Studio UX Director

Studio UX Director

Firaxis Games is looking for a talented, motivated, and experienced director to define the vision for user experience and interface design for Firaxis’ future. The Studio UX Director will improve the process, quality, and efficiency of user interface personnel while ensuring that Firaxis provides a best-in-class user experience to our customers.

The Studio UX Director reports to the Chief Creative Officer and will participate in strategic studio leadership functions as appropriate with a focus on evaluating high-level opportunities and challenges and formulating field specific initiatives and adaptations.

Responsibilities:

• Use your formidable UI engineering, design, and artistic skill to both guide and close all studio projects for successful launch
• Develop the Craft of UX Design at Firaxis and provide strategic guidance on design throughout production
• Recruit a diverse team of world class UX engineers, designers and UI artists, and retain talent with a policy of nurturing individual career goals
• Collaborate closely with art direction, narrative, monetization/ Live-ops, and marketing to ensure a clear, singular, on-brand vision for the player experience, with a particular focus on FTUE and learnability
• With leadership, define per-project decks of core user personas to inform UI/UX design, and advocate for these personas throughout the life cycle of the game, to ensure that we are never in the position of reverse-engineering our audience
• Make Firaxis into an industry leader in accessibility, with innovative ideas to open our games to players of different cultures, capabilities, and preferences
• Define clear standards for team-viewable centralized, living wireframe documentation, as well as expectations for messaging evolutions in design
• Build and manage vectors for feedback and regularly coordinate with project design leadership to ensure team voices are heard and addressed
• Ensure that the game expresses Firaxis commitment to inclusivity and racial/cultural sensitivity
• Provide UX oversight across all project platforms to create a cohesive and equal player experience
• Analyze competitors' games to fully understand successes and failures, and work with UI design leads to incorporate those findings into our designs
• Conduct and interpret user tests to identify user behavior and areas to optimize user experience
• Leverage internal QA for user research and feedback, working with UI design leads to formulate clear test plans throughout development
• Manage UI/UX artists and designers through 1-on-1’s, annual reviews, compensation, disciplinary procedures, and separations. Co-manage UI Engineers alongside our Technical Directors and Director of Engineering

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years’ experience in video game UI/UX design and creation with at least two shipped titles as UI/UX Lead or UI/UX Director
• Thorough understanding of UI/UX design, art, and engineering practices
• Significant management and mentoring experience including experience with disciplinary and career development practices
• Strong understanding of game development processes and gameplay mechanics
• A willingness to advocate for the player and be their voice when needed
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong alignment with Firaxis values and Mission (see below)
• Must possess current US work authorization

As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform their essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.

Benefits:

•         Relocation assistance provided
•         Flexible work hours
•         401K
•         Family friendly work environment
•         And more!

FIRAXIS MISSION AND VALUES:

Our mission is to own the strategy genre by making the best strategy games on the planet.

Our Core Values

People First: Treat people with respect, create a culture of belonging, and act with empathy.

Gameplay Focused: Deliver quality game experiences, take pride in your work, and put players at the center of every decision.

Be Accountable: Own outcomes, be honest, and treat feedback as a gift.

Embrace Enthusiasm: Allow space for failure, share your excitement, and let passion drive outcomes.

Work Smart: Solve for efficiency, focus on collaboration, and prioritize improvement.

Please note that 2K Games and its studios never uses instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews and when emailing, only use 2K.com accounts.

#LI-Remote