UI Programmer - (March of Giants)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Programmer - (March of Giants)

Company: Ubisoft

Location: Montreal, Québec, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Game Development / UI Programming

Date Posted: 2026-07-29

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and implement user interface (UI) modules for video games, focusing on menus, HUDs, and other general presentation elements to enhance player experience.

• Collaborate closely with game designers, artists, and other programmers to translate game design documents and artistic visions into functional and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces.

• Write clean, robust, and performant C++ code, adhering to software engineering best practices, with a strong emphasis on MVVM philosophy and workflows.

• Optimize UI code for efficiency and performance across target platforms, ensuring smooth operation and minimal impact on system resources like memory and processing power.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for UI Programming within the video game industry at Ubisoft, a major global publisher. The focus is on front-end game interface development, requiring a blend of strong C++ programming skills, understanding of game design principles, and proficiency in UI frameworks like Unreal Engine's Slate and UMG.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Analyze game design documents to understand intended player experience and actively contribute to refining UI features and implementation strategies.

• Design, implement, and maintain menu and interface systems for PC and potentially other desired platforms, ensuring visual and logistical consistency.

• Develop internal tools, such as "debug draw" functionalities, to aid in UI system debugging and development.

• Investigate and gain a deep understanding of the UI framework, using this knowledge to support the presentation team and resolve technical challenges.

• Rapidly prototype UI interaction concepts in collaboration with design and programming teams, iterating quickly based on feedback.

• Integrate UI designs and animations provided by graphic designers, creating necessary hooks for animations and sound support.

• Identify and address technical limitations related to UI performance, including tracking performance metrics and managing memory usage.

• Work closely with designers and artists to implement new ideas, providing technical, creative, and scheduling feedback to ensure feasibility and quality.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure UI meets both aesthetic requirements and functional specifications.

• Maintain and oversee modules or systems that form the backbone of the user interface.

• Develop automated tests and APIs for UI systems to ensure the ongoing stability and health of the game.

• Apply knowledge of ergonomics and User Experience (UX) principles to create intuitive and effective interfaces.

• Implement and support localization and accessibility features within the UI.

• Actively keep abreast of the latest innovations and best practices in UI programming and game development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive role in not just implementing UI but also in challenging and refining game design from a UI/UX perspective, a critical aspect for senior UI programmers. The emphasis on rapid prototyping, iteration, and cross-departmental collaboration is typical for game development environments.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

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

• Minimum 5 years of professional C++ programming experience, preferably within the video game sector or embedded systems. Required Skills:

• Proficiency in writing clean, robust, performant, and maintainable C++ code.

• Excellent understanding of the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) philosophy and associated workflows.

• Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills for complex systems.

• Solid understanding of software engineering best practices, including design reviews, coding standards, code reviews, testing, and documentation.

• Effective collaborative and communication skills within a multi-disciplinary team environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Unreal Engine 5, including its UI frameworks Slate and UMG.

• Experience with UI frameworks such as CommonUI.

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

• Experience working on PC-centric platform development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 5 years of C++ experience, coupled with specific knowledge of MVVM and bonus points for Unreal Engine 5, Slate, and UMG, indicates this role is for an experienced UI programmer with a focus on modern game development pipelines. The emphasis on both technical proficiency and collaboration skills is standard for game development roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate successful implementation of complex UI systems within game projects, showcasing menu navigation, HUD elements, and in-game interfaces.

• Provide examples of UI code that highlight efficiency, performance optimization, and maintainability, with clear explanations of technical challenges overcome.

• Showcase experience with UI frameworks like Slate, UMG, or similar, illustrating proficiency in creating dynamic and interactive user interfaces.

• Include case studies that detail the process of translating design mockups and game mechanics into functional UI components, emphasizing problem-solving and iterative development. Process Documentation:

• Document workflow designs for UI implementation, detailing how designs were translated into code and integrated into the game engine.

• Illustrate process for developing UI tools or debugging functionalities, such as "debug draw" systems, to improve development efficiency.

• Provide examples of performance analysis and optimization techniques applied to UI code, demonstrating an understanding of metrics tracking and memory management.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a formal requirement, a portfolio is crucial for UI Programmer roles in game development. The emphasis should be on showcasing practical application of C++, UI frameworks, and problem-solving within game contexts, demonstrating the ability to translate design into functional, performant UI.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry standards for experienced UI Programmers in Montreal, Québec, Canada, with 5-10 years of experience in C++ and game development, the estimated salary range is CAD $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the high cost of living in Montreal and the specialized skills required. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

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

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for overtime during critical development phases. The role is office-based, indicating a structured work schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is an estimation based on industry benchmarks for a highly skilled role in a major Canadian tech hub. Specific benefits will be detailed by Ubisoft during the hiring process.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Games & Entertainment. Ubisoft is a global leader in the creation and distribution of interactive entertainment.

Company Size: Ubisoft is a large, publicly traded company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide, operating numerous studios. This scale offers significant career mobility and exposure to large-scale projects.

Founded: 1986. With decades of experience, Ubisoft has a long-standing reputation for developing popular and innovative game franchises.

Team Structure:

• The UI Programmer will likely be part of a dedicated UI team or a larger game development team for the "March of Giants" project.

• Reporting structure typically involves a Lead Programmer or Technical Director, with close collaboration with UI/UX Designers, Artists, and Game Designers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with design, art, and core programming teams to ensure cohesive game development. Methodology:

• Agile development methodologies, including Scrum or Kanban, are commonly used in game development for iterative progress and flexibility.

• Emphasis on code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration to maintain code quality and stability.

• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing analytics and player feedback to refine features and optimize the player experience.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Ubisoft's culture is characterized by its passion for gaming, innovation, and global collaboration. As a large organization, it offers structured career paths and extensive resources, while individual game projects often foster a dynamic, fast-paced, and creative team environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced UI Programmer, likely mid-level to senior, depending on the breadth of experience with complex systems and leadership potential. It requires significant technical expertise and the ability to mentor junior developers.

Reporting Structure: The UI Programmer will report to a Lead UI Programmer or a Game Director/Lead Programmer, working within a project-specific development team.

Operations Impact: The UI Programmer's impact is direct and critical to the player's interaction with the game. They shape the user experience, influencing player engagement, satisfaction, and retention through intuitive and visually appealing interfaces.

Growth Opportunities:

• Advance to Senior UI Programmer, Lead UI Programmer, or Technical Director roles within UI development.

• Transition into specialized areas like UX Design, Technical Art, or Engine Programming.

• Develop leadership skills through mentoring junior programmers and contributing to architectural decisions.

• Gain experience across different game genres and platforms within Ubisoft's diverse portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a UI Programmer, growth typically involves deepening technical expertise in UI systems and engines, taking on more complex features, or moving into leadership and architectural roles. Ubisoft's structure provides clear pathways for such advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an office-based role, indicating a traditional work environment within a Ubisoft studio in Montreal.

Office Location(s): Montreal, Québec, Canada. Ubisoft has a significant presence in Montreal, known for its vibrant tech and gaming scene.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is likely collaborative, designed to facilitate interaction among programmers, artists, and designers.

• Access to industry-standard development hardware, software, and potentially specialized UI development tools.

• Opportunities for informal and formal knowledge sharing sessions, team meetings, and collaborative problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, office-based, with standard working hours. Flexibility may be offered, but the core expectation is presence in the studio for team collaboration and project delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The office-based nature emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction with colleagues, which is common for creative and technical roles in game development where visual and conceptual alignment is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Technical Interview(s): In-depth discussions focusing on C++ programming, MVVM, UI development principles, and problem-solving scenarios. This may include live coding exercises.

• Portfolio Review: Presentation and discussion of past UI programming projects, focusing on technical choices, challenges, and outcomes.

• Team/Manager Interview: Meeting with the hiring manager and potential team members to assess fit with the team dynamics and project requirements.

• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a higher-level manager or director.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Select 2-3 of your strongest UI programming projects that best demonstrate your C++ skills, MVVM implementation, and experience with relevant engines/frameworks (e.g., Unreal Engine, Slate, UMG).

• Prepare to walk through the code, explaining your design choices, the challenges you faced, and how you optimized performance.

• Clearly articulate the "why" behind your technical decisions and how they contributed to the overall game experience.

• Highlight any contributions to tools, debugging functionalities, or process improvements.

• Be ready to discuss your understanding of UX principles and how they were applied. Challenge Preparation:

• Expect technical challenges that test your C++ proficiency, algorithm knowledge, and ability to think through UI-specific problems (e.g., implementing a dynamic layout, optimizing rendering, handling input).

• Practice explaining complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to debugging and performance optimization.

• Research Ubisoft's recent games and their UI implementations to understand their style and technical approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is critical for UI Programmer roles. Candidates should be prepared to not only show their work but also to deeply explain the technical underpinnings and their thought process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• C++: The core programming language for game development at Ubisoft.

• Unreal Engine 5 (Bonus): A leading game engine, critical for modern AAA game development.

• Slate UI Framework (Bonus): Unreal Engine's native UI framework for creating complex interfaces.

• UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) (Bonus): Unreal Engine's visual UI designer that uses Slate.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Internal profiling and debugging tools for performance tracking (e.g., Unreal Engine's built-in profilers).

• Potentially custom analytics tools for tracking UI interaction data and player behavior. CRM & Automation:

• Version Control Systems: Perforce or Git for code management.

• Project Management Tools: Jira, Confluence, or similar for task tracking and documentation.

• Build Systems: Internal or industry-standard tools for compiling and deploying game builds.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in C++ is a hard requirement. Experience with Unreal Engine 5, Slate, and UMG is highly advantageous and strongly preferred, indicating the primary technology stack for this project.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Continuously seeking new ways to improve UI functionality and player experience.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with diverse teams to achieve shared project goals.

• Excellence: Striving for high-quality code, performance, and user-centric design.

• Passion: A shared enthusiasm for creating engaging and memorable gaming experiences.

• Player Focus: Prioritizing the player's needs and experience in all development decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Emphasis on open communication and constructive feedback between programming, design, and art departments.

• Agile and iterative approach to development, encouraging rapid prototyping and continuous improvement.

• Knowledge sharing through code reviews, internal presentations, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ubisoft's culture values creativity, teamwork, and a drive to push boundaries in entertainment. For a UI Programmer, this means actively participating in team discussions, contributing creative solutions, and working collaboratively to bring visions to life.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Implementing complex UI features that are both visually appealing and highly functional across different platforms.

• Optimizing UI performance to meet stringent requirements on various hardware, especially for console releases.

• Balancing the creative vision of designers and artists with technical constraints and development timelines.

• Staying current with rapidly evolving UI technologies and game engine updates. Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Access to internal Ubisoft training programs and workshops on C++, Unreal Engine, and UI development best practices.

• Opportunities to attend industry conferences like GDC (Game Developers Conference) or SIGGRAPH.

• Mentorship from experienced senior programmers and technical leads.

• Potential for specialization in areas like performance optimization, engine architecture, or UX research.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers the challenge of working on AAA game titles with demanding technical and creative requirements, providing significant opportunities for professional growth within a leading game development studio.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a challenging UI feature you implemented and how you approached its development, optimization, and integration." (Focus on C++, MVVM, performance, collaboration)

• "How do you ensure UI code remains clean, maintainable, and performant throughout a large game project?" (Discuss software engineering best practices, testing, optimization)

• "Walk us through your process for translating a UI design mockup into a functional in-game element. What are the key considerations?" (Highlight workflow, collaboration with artists/designers, technical challenges) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your favorite UI implementations in recent games, and why?" (Showcase industry awareness, critical thinking)

• "How do you handle conflicting feedback from different stakeholders (e.g., designers vs. engineers) on UI implementation?" (Assess conflict resolution, communication skills)

• "What interests you about working at Ubisoft and specifically on the 'March of Giants' project?" (Demonstrate research, genuine interest) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Choose projects that clearly demonstrate your C++ expertise, MVVM understanding, and ideally, Unreal Engine/Slate/UMG experience.

• For each project, explain the problem, your solution, the technical details, and the outcome (e.g., performance improvements, positive player feedback).

• Be prepared to dive deep into code snippets if asked, explaining specific implementation details.

• Highlight any contributions to tools, debugging, or process improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to demonstrate not only your technical prowess in C++ and UI development but also your ability to collaborate, problem-solve, and contribute to the overall player experience within a game development context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Programmer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on SmartRecruiters.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your C++ experience, specific UI programming projects, familiarity with MVVM, and any experience with Unreal Engine, Slate, or UMG. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "optimized UI performance by X%").

• Prepare your portfolio: Curate 2-3 strong UI programming projects that showcase your skills. Be ready to present and discuss them in detail, focusing on technical implementation, problem-solving, and performance.

• Research Ubisoft: Understand their game portfolio, recent titles, and company culture. Familiarize yourself with their typical UI styles and potential technology stacks.

• Practice technical questions: Review common C++ interview questions, MVVM concepts, and UI programming challenges. Be ready for live coding exercises.

⚠️ 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.