We are seeking a Principal Experience Designer to join our Central Strike Team. We’re looking for problem solvers who are self-directed and possess an independent nature.

The Central Strike Team is a unique full-time employment opportunity where you’ll engage with all our game teams, providing support throughout diverse development cycles that range in duration. This role offers unprecedented exposure to a wide range of game-making experiences.

As the Principal Experience Designer within the Central Strike Team, your role encompasses a multifaceted collaboration with our game teams. You will provide hands-on contributions and advisory guidance, serving as a key problem-solving resource. Guided by a lead-by-example philosophy, you will set the bar for quality and effective processes within your assigned game teams. Your creative leadership will guide pioneering innovative design solutions, prioritizing user-centric experiences, intuitive interaction design, and exceptional gameplay. These solutions will be refined through iterative user testing to ensure optimum usability.

Your influence spans the entire design spectrum, from conceptualizing and developing ideas to crafting compelling graphic and interface designs, devising interaction models, creating prototypes, and mapping out user/task flows. An eye for visual integrity, coupled with a deep understanding of brand standards and consistency, will be pivotal in collaboration with Franchise Stakeholders. Your partnership with Product Management and Engineering will drive the execution of your designs, ensuring that the player experience aligns harmoniously with design intent.

Job Responsibilities:

Design

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional product and design teams to envision, define, and craft features that deliver exceptional player experiences.
• Synthesize player needs and insights from various game departments, translating them into holistic solutions that cater to all stakeholders.
• Develop user flows, interface wireframes, prototypes, and comprehensive design documentation.
• Apply a comprehensive design approach encompassing problem definition, research, analysis, design iteration, and validation.

Art

• Design captivating UI layouts and produce high-fidelity mock-ups to visually preview concepts during the pre-production phase.
• Work collaboratively with the art team to establish and adhere to a thematic art style that enhances the overall visual cohesion.
• Adapt and expand upon an existing visual style, maintaining its consistency while infusing fresh creativity.

Technical UI Development

• Collaborate closely with technical artists and engineers to seamlessly integrate user interface assets within the Unity game engine.
• Prepare assets for efficient implementation within the game engine environment.
• Engage in iterative refinement, optimization, and creative problem-solving within the Unity framework.

Leadership

• Set a strong precedent by exemplifying superior UI/UX practices, acting as a guide for the team to follow.
• Lead and actively engage in UI/UX community events, critique sessions, product reviews, and retrospectives across the company.
• Mentor fellow UI/UX team members, fostering their growth and expertise.
• Foster collaboration by sharing insights and best practices with UI/UX professionals from other game teams, contributing to the establishment of standardized methodologies organization-wide.

Applicant’s Competencies:

General

• Thrives in a fast-paced environment, quickly adapting to changing circumstances and teams, while acquiring new skills and behaviors.
• Demonstrates exceptional task prioritization, efficient work execution, time management, and the ability to work autonomously.
• Shows proactive self-development, continuously striving to enhance personal, interpersonal, and craft skills.
• Exemplifies organizational skills and adheres to established digital best practices, naming conventions, and standards.
• Actively seeks opportunities for mentoring and sharing knowledge with others.

Communications

• Skillfully communicates complex ideas to diverse audiences, presenting a persuasive viewpoint.
• Exhibits advanced written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing proficiency.
• Collaborates effectively across multiple studio locations, teams, and partners.
• Demonstrates proactive communication, fostering consensus in the face of differing perspectives.

UX Design

• Displays expertise in fundamental UX Design Principles.
• Serves as an authority on the UX Design process, from identifying usability challenges to validating solutions through testing.
• Experienced expert in designing for games vs. task completion, specifically supporting fun and engagement.
• Applies deep knowledge of user psychology and usability assessment to improve product experiences.
• Proficient in prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, or similar software.
• Specializes in game-oriented UX design, prioritizing fun and engagement alongside task completion.
• Applies deep knowledge of user psychology and usability assessment to improve product experiences.
• Proficient in prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, or similar software.

UI Art

• Highly skilled in standard creative software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
• Proficient in UI layout & design tools (Figma, Sketch, or similar).
• Some familiarity with functional UI animation design.

Technical UI Development

• Seasoned in traditional game development methods and processes
• Expert in creating user interfaces for game engines like Unity, Unreal, or similar.
• Experienced in collaborating with technical team members, such as Tech Art and Engineering.
• Proficient in developing games for mobile devices, understanding limitations and best practices.

Level of Experience

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in HCI, Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field; equivalent education and experience considered.
• Brings 6+ years of specialized UX experience in the game development industry across 3+ game titles.
• Expertise with UI design and prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, or equivalent.
• Proficient in Unity Engine (UGUI, NGUI), Unreal Engine, or similar game engines.

What we offer you:

• Competitive salary, bonus plan and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• 401K Company Match Contribution (US)
• RRSP/DPSP company match contribution (Canada)
• Health coverage, dental, disability, critical illness, EAP, and life insurance (Canada)
• Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits (US)
• Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
• Global Fitness reimbursement program
• Global Wellbeing Program
• Financial wellness program with unlimited access to certified financial planners
• Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
• Family planning support program
• Generous paid parental, pregnancy-related disability, caregiver, and compassionate leaves
• Subsidized Back-up child care
• Zynga happy hours and frequent employee events
• Flexible working hours on many teams
• Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
• Work with cool people and impact millions of daily players

We are an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to building a diverse and talented workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome job-seekers, players, employees, and partners from all backgrounds to join us!

We will consider all qualified job-seekers with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable law.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities in order to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us at [email protected] to request an accommodation associated with your application for an open position.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $105,000 and $160,000 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an ’at-will position’ and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.