Blizzard Entertainment is hiring: Lead UI/UX Designer, Unannounced Game | Irvine

Lead UI/UX Designer, Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA

At Blizzard, we craft genre-defining games and legendary worlds for all to share. Through unparalleled creativity and storytelling, we create immersive universes and iconic characters that are beloved across platforms, borders, backgrounds, and generations - only made possible by building a work environment that cultivates the artistry of game development and unleashes the aspirations of our people.

We are looking for a Lead UI/UX Designer to help craft a new, unannounced game for Blizzard. Our team values creativity, collaboration, and a dedication to quality, and we are searching for contributors aligned to our core Blizzard values to add to our team of dedicated game makers.

As a key member of the development team, you will be responsible for delivering engaging, strategic, and approachable gameplay. You are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, navigating fluid deadlines and changing priorities with purpose.

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work from home. The potential home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Build a world-class UI/UX team; hire, train and mentor UI/UX designers.
• Craft rules and establish structures that set up the development team for success in designing exceptional user interfaces throughout the life of the game.
• Partner with user research teams to gather insights, identify pain points, and validate design decisions. Utilize data to inform and refine design strategies.
• Create wireframes and mockups for all game features, with a focus on intuitive design choices.
• Work closely with team members across art, audio, design, engineering, production, and sound to integrate user experience principles into all stages of game development.
• Develop understanding and use the game engine and supporting tools to both build layouts and communicate functional requirements to engineering.
• Regularly present work within your feature team to gather feedback toward refining the player experience.
• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive innovation.

Minimum Requirements

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in UI/UX design in the gaming or interaction design field
• Proven experience leading design teams. Have a track record of providing designing direction, performance management, and professional development.
• Expert level understanding of hierarchy and layout design principles, UX process and usability design principles, color theory and visual design.
• Proficiency in UX design tools (e.g., Figma, Miro, Photoshop), wireframing, prototyping, and user research methodologies.
• Expertise in AAA game engines with a solid understanding of art implementation and integration workflows.
• Demonstrable experience leading features and complex UI systems from concept through completion across multiple platforms with distinct inputs (PC and Mobile).

Key Attributes:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to conceptualize, pitch, and implement game concepts using various tools, technology, and visual language.
• Strong documentation philosophies and strategies to evangelize your designs.
• Positive attitude and an ability to receive and provide objective feedback.

Extra Points:

• Experience manipulating UI materials like repeating animations and VFX.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of game design projects and UX solutions, demonstrating your ability to create engaging and user-friendly experiences.
• Motion graphics or animation experience
• Active player of a variety of mobile titles, especially turn-based strategy games.

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences.

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology, and entertainment.

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional, and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered!

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $134,320.00 - $248,404.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed.