UI Programmer - (March of Giants)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Programmer - (March of Giants)

Company: Ubisoft

Location: Montreal, QC, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Software Engineering / Game Development

Date Posted: May 25, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and implement user interface (UI) modules for game presentations, including menus and Heads-Up Displays (HUDs), across various platforms.

• Collaborate closely with game designers, graphic designers, and artists to prototype, integrate, and iterate on UI features and interactions.

• Optimize UI code for performance and efficiency, ensuring seamless integration with game assets and systems.

• Contribute to the overall player experience by applying a strong understanding of UX principles, ergonomics, localization, and accessibility.

• Maintain and enhance existing UI systems, ensuring their stability and adherence to coding standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for the "March of Giants" project at Ubisoft and requires deep C++ programming expertise within the video game development context. The focus is on the technical implementation of UI, bridging the gap between design concepts and functional, performant in-game interfaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• UI Module Development: Design, implement, and maintain core UI modules for game presentations, including menus, HUDs, and other interactive elements, ensuring a consistent visual and logistical experience.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with game designers to understand and translate player experience goals into functional UI features, and partner with graphic designers and artists to integrate UI assets, animations, and sound effects.

• Prototyping and Iteration: Rapidly prototype UI interaction concepts in collaboration with design and programming teams, and efficiently iterate based on feedback.

• Technical Design and Analysis: Analyze UI requests, identify technical limitations (performance, memory), and provide technical, creative, and scheduling feedback on new ideas.

• Tooling and Debugging: Develop and utilize internal tools and "debug draw" functionalities for UI systems to aid in debugging and performance monitoring.

• Performance Optimization: Optimize UI code to ensure efficient execution on target platforms, adhering to performance tracking and memory management best practices.

• Framework and System Maintenance: Investigate and gain a deep understanding of the UI framework, supporting the presentation team and maintaining underlying UI systems.

• Quality Assurance: Develop automated test APIs related to UI systems to ensure the continuous health and stability of the game's interface.

• UX and Accessibility Integration: Apply knowledge of ergonomics and UX principles to UI design and implementation, incorporating localization and accessibility features as required.

• Continuous Learning: Actively maintain and update skill sets by staying informed about the latest innovations and best practices in the UI development and gaming industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of technical programming, creative collaboration, and a strong focus on user-centric design principles within the gaming context. The iterative nature of game development is highlighted through the need for rapid prototyping and responsiveness to feedback.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent training or experience. Experience:

• 3-5 years of C++ programming experience, ideally within the video game sector or in embedded systems. Required Skills:

• C++ Programming: Capacity to write clean, robust, performant, and maintainable C++ code.

• MVVM Philosophy: Excellent understanding of the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) architectural pattern and its associated workflows.

• Troubleshooting & Debugging: Strong skills in identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex technical issues within UI systems.

• Software Engineering Best Practices: Solid understanding of design reviews, coding standards, code reviews, testing methodologies, and documentation.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team, communicating technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical colleagues.

• Problem-Solving: Proficient in analyzing challenges and devising effective technical solutions.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to coding, testing, and UI implementation to ensure high quality and accuracy.

• Task Definition & Estimation: Ability to define and estimate technical tasks in a structured and organized manner.

• Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing project requirements, technologies, and feedback.

• Results Orientation: A strong drive to achieve project goals and deliver high-quality, functional UI.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Unreal Engine 5, specifically with Slate and UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics).

• Experience with UI Frameworks such as CommonUI.

• Experience with MVVM toolchains, particularly Unreal Engine's MVVM plugin.

• Experience working on PC-centric platform development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills emphasize strong foundational programming principles and architectural understanding (MVVM), while the preferred skills point towards specific, highly relevant technologies within the Unreal Engine ecosystem, indicating a strong preference for candidates with direct game development UI experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• UI Implementation Case Studies: Showcase examples of UI systems or modules developed for games or complex applications, demonstrating your ability to translate design into functional interfaces.

• Performance Optimization Examples: Include projects where you specifically focused on optimizing UI performance, detailing the challenges faced and the methods used to achieve efficiency gains.

• MVVM Architecture Examples: Provide clear examples of how you have implemented or worked with MVVM architecture in UI development, illustrating your understanding of its benefits and application.

• Collaboration & Integration: Demonstrate instances where you collaborated with designers or artists, highlighting your process for integrating assets and iterating on designs.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Present examples of how you have documented and optimized UI development workflows, including the introduction of new tools or methodologies.

• System Implementation Standards: Detail your approach to implementing new UI systems, including adherence to coding standards, testing protocols, and version control practices.

• Performance Analysis and Measurement: Show how you measure and analyze UI performance, including the use of profiling tools and the establishment of key performance indicators (KPIs).

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UI Programmer role, the portfolio should focus heavily on visual examples of implemented UI, coupled with technical explanations of the underlying code, architecture (especially MVVM), and performance considerations. Demonstrating a structured approach to development and problem-solving is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• For a UI Programmer with 2-5 years of experience in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the estimated salary range is CAD $75,000 - CAD $105,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for specialized programming roles in major Canadian tech hubs, considering the specific skills in C++ and game development UI. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Dental Insurance: Coverage for medical, dental, and vision care.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Contribution matching or defined benefit plans.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, conferences, and skill enhancement.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Gaming Perks: Access to Ubisoft games, discounts, and potential for game testing.

• Relocation Assistance: May be available for candidates moving to Montreal.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. Ubisoft often offers some flexibility, but this role is office-based, requiring consistent presence during core business hours for team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for the Montreal market for a mid-level programmer with game development experience. Benefits are typical for a large, established company like Ubisoft, with added perks relevant to the gaming industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Entertainment / Video Game Development

Company Size: Large (Ubisoft has over 20,000 employees globally, forming a vast network of studios and departments).

Founded: 1986

Team Structure:

• Project-Specific Teams: You will be part of the "March of Giants" game development team, composed of various disciplines including programming, art, design, audio, QA, and production.

• Reporting Structure: Likely reporting to a Lead UI Programmer or a Technical Director within the game's programming department.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role necessitates constant interaction with UI/UX designers, game designers, artists, and other programmers to ensure cohesive game development.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Ubisoft commonly employs agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) for iterative development, requiring flexibility and continuous feedback integration.

• Data-Driven Design: While creativity is paramount, UI and UX decisions are increasingly informed by player data, playtesting feedback, and performance metrics.

• Process Optimization: A continuous effort to refine development processes, tools, and workflows for greater efficiency and quality.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Ubisoft's culture is characterized by a passion for gaming, a global collaborative spirit, and a commitment to innovation. As a large organization, it offers structured career paths and significant resources, while project teams maintain a dynamic, creative atmosphere.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level to senior individual contributor position within the game development programming track. It requires a solid foundation in C++ and specialized knowledge in UI development for games.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report to a Lead UI Programmer or a Programming Director who oversees the UI team for the "March of Giants" project. Close collaboration with UI/UX Designers and Game Designers is expected.

Operations Impact: As a UI Programmer, your impact is directly tied to the player's primary interaction point with the game. A well-designed, performant, and intuitive UI is crucial for player engagement, retention, and the overall success of the game. Your work will directly influence how players perceive and interact with the game's mechanics and narrative.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced C++ programming, Unreal Engine UI frameworks (Slate, UMG), and UI performance optimization techniques.

• Lead Roles: Progress to a Lead UI Programmer position, mentoring junior developers and overseeing UI development for entire projects.

• Cross-Disciplinary Roles: Transition into broader game programming roles, or leverage UI/UX understanding for roles in Technical Design or User Experience research.

• Studio Mobility: Opportunities to transfer to different Ubisoft studios globally, working on diverse game titles.

• Learning & Development: Access to internal Ubisoft training programs, workshops, and external conferences to stay current with industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth in this role is tied to both deepening technical expertise in UI programming within game development and potentially moving into leadership or broader technical design roles. Ubisoft's global presence offers unique career mobility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space designed for creative and technical teams. Ubisoft studios are known for fostering an environment that encourages innovation and teamwork.

Office Location(s): Montreal, QC, Canada. This studio is a major hub for Ubisoft, housing multiple development teams and projects.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: Expect open-plan areas interspersed with meeting rooms and dedicated collaboration spaces to facilitate brainstorming and problem-solving.

• Advanced Technology: Access to high-performance workstations, development kits, and the latest software and tools necessary for game development.

• Team Integration: Opportunities to interact daily with fellow programmers, artists, designers, and project managers, fostering a strong sense of team unity and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: While typically a 40-hour work week, game development often involves periods of crunch time leading up to milestones or release. The office-based nature ensures consistent team synchronization and access to resources, with potential for some flexibility in start/end times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Montreal studio is a significant Ubisoft location, offering a well-resourced and collaborative environment. The expectation is on-site presence to maximize team synergy and leverage studio resources, typical for cutting-edge game development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): In-depth interviews focusing on C++ proficiency, MVVM understanding, problem-solving abilities, and game UI development experience. This may include live coding challenges or whiteboard exercises.

• Portfolio Review: Presentation of your work to the hiring manager and potential team members. Expect to discuss technical challenges, design decisions, and your role in specific projects.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about your experience, how you approach collaboration, your understanding of game development workflows, and alignment with Ubisoft's culture.

• Final Interview: May involve a higher-level technical discussion or a broader conversation about career aspirations and fit with the "March of Giants" team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Relevant Projects: Prioritize projects that demonstrate C++ programming, UI implementation (menus, HUDs), MVVM architecture, and ideally, experience with Unreal Engine (Slate, UMG).

• Detail Your Role and Contributions: Clearly articulate your specific responsibilities, technical challenges you overcame, and the impact of your work on each project.

• Explain Technical Decisions: Be prepared to discuss why you made certain architectural choices (e.g., MVVM implementation) and how you optimized for performance.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Highlight instances where you worked effectively with designers and artists, showing how you integrated their work and provided constructive feedback.

• Prepare for Live Coding: Some interviews may include a live coding session. Practice common C++ data structures, algorithms, and UI-related programming tasks.

Challenge Preparation:

• C++ Fundamentals: Brush up on core C++ concepts, memory management, object-oriented programming, and common data structures.

• MVVM Concepts: Be ready to explain MVVM in detail and how you've applied it. Understand its advantages over other patterns like MVC.

• Game UI Specifics: Familiarize yourself with common UI patterns in games, performance considerations (draw calls, memory usage), and the basics of UX/ergonomics for player interfaces.

• Unreal Engine UI (if applicable): If you have bonus experience, be prepared to discuss Slate, UMG, and Unreal's MVVM plugin.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your C++ skills and your practical application of MVVM within a game development context. A strong, well-explained portfolio is critical for demonstrating your capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• C++: The primary programming language for core engine and UI development.

• Unreal Engine 5: A leading game development engine.

• Slate/UMG: Unreal Engine's native UI frameworks for creating in-game interfaces.

• Internal Development Tools: Custom tools and engines developed by Ubisoft for specific project needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Profiling Tools: In-engine and external tools for analyzing UI performance, memory usage, and frame rates (e.g., Unreal Insights, RenderDoc).

• Version Control Systems: Git, Perforce (commonly used in game development).

CRM & Automation:

• Task Management Systems: Jira, Confluence, or similar tools for tracking tasks, bugs, and project progress.

• Build Systems: Understanding of build pipelines and automated testing frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with C++ and Unreal Engine's UI tools (Slate/UMG) is paramount. Familiarity with version control and performance profiling tools is also essential for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for Gaming: A shared love for video games and a drive to create exceptional player experiences.

• Innovation & Creativity: Encouragement to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of entertainment.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together across disciplines to achieve common goals.

• Quality & Excellence: Commitment to delivering high-quality, polished products that meet player expectations.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture that values learning, feedback, and refining processes and products.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with UI/UX designers, game designers, artists, and other programmers. Open communication channels are key.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged and valued, fostering iterative improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement to share insights, best practices, and learnings across teams and projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ubisoft fosters a culture that values both individual contribution and collective effort, driven by a passion for creating engaging gaming experiences. Collaboration is not just encouraged; it's integral to the development process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Performance and Aesthetics: Implementing visually rich and complex UIs while ensuring they run smoothly and efficiently on target platforms is a constant challenge.

• Iterative Design Cycles: Adapting to frequent design changes and feedback loops requires flexibility and efficient implementation strategies.

• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring a uniform and high-quality UI experience across different platforms (PC, consoles) can be technically demanding.

• Integrating New Technologies: Keeping pace with evolving game engines, UI frameworks, and hardware capabilities necessitates continuous learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced C++ & Engine Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in C++ and specific Unreal Engine features.

• UI/UX Specialization: Access to workshops and resources focused on advanced UI design principles, ergonomics, and user research.

• Mentorship Programs: Guidance from experienced senior programmers and technical leads within Ubisoft.

• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend major game development conferences (e.g., GDC) to learn about emerging trends and network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents exciting technical challenges related to performance and complexity, offering significant opportunities for skill development in specialized areas of game UI programming.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Technical Approach: "Describe your process for developing a complex UI menu system from scratch. How would you approach performance optimization for this system?"

• MVVM Application: "Can you walk us through a specific instance where you successfully implemented the MVVM pattern in a project? What were the benefits and challenges?"

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: "Imagine a situation where a critical UI feature is causing significant performance drops on a target platform. How would you diagnose and resolve this issue?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• Ubisoft Experience: "What interests you about working at Ubisoft and specifically on the 'March of Giants' project?"

• Teamwork: "Describe a time you had to collaborate closely with a designer or artist whose vision differed from your technical assessment. How did you handle it?"

• Learning & Adaptation: "How do you stay current with the latest trends in C++ programming and game UI development?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the goal, your role, the technical challenges, your solutions, and the outcome.

• Focus on Code and Architecture: Be ready to discuss the technical implementation, especially concerning C++ and MVVM.

• Highlight Performance Wins: If you have examples of significant performance improvements, emphasize them with metrics.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Show how your UI work integrated with art and design assets, and how you communicated with other team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to discuss your C++ skills, MVVM understanding, and practical experience with game UI development in detail. Your portfolio should be the centerpiece of your technical discussion, showcasing your problem-solving approach and ability to deliver functional, performant UI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Programmer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Ubisoft careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your C++ experience, MVVM knowledge, any experience with Unreal Engine (Slate/UMG), and specific projects relevant to game UI development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio clearly showcases relevant UI projects, with detailed explanations of your technical contributions, architectural choices (especially MVVM), and performance optimization efforts.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common C++ and MVVM technical questions, as well as behavioral questions related to collaboration and problem-solving.

• Research Ubisoft and the Project: Familiarize yourself with Ubisoft's games, culture, and any publicly available information about "March of Giants" to demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding salary and specific team dynamics, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application and interview process.