include technologies mentioned as bonuses or other engine experiences, plus common related skills in technical art and game dev environments. The experience level is inferred from the "3+ years" requirement and the nature of the responsibilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase at least 2-3 distinct projects demonstrating your technical UI implementation skills within a game engine environment.

• Include examples of UI logic implemented using scripting languages (Python, JavaScript, C++, or visual scripting like Blueprints/Unity).

• Present case studies detailing your process for rapid prototyping, from concept to functional implementation.

• Highlight instances where you've contributed to polishing UI features to AAA quality and maintained them throughout production.

• Provide examples of UI elements that demonstrate scalability across different screen resolutions and platforms.

• If applicable, include examples of UI shaders or materials you have authored.

• Demonstrate your ability to create or improve tools/workflows for UI artists. Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, outline the UI implementation process, including initial requirements, technical challenges, solutions implemented, and final outcomes.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with other disciplines (engineers, artists, designers) during the UI development lifecycle.

• Explain your methodology for debugging and optimizing UI performance and scalability.

• Describe how you ensure UI accessibility and adherence to technical standards throughout the implementation phase.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers portfolio requirements based on the "Essential Skills + Experience" and "The Role" descriptions. It focuses on demonstrating practical application of technical UI skills, collaboration, problem-solving, and adherence to quality standards, which are crucial for a technical role in game development operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the "Mid-Level" experience (2-5 years), the contract nature, and the UK location (Gateshead, England), a competitive salary range for a Technical UI Designer on a 12-month contract is estimated between £40,000 - £60,000 per annum (pro-rata). This range accounts for the specialized technical skills, game development experience, and the contract duration.

Benefits:

• 22 days of paid holiday, plus 3 additional festive studio closure days, and bank holidays.

• Company Pension Scheme participation.

• Flexible Working Hours system, allowing for better work-life integration.

• Private Medical Insurance Scheme (BUPA) for comprehensive health coverage.

• A strict adherence to an anti-crunch ethos, ensuring a professional, fun, and supportive working environment.

• Free parking available at studio locations.

• Participation in Company Socials, Monthly Lunches, and Annual d3t Events.

• Access to well-equipped Breakout Areas with amenities like games, a BBQ area, and complimentary snacks.

• Potential for contract extension beyond the initial 12 months.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week. The role operates on a hybrid model, requiring 3 days per week in the studio (Wednesday, Thursday, and one other chosen day). There is a discretionary flexible hours system in place.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for contract technical roles in the UK, specifically within the games industry. The benefits are directly extracted from the provided text. Working hours are also directly stated, with emphasis on the hybrid requirement.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development and Co-Development Services. Keywords Studios is a global leader, and d3t is its specialized co-development studio, known for contributing to major AAA titles. The company operates at the cutting edge of interactive entertainment technology.

Company Size: Keywords Studios is a large, global entity. d3t, as a studio within Keywords, is substantial but maintains a focused, collaborative atmosphere. The "Best Places to Work" awards indicate a strong emphasis on employee well-being and a positive work environment.

Founded: d3t was founded in 2008. Its history is marked by growth and a commitment to quality and innovation in game development, evidenced by its numerous award nominations and wins, including "Best Places to Work" and "Best Creative Service Provider."

Team Structure:

• The UI/UX team at d3t is likely composed of UI Designers, UX Designers, UI Artists, and Technical UI Designers/Technical Artists.

• The Technical UI Designer will report to Technical Directors and Project Managers, indicating a structured reporting line within project teams.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with close partnerships expected between UI/UX, engineering, art, and design teams to ensure seamless integration of UI features. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design & Implementation: UI features are planned, estimated, and implemented based on project goals, technical standards, and user feedback.

• Agile Development Practices: The role involves iterative improvement and rapid prototyping, suggesting an agile or iterative approach to UI development.

• Tooling & Pipeline Optimization: A significant focus is placed on building tools and workflows to enhance efficiency, indicating a commitment to optimizing the development pipeline.

• Quality Assurance & Performance: Rigorous attention is paid to ensuring interfaces meet AAA quality, scale correctly, and perform without frame drops, underlining a strong QA and performance optimization culture.

Company Website: https://www.keywordsstudios.com/ and https://www.d3t.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: This section synthesizes information from the company description, studio history, and the role's responsibilities to paint a picture of the operational environment. The "Methodology" section infers common practices in AAA game development studios based on the provided details.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level within the Technical Art or UI/UX specialization. It requires substantial practical experience (3+ years) and the ability to work independently on complex implementation tasks, including tool authoring and shader development. It's a crucial contributor role, not entry-level, but also not yet a lead or management position.

Reporting Structure: The Technical UI Designer reports to Technical Directors and Project Managers. This structure implies a clear chain of command for project oversight and technical guidance, while also allowing for significant autonomy in day-to-day implementation tasks.

Operations Impact: The Technical UI Designer directly impacts the player's experience through intuitive, performant, and visually appealing interfaces. Their work is critical for game usability, accessibility, and overall polish, directly contributing to the quality and marketability of AAA titles. By developing tools and optimizing workflows, they also enhance the efficiency of the entire UI/UX pipeline, impacting project timelines and resource allocation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity), scripting languages, or shader development, potentially progressing to a Senior Technical UI Artist or Technical Art Lead role.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Gain broader exposure to game design, engineering, and broader technical art disciplines, opening doors to more integrated roles.

• Tool Development Leadership: Lead initiatives in creating and maintaining UI tools and pipelines, potentially moving into pipeline development or technical leadership positions.

• Project Contribution Growth: Take on more complex UI features or entire UI systems for major AAA titles, increasing influence and visibility within the studio.

• Contract Extension/Permanent Conversion: Successful performance in this 12-month contract role could lead to an extension or conversion to a permanent position within d3t or Keywords Studios.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis is based on the "Mid-Level" experience inferred, the reporting structure, and the typical career progression within the technical art and game development fields. The "Operations Impact" focuses on how this technical role contributes to the broader production and business objectives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is offered on a hybrid basis, with specific in-office days (Wednesday and Thursday) required. This indicates a preference for in-person collaboration while allowing for remote work flexibility. The studio environment is described as professional, supportive, fun, and anti-crunch.

Office Location(s): The position is based at either of d3t's UK studio sites: Daresbury (Cheshire) or Newcastle (Tyne & Wear). Remote working within the UK is considered if hybrid is not feasible, but the preference is for hybrid.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is designed to foster collaboration, with specific days dedicated to in-person interaction, team meetings, and brainstorming sessions.

• Tooling & Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard game development tools, engines (Unreal Engine, Unity), and the necessary hardware/software for UI implementation and technical art tasks.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model facilitates regular face-to-face interaction with colleagues, fostering stronger team cohesion and easier communication for complex technical discussions and problem-solving.

• Amenities: Breakout areas are equipped with games, a BBQ area, and complimentary snacks, contributing to a relaxed and perk-rich work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. The hybrid model requires presence in the office on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and one additional chosen day. A discretionary flexible hours system is in place, allowing for some adjustment around core working hours, supporting work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Details about the office type, location, and workspace are extracted directly from the job description. The "Work Schedule" clarifies the hybrid requirements and the flexible hours system.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Video Call: Expect a first-round interview conducted via video conference to assess your general fit, experience, and technical background. Be prepared to discuss your portfolio highlights and specific project contributions.

• On-site Interview (if relevant): A second interview may be conducted on-site at one of the UK studios (Daresbury or Newcastle). This stage often involves meeting more team members, potentially a technical assessment or a more in-depth discussion about your problem-solving approach.

• Technical Assessment/Challenge: Be prepared for a practical test or a case study exercise. This could involve implementing a small UI feature, debugging a system, or outlining a technical approach to a UI problem. Focus on demonstrating your scripting, engine, and problem-solving skills.

• Final Evaluation: This stage typically involves a discussion with senior team members or project leads, focusing on cultural fit, long-term potential, and how your skills align with the studio's ongoing projects and operational needs.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Technicality: Select projects that clearly showcase your technical UI implementation skills, scripting proficiency, and engine-specific work. Prioritize examples demonstrating logic, data flow, and performance.

• Showcase Problem-Solving: For each project, articulate the technical challenges you faced and the specific solutions you implemented. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your explanations.

• Highlight Tool/Workflow Contributions: If you have examples of tools or workflows you developed for UI artists, present these prominently. Explain the problem they solved and the efficiency gains achieved.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, quantify the impact of your work. For example, "reduced load times by X%," "improved UI performance by Y frames per second," or "streamlined asset integration process, saving Z hours per week."

• Prepare for Walkthrough: Be ready to walk through specific parts of your portfolio, explaining your code, logic, and design decisions in detail. Ensure your code is well-commented and organized if you plan to share snippets.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize experience with Unreal Engine (Blueprints) and Unity, as these are mentioned as key technologies. Highlight any experience with shaders, materials, or cross-platform UI implementation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Engine Familiarity: Brush up on the specific UI systems and scripting capabilities of Unreal Engine (UMG, Blueprints) and Unity.

• Scripting Proficiency: Practice implementing common UI logic patterns in Python, JavaScript, or C++. Be ready to write simple scripts or pseudocode.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about debugging complex UI issues, optimizing performance, or implementing features under technical constraints.

• Accessibility & Scalability: Prepare to discuss how you ensure UI scalability across resolutions and implement accessible design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, drawing on the interview process description and the technical nature of the role. It emphasizes demonstrating practical skills, problem-solving, and the ability to contribute to the operational efficiency of the UI development pipeline.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Game Engines: Unreal Engine (specifically UMG and Blueprints) and Unity are the primary engines. Proficiency in one or both is essential.

• Scripting Languages: Python, JavaScript, and C++ are explicitly mentioned for UI logic implementation.

• Visual Scripting: Unreal Blueprints and Unity Visual Scripting are key tools for implementing UI logic without extensive coding.

• UI Systems: Experience with Unity UI, Unreal Engine UI (UMG), ImGui, WPF, or Qt is considered a bonus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for this UI role, in a game development context, tools for performance profiling (e.g., engine-specific profilers) and potentially analytics platforms for user behavior analysis might be used indirectly. The primary focus here is on implementing UI elements that enable data flow and user interaction, rather than on high-level analytics platforms. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this Technical UI Designer role, as it's focused on game development implementation rather than sales or marketing operations. However, understanding project management and task tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Asana) used within the development pipeline is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is derived directly from the "Essential Skills + Experience" and "Desirable Skills + Experience" parts of the job description, focusing on the technical tools and platforms crucial for this role. The distinction between game development tools and typical RevOps/SalesOps tools is made clear.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Technical Excellence: A commitment to high-quality, performant, and robust UI implementations, driven by a deep understanding of game engine capabilities and scripting.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: A strong emphasis on working effectively within a multidisciplinary team, valuing diverse perspectives and fostering a supportive environment.

• Problem-Solving & Innovation: A proactive approach to identifying and resolving technical challenges, with a drive to find creative and efficient solutions.

• Continuous Improvement: Dedication to refining processes, authoring tools, and enhancing workflows to boost team productivity and game quality.

• Passion for Games: A genuine enthusiasm for game development and a desire to contribute to creating memorable player experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration between UI/UX designers, engineers, and artists is fundamental, ensuring UI features are technically feasible, aesthetically aligned, and functionally sound.

• Iterative Feedback Loops: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback throughout the development cycle, essential for refining UI implementations and achieving AAA quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing technical knowledge, best practices, and insights into new tools or techniques within the UI/UX and technical art disciplines.

• Agile & Responsive: The team likely operates with agility, adapting to project needs and iterating quickly based on feedback and technical discoveries.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section interprets the company's stated values and the role's collaborative requirements to define the operational culture and values relevant to a Technical UI Designer. It focuses on how these values translate into daily work and team interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Technical Complexity: Implementing intricate UI features that perform flawlessly across multiple platforms and resolutions while adhering to strict technical constraints.

• Balancing Design & Performance: Ensuring that creative UI/UX designs are technically achievable and performant, often requiring creative workarounds or compromises.

• Tool Development & Maintenance: Creating robust and user-friendly tools for the UI team that are reliable and integrate smoothly into existing workflows.

• Adapting to Engine Updates: Staying current with rapid advancements and updates in game engines like Unreal Engine and Unity, which can significantly impact UI implementation methods.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively translating technical requirements and limitations to designers and artists, and vice-versa, to ensure smooth project execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Engine Proficiency: Deepen expertise in Unreal Engine or Unity, focusing on their UI systems, scripting, and rendering pipelines.

• Shader & Material Mastery: Develop advanced skills in creating custom shaders and materials for dynamic and visually rich UI elements.

• Technical Art Specialization: Grow into a more specialized Technical Art role, potentially expanding beyond UI into other areas like asset optimization or pipeline development.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from mentorship opportunities within d3t, learning from experienced Technical Artists and Technical Directors.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience on a variety of AAA titles, exposing you to diverse project requirements and industry best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges inherent in a technical game development role and contrasts them with defined growth pathways, providing a realistic outlook for candidates interested in this position.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Technical Implementation: "Describe a complex UI feature you implemented in Unreal Engine/Unity. What were the technical challenges, and how did you overcome them using Blueprints/Unity Scripting?" (Prepare to discuss data flows, logic, and engine-specific features.)

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine a UI element is causing significant frame rate drops on target hardware. What steps would you take to diagnose and resolve the performance issue?" (Focus on profiling tools, optimization techniques, and collaboration with engineers.)

• Tooling & Workflow: "If you were tasked with creating a tool to streamline the creation of repeatable UI elements for other artists, what would be your approach? What technologies would you consider?" (Highlight your understanding of pipeline optimization and user-centric tool design.)

• Collaboration: "How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration between UI designers, artists, and engineers when implementing UI features?" (Emphasize clear communication, proactive feedback, and understanding different discipline needs.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at d3t and Keywords Studios, particularly within the context of AAA game development?" (Research recent d3t projects and the company's values, especially their anti-crunch policy and awards.)

• "How do you approach working in a hybrid environment, and what are your strategies for effective collaboration with remote and in-office team members?" (Demonstrate understanding of hybrid work dynamics and commitment to the required in-office days.)

• "Our studio prides itself on an anti-crunch mentality. How do you contribute to a sustainable and positive work environment while meeting project deadlines?" (Showcase your understanding of work-life balance, efficient planning, and proactive problem-solving.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Technical Demonstrations: Prioritize projects that showcase your scripting, engine work, and problem-solving abilities. For each project, clearly state the engine used, your role, and the primary technologies employed.

• Showcase Your Process: For a chosen project, walk through the implementation phase, detailing the scripting logic, any tools you built, and how you addressed performance or scalability. Use screen recordings or interactive demos if possible.

• Quantify Success: Be ready to present metrics demonstrating the impact of your work. This could include performance improvements, efficiency gains from tools, or successful feature implementation within project constraints.

• Explain Trade-offs: Discuss any design or technical trade-offs you had to make and why, demonstrating your understanding of project constraints and decision-making.

Challenge Preparation:

• Practical Engine Task: Be prepared for a hands-on exercise involving implementing a specific UI element or logic within Unreal Engine or Unity.

• Code Review/Debugging: You might be asked to review a piece of UI code or identify bugs in a provided example.

• Design Implementation: You could be given a UI mockup and asked to outline your technical approach to implementing it.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section offers specific, actionable advice for preparing for interviews and technical challenges, tailored to the "Technical UI Designer" role and the game development industry context. It focuses on demonstrating technical proficiency, collaborative skills, and an understanding of the company's operational values.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Technical UI Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience with Unreal Engine (Blueprints) and Unity, along with your proficiency in scripting languages (Python, JavaScript, C++) and visual scripting. Showcase specific examples of UI implementation, tool authoring, and performance optimization.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your 3+ years of game development experience, focusing on technical UI/UX responsibilities, engine work, and collaborative project contributions. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your technical process, problem-solving strategies, and collaborative approach. Prepare to walk through your portfolio with confidence, explaining your contributions and the impact of your work. Research d3t and Keywords Studios' recent projects and culture.

• Company Research: Understand d3t's position within Keywords Studios, their award-winning culture (especially the anti-crunch policy), and their recent game titles. This will help you tailor your responses to demonstrate cultural fit and genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

---