Full-Time

Lead UI Engineer

31st Union

31st Union

201-500 employees

Multiplatform AAA game studio; free-to-play

Compensation Overview

$133.9k - $198.2k/yr

+ Bonus + Equity Awards + ESPP

San Mateo, CA, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role requiring some on-site days in San Mateo, California.

Category
UI/UX & Design (1)
Required Skills
Unreal Engine
C/C++

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Requirements
  • 7+ years of professional game programming experience, including at least 2 shipped AAA titles in a Senior or Lead UI role
  • Deep technical knowledge of Unreal Engine UI systems, specifically CommonUI, UMG, Slate, and MVVM patterns
  • Expert C++ programming skills, specifically regarding asynchronous data handling, memory management, and C++/Blueprint interoperability
  • Direct experience resolving UI-related console certification issues (TRC/TCR) for PlayStation and/or Xbox platforms
  • Practical understanding of the Unreal material pipeline as applied to building performant UI materials and shaders
Responsibilities
  • Engage creatively with Design and Production on new features to identify opportunities, challenges and cost.
  • Direct the technical design and implementation of the game’s UI using highly supported / best-in-class patterns and UE frameworks.
  • Maintain robust solutions for asynchronous asset management and integration with latent backend services (e.g. inventory, matchmaking, live telemetry) while maintaining a responsive user experience.
  • Manage UI performance and memory budgets. Leverage GPU where needed to support competitive, high framerate play.
  • Ensure UI implementations meet first party certification requirements.
  • Build UI systems designed for global deployment – supporting dynamic text scaling, diverse font sets, complex string tables, and right-to-left languages.
  • Implement comprehensive accessibility features to support inclusive UX design.
  • Architect data-driven UI systems that support server-side configuration. This includes dynamic screen layouts, remote control reordering, friction reduction, and real-time promotions without requiring client patches.
  • Mentor a team of UI engineers, conduct code reviews, and develop workflows to improve the efficiency of the UI/UX design team
Desired Qualifications
  • Live Ops / F2P Experience: Proven experience working on a live-service or Free-to-Play game, with a strong understanding of commerce UI, dynamic content delivery, and player conversion funnels
  • Action Game Background: Previous experience working on multiplayer shooters, action RPGs, or competitive games

31st Union is a game development studio under the Take-Two Interactive publishing label that creates multiplatform AAA video games. It is developing Project ETHOS, a free-to-play third-person roguelike hero shooter, with monetization through in-game items. The team includes roles like Senior Animation Engineers and Senior Core Engineers to build high-performance animation systems and runtime solutions, and operates globally. The goal is to deliver engaging, globally accessible experiences that attract a large player base and sustain revenue through free-to-play models.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

San Mateo, California

Founded

2019

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Take-Two's July 2026 outlook lists Project ETHOS in active development.
  • 31st Union posted March 2026 jobs for UI, gameplay, rendering, and core engineers.
  • 31st Union's May 2026 concept-art update signaled renewed direction after playtest feedback.

What critics are saying

  • May 2026 layoffs shrank 31st Union, proving Project ETHOS remains structurally overstaffed.
  • 2024 playtests exposed weak identity; another rework can push launch beyond 2027.
  • If Project ETHOS misses differentiation again, 31st Union becomes an existential cost center.

What makes 31st Union unique

  • 31st Union spans San Mateo and Valencia, building one global AAA team.
  • Ben Brinkman, formerly Apex Legends executive producer, leads Project ETHOS reimagining.
  • Project ETHOS combines free-to-play, third-person hero-shooter, roguelike mechanics under 2K.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Performance Bonus

Company Equity

401(k) Retirement Plan

Hybrid Work Options