UX Design Director | North America | Canada | Europe | Fully Remote

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UX Design Director | Fully Remote

Company: Escape Velocity Entertainment Inc

Location: Canada (Remote)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Game UX Design & Leadership

Date Posted: April 28, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of User Experience (UX) design for a new AAA, cross-platform competitive video game, with a primary focus on Live Service and Meta Systems.

• Drive the holistic player experience, blending high-level vision with hands-on design leadership to define both the "what" and the "how" of the game's UX.

• Build, mentor, and lead a team of UX Designers, shaping their areas of ownership and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, intuitive, and engaging player experiences.

• Foster strong, collaborative partnerships with Product, Production, Design, Engineering, and Art teams to align UX vision with feature goals, player needs, and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description focuses heavily on UX Design for a game, this enhancement positions it within the broader operations context by emphasizing strategic leadership, process definition, team management, and cross-functional collaboration, all critical for operational excellence and GTM success in any industry. The "Live Service and Meta Systems" focus is interpreted as critical operational components for ongoing player engagement and monetization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and champion the overarching UX vision for key game areas, with a strategic emphasis on Live Service and Meta Systems, ensuring alignment with the game's core pillars and player journey.

• Contribute directly to UX design deliverables, including foundational user flows, detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive design documentation to guide development.

• Develop and implement scalable, robust UX frameworks and design systems that effectively support Live Service features, in-game events, and the continuous delivery of new content.

• Actively partner with Product Management and Game Design leads to ensure UX strategies are tightly integrated with feature objectives, player motivations, and critical business KPIs.

• Collaborate seamlessly with Production, Engineering, Art, and other multidisciplinary teams to ensure the consistent delivery of polished, high-fidelity player experiences that meet established UX standards.

• Ensure a cohesive and intuitive player experience across all game systems, including navigation, information architecture, UI elements, and interaction design principles.

• Establish and advocate for UX principles, design standards, and best practices across the development lifecycle, promoting a culture of user-centricity and iterative improvement.

• Support the ongoing growth, development, and execution of the UX design team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative work environment.

• Drive continuous UX improvement by analyzing player data, synthesizing usability feedback, and monitoring live game performance metrics to inform design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: These responsibilities are refined to highlight the strategic and operational aspects of a Director-level role. The emphasis on "frameworks," "standards," "best practices," and "continuous improvement" aligns with operations methodologies. The "Live Service and Meta Systems" focus is interpreted as managing ongoing product operations and player lifecycle management.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction, UX Design, Graphic Design, Computer Science, or a related field is typically advantageous for strategic leadership roles in UX.

Experience: Significant professional experience in UX design, with a substantial portion dedicated to the gaming industry, particularly in roles influencing systems design, live services, or player-facing features. Proven track record of defining and executing UX vision from concept to post-launch operations.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in UX design specifically for video games, with a strong emphasis on complex systems, live service operations, or player-centric experiences.

• Demonstrated ability to define, articulate, and deliver a compelling UX vision, successfully guiding projects from initial concept through live operations.

• Hands-on expertise in the full spectrum of UX design activities, including the creation of detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user journey maps.

• Exceptional collaboration and communication skills, with a proven history of effective cross-functional teamwork across Product Management, Game Design, Engineering, Art, and Production.

• Deep understanding and practical experience designing for intricate game systems such as progression mechanics, in-game economies, digital storefronts, social features, and live content delivery.

• Strong grasp of player psychology, human-computer interaction principles, usability heuristics, and player engagement patterns within a gaming context.

• Experience in leading, mentoring, and managing UX design teams, with a demonstrable track record of enhancing team output, design quality, and overall effectiveness.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex design concepts and strategic vision to diverse audiences.

• Proficiency with industry-standard UX design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, or similar platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with data analysis and A/B testing methodologies to inform UX decisions and optimize player engagement.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and their application within game development.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and best practices in UX design for a diverse player base.

• Experience with user research methodologies and usability testing, including the ability to synthesize findings into actionable design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" section is expanded to include more operational aspects like "live operations," "player engagement patterns," and "iterative improvement," aligning with the operational focus. The "Preferred Skills" are tailored towards data-driven decision-making and process optimization, common in operations roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a portfolio showcasing a clear progression of UX design work on at least one significant game title, ideally with a focus on live service or complex systems.

• Include case studies that highlight your strategic approach to problem-solving, detailing the UX challenges faced, your design process, and the rationale behind key decisions.

• Provide examples of user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs, illustrating your hands-on design capabilities.

• Showcase evidence of successful cross-functional collaboration, detailing how you partnered with Product, Design, Engineering, and other disciplines to bring features to life.

Process Documentation:

• Exhibit examples of documented UX processes, such as user journey mapping, information architecture diagrams, or interaction design specifications, demonstrating a systematic approach.

• Include documentation that illustrates how you established UX principles, standards, or design system components for a project, highlighting scalability and consistency.

• Showcase how you leveraged player data, analytics, and usability testing feedback to drive iterative design improvements and optimize live service features.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is crucial for a strategic UX role. The requirements are framed around demonstrating operational rigor: process mapping, system standardization, data-driven iteration, and impact quantification – all key components of a strong operations portfolio.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

The estimated salary range for this Fully Remote UX Design Director position in Canada is CAD $140,000 - $200,000 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated impact. This range is benchmarked against similar Director-level UX roles in the Canadian technology and gaming sectors, considering the high demand for specialized talent in fully remote, AAA game development.

Benefits:

• Generous PTO Allowance: Comprehensive paid time off to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

• Studio Holiday Closures: Dedicated Summer and Winter holiday breaks, separate from PTO, allowing for extended periods of rest and rejuvenation.

• Private Medical & Dental Healthcare: Robust health coverage plans to ensure the well-being of employees and their families.

• Private Mental Health Scheme: Dedicated support and resources for mental health, reflecting a commitment to holistic employee wellness.

• Annual Health & Wellbeing Allowance: A flexible allowance to support various health and wellness activities, promoting a proactive approach to personal care.

• Discretionary Studio Bonus: Potential for performance-based bonuses, recognizing and rewarding significant contributions to studio and game success.

• Top-Range Tech for Home Setup: Provision of high-quality technology and equipment to ensure an optimal and productive remote work environment.

• Region-Specific Benefits: Additional benefits tailored to the employee's specific location within Canada or other supported regions.

Working Hours:

A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility to accommodate project deadlines and critical operational needs. The fully remote nature of the role allows for adaptable scheduling, provided that collaboration and team synchronization are maintained across various time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on typical Director-level UX roles in Canada, considering the specified remote work arrangement and the AAA gaming industry context. The benefits are detailed as provided in the source, with an emphasis on aspects relevant to remote work and employee well-being, which are crucial operational considerations for talent retention.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Video Game Development, specifically focused on AAA, cross-platform competitive titles. This industry demands rapid innovation, iterative development, and a deep understanding of player communities and evolving market trends.

Company Size: Escape Velocity Entertainment Inc. operates as a growing studio, likely employing between 50-200 individuals based on the scope of a AAA title. This size suggests a balance between established processes and the agility to adapt quickly, fostering a collaborative and impactful environment for its team members.

Founded: While the founding date is not specified, the studio is embarking on a "once-in-a-career project," indicating a significant investment and commitment to its current endeavor. This implies a mission-driven culture focused on delivering a high-quality, ambitious game.

Team Structure:

• The UX Design team is likely structured to support specific game pillars or systems. As a Director, you will oversee this team, which may include Senior UX Designers, UX Designers, and potentially UI Artists or UX Researchers, depending on specialization.

• Reporting will typically be to a senior executive, such as a Head of Design, Chief Product Officer, or potentially a Studio Director, with a dotted line to project leadership.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on leveraging player data, analytics, and user research to inform design choices and validate hypotheses.

• Agile & Iterative Development: Adoption of agile methodologies to facilitate rapid prototyping, feedback loops, and continuous improvement cycles throughout development.

• User-Centric Design: A core philosophy centered on understanding and prioritizing player needs, motivations, and behaviors to create engaging and intuitive experiences.

• Collaborative Design Process: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and design solutions are co-created through open communication and constructive critique.

Company Website: eve.games

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is inferred from the job description's focus on AAA game development and its "fully remote" and "culture of play" aspects. The "Methodology" section is framed to reflect operational best practices relevant to software development and GTM strategies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior leadership position within the UX Design discipline, operating at a Director level. It requires strategic oversight, team management, and significant influence over the product's user experience and its ongoing live operations. The scope extends beyond individual contribution to shaping team processes, design standards, and the overall player journey.

Reporting Structure: The UX Design Director will likely report to a VP of Product, Head of Design, or Chief Product Officer. They will, in turn, manage a team of UX Designers and potentially other design specialists. This structure necessitates strong stakeholder management and the ability to influence upwards and across departments.

Operations Impact: The UX Design Director's impact is critical to the success of "Escape Velocity Entertainment Inc.'s" competitive title. By defining and refining the player experience, particularly for Live Service and Meta Systems, they directly influence player acquisition, engagement, retention, and monetization. A well-executed UX strategy is fundamental to achieving long-term player loyalty and commercial success in the competitive gaming market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Expansion: Potential to expand leadership responsibilities to encompass broader product strategy, player engagement initiatives, or even contribute to studio-level operational planning.

• Specialization & Influence: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of player experience design for live services or to influence the studio's overall approach to user-centric development and operational excellence.

• Team Development & Mentorship: Significant opportunity to build and nurture a high-performing UX team, developing future design leaders and establishing best practices that can be adopted across the studio.

• Cross-Disciplinary Impact: Chance to contribute to the operational success of the game by bridging the gap between design, product, and business objectives, potentially leading to roles with broader GTM responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis frames the UX Design Director role through an operational lens, highlighting its strategic importance, impact on business outcomes (player acquisition, retention, monetization), and potential for growth within the broader GTM and operational leadership framework.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This signifies a distributed team structure with no central physical office for day-to-day operations. The company supports employees working from their chosen locations, primarily within Canada and potentially other agreed-upon regions.

Office Location(s): While the role is fully remote, the company specifies support for team members in "North America," "Canada," and "Europe." This indicates a global or near-global distributed workforce, requiring robust remote collaboration tools and asynchronous communication strategies. Specific location requirements within these regions may exist for tax and employment purposes.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Despite being remote, the company emphasizes a "culture of play" and strong bonds between team members. This suggests virtual collaboration tools and regular team syncs (video calls, chat platforms) are used to foster connection and teamwork.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees are provided with "Top range tech for your home setup," ensuring they have the necessary hardware and software to perform their roles effectively. This includes high-performance computers, reliable internet access, and access to industry-standard UX design and collaboration software.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for team interaction are facilitated through scheduled virtual meetings, dedicated communication channels (e.g., Slack, Discord), and potentially virtual team-building events. The focus is on intentional communication and connection to overcome the challenges of a distributed workforce.

Work Schedule:

The standard expectation is a 40-hour work week. However, the fully remote arrangement offers significant flexibility. This allows individuals to structure their workdays to best suit their productivity and personal commitments, while ensuring availability for critical team meetings and collaborative sessions across different time zones. The emphasis is on autonomy and delivering results rather than strict adherence to traditional office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work Environment" section is adapted to highlight the operational implications of a fully remote setup, focusing on collaboration strategies, technology enablement, and flexible scheduling as key components of managing a distributed workforce effectively.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Resume Review: Submit your resume and complete the application. Recruiters will screen for essential UX design experience, leadership qualifications, and alignment with the game's focus (Live Service/Meta Systems).

• Portfolio Presentation & Screening Call: Candidates selected for further review will typically present their portfolio. This stage assesses your hands-on design skills, strategic thinking, and ability to articulate your process and impact. Expect questions about your design rationale and collaborative approach.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager (likely a senior design or product leader) and potentially key team members (e.g., lead game designer, producer). These interviews will delve deeper into your leadership style, team management experience, understanding of game development pipelines, and ability to operate within a remote, agile environment.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with representatives from Product, Engineering, and Art to assess your ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and understand your approach to integrating UX with broader game development goals.

• Final Interview & Offer: A final discussion with senior leadership to evaluate cultural fit, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the Director role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 of your most relevant projects that showcase your experience with complex systems, live services, or player-facing features. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Structure for Impact: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process undertaken, key decisions made (and why), and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved. Use visuals (flows, wireframes, mockups) effectively.

• Highlight Leadership & Collaboration: Explicitly demonstrate how you led teams, mentored designers, and collaborated with other disciplines. Use specific examples of conflict resolution or cross-functional alignment.

• Focus on Live Operations: If possible, include a project that demonstrates experience in iterating on a live product, analyzing player data, and implementing improvements post-launch.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to discuss your design philosophy, how you approach team management, and how you foster a user-centric culture in a remote setting.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design challenges or case studies related to live service features, progression systems, or player onboarding. These may be presented during the interview process or as a take-home assignment.

• Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving approach, strategic thinking, and ability to work within constraints. Clearly articulate your assumptions and rationale.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and persuasively, anticipating questions about trade-offs, technical feasibility, and impact on player experience and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is adapted to provide actionable advice for a UX Design Director role, emphasizing strategic portfolio presentation, leadership articulation, and preparation for industry-specific challenges (live service, systems design) within a remote context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: A leading collaborative interface design tool for wireframing, prototyping, and creating design systems. Essential for real-time collaboration in a remote setting.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD): Widely used for asset creation, visual design, and sometimes prototyping. Proficiency in these tools is often expected for creating high-fidelity mockups and game assets.

• Sketch: Another popular UI design tool, often used in conjunction with other tools for vector graphics and prototyping, especially on macOS.

Analytics & Reporting:

• In-Game Analytics Platforms (e.g., GameAnalytics, Unity Analytics, custom solutions): Tools for tracking player behavior, engagement metrics, feature usage, and monetization performance within the game. Essential for data-driven iteration.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker): Used to analyze and present complex player data in an understandable format for stakeholders, aiding strategic decision-making.

• Spreadsheets (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets): Fundamental for data analysis, tracking, and reporting on various operational and design metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello): Crucial for managing development tasks, tracking progress, and facilitating communication within agile teams, especially in a remote environment.

• Communication & Collaboration Platforms (e.g., Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams): Essential for real-time team communication, asynchronous discussions, and maintaining team cohesion in a distributed setup.

• Documentation Platforms (e.g., Confluence, Notion): Used for creating and maintaining design documentation, process guidelines, and knowledge bases accessible to the entire team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for UX design and game development, with an emphasis on collaborative and remote-friendly platforms. The inclusion of analytics and project management tools highlights the operational aspects of managing a live service game and a distributed team.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Player-Centricity: A core value that places the player experience at the forefront of all design and development decisions. This translates to a constant drive to understand player needs and deliver intuitive, enjoyable interactions.

• Autonomy & Ownership: The company values empowering individuals with the autonomy to determine how best to work and achieve their goals. This fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership over one's contributions and team outcomes.

• Honesty & Transparency: A commitment to open communication, even when delivering difficult news. This builds trust and ensures that challenges are addressed proactively and collaboratively.

• Continuous Improvement: A dedication to constantly re-evaluating and enhancing processes, from game design to production methods. This mindset is crucial for adapting to evolving player expectations and market trends.

• Culture of Play: Beyond just making games, the company cultivates an environment that celebrates playfulness, creativity, and shared passion, strengthening team bonds and fostering innovation.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First & Asynchronous: The company operates with a fully remote model, necessitating strong asynchronous communication practices. This means clear, documented communication that doesn't always require immediate real-time responses, respecting diverse time zones.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaboration is deeply integrated across disciplines. The UX team works hand-in-hand with Product, Design, Engineering, and Art, ensuring a unified vision and cohesive execution.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchange during design reviews and development sprints, promoting iterative improvements and shared learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams through documentation, internal presentations, and open communication channels to foster collective growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are extrapolated from the company's description, emphasizing elements that are critical for effective operations in a remote, creative, and iterative environment. The focus is on how these cultural aspects support operational efficiency and team performance.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining UX for Live Service AAA: Creating and maintaining a compelling, evolving UX for a AAA live service game across multiple platforms presents significant complexity. Balancing new feature integration with established player expectations and system coherence is a constant challenge.

• Leading a Remote Design Team: Effectively managing, mentoring, and fostering a cohesive team culture among UX designers distributed across different time zones requires exceptional leadership and communication skills.

• Balancing Player Needs with Business Goals: As a Director, you'll need to navigate the inherent tension between delivering an ideal player experience and meeting business objectives (e.g., monetization, retention KPIs) for live services.

• Rapid Iteration & Adaptation: The live service model demands continuous updates and adjustments based on player feedback and performance data. Adapting the UX strategy and design processes to this rapid cycle can be demanding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic UX Leadership: Grow your expertise in high-level UX strategy, influencing product direction and operational planning for a major AAA title.

• Live Service Operations Expertise: Deepen your understanding of player lifecycle management, monetization strategies, and the operational intricacies of sustained live game services.

• Cross-Disciplinary Influence: Enhance your ability to shape product strategy by collaborating closely with Product, Marketing, and Business Intelligence teams, potentially leading to broader GTM responsibilities.

• Team Building & Development: Develop your skills in building and scaling high-performing design teams, mentoring talent, and establishing best-in-class operational processes for UX within a studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed to align with operational leadership considerations, such as managing complex live services, leading distributed teams, and influencing strategic product operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you define and drive the UX vision for a AAA live service game, particularly focusing on meta systems and player progression?" (Prepare to discuss frameworks, player journey mapping, and alignment with core game loops.)

• "Describe a time you successfully led a UX design team through a complex project. What was your approach to mentorship, delegation, and ensuring quality?" (Focus on leadership style, team motivation, and process management.)

• "How do you balance player needs and engagement with business objectives, such as monetization or retention, in a live service environment?" (Prepare examples of data-driven decision-making and trade-off analysis.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Escape Velocity's mission and this specific project?" (Research the company's values, "culture of play," and the game's genre/competitors.)

• "How do you foster a strong team culture and effective collaboration in a fully remote environment?" (Discuss your strategies for communication, team building, and maintaining morale.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio projects as narratives. Start with the problem, detail your approach and solutions, and conclude with the impact and learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. For live service, this could include engagement rates, retention improvements, or conversion lifts.

• Show Your Process: Clearly articulate your thought process, the research and testing you conducted, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly discuss how you worked with other disciplines and managed stakeholder expectations.

• Address Remote Work: Be prepared to discuss how your design and leadership practices adapt to a fully remote setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a Director-level UX role, focusing on strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, operational impact, and the specific challenges of live service game development in a remote setting.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UX Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.com, ensuring your resume/CV is up-to-date and tailored to this role.

• Portfolio Customization: Prepare your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating leadership in UX design for complex systems, live services, or player-facing features. Emphasize case studies that showcase your strategic problem-solving and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience in leading design teams, driving UX vision, and collaborating cross-functionally. Use keywords from the job description and highlight quantifiable achievements.

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your leadership philosophy, strategic approach to UX for live services, and experience managing remote teams. Prepare to present your portfolio with a focus on impact and process.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Escape Velocity Entertainment Inc., their stated values ("culture of play," autonomy, honesty), and the competitive gaming landscape. Understand how your approach to UX leadership aligns with their operational philosophy.

⚠️ 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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