Senior Experience Designer – New Games Group

Careers Category: Art & Animation

Careers location: Austin, TX, Bay Area, CA, Carlsbad, CA, Chicago, IL, Eugene, OR, Toronto, Canada

Connected Worker Type: Connected

Requisition Id: R_108748

Zynga’s Casual Games Division is looking for a Senior Experience Designer to join our team! We’re crafting an exciting new project and are seeking a stellar Experience Designer to come build something amazing with us.

The Senior Experience Designer assists Project Leads in developing the XD vision of a product(s) and carrying out that vision. This role participates in the effort to create innovative and groundbreaking user-centered design solutions that promote ease of use, employ outstanding mobile game/interaction design, and optimize the user experience universally in response to user testing.

Participate in all phases of the design process including conceptual design/development, prototypes, user/task flows, art production and game integration.

Work closely with Project Stakeholders to establish and maintain the visual integrity, interaction methods, brand standards, and consistency for the game and collaborate with Experience Design Director, Art Director, Product Management, Game Design and Engineering for execution of design.

This is a hybrid position and employees will be expected to work out of our designated office locations (Austin, TX, Bay Area, CA, Carlsbad, CA, Chicago, IL, Eugene, OR, or Toronto, Canada). It is expected that all applicants are either currently located at the mentioned locations or open to relocation.

Design

• Collaborate with the art team to define and stick to a thematic art style
• Actively participate in company-wide UI/UX community events, critiques, product reviews, and feature retrospectives
• Conduct heuristic evaluations of internal & external products
• Create UI design/layouts
• Participate in researching consumer insight, developing personas, and analyzing data
• Design (and create) functional animation for user interactions
• Collaborate with the product and design teams to conceptualize, define, and develop features that yield outstanding experiences for our players
• Employ the classic design process of defining problems, researching, analyzing, designing, and validating results.
• Develop mood boards and help guide the visual design of features
• Prepare assets for implementation in the game engine
• Conduct market competitor research and deconstructs
• Mentor junior UI/UX staff
• Create UI art and visual design for user interfaces
• Create user flows, interface wireframes, prototypes, and design documentation.
• Synthesize the needs of players and all game departments to find solutions that work for all.
• Partner with technical artists and engineers to implement user interface game assets and prefabs in Unity
• Create high-fidelity mock-ups for pre-visualization during pre-production
• Participate in the planning and moderating of user testing
• Be the owner of UI/UX for game feature pods

General

• Virtual mental health and neurodiversity support programs
• Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, or other UI design tools
• Family planning support program
• Competent at designing and authoring functional UI animation
• Able to collaborate with proactive communication and a willingness to build consensus with potentially opposing perspectives.
• RRSP/DPSP company match contribution (Canada)
• Demonstrates proactive self-development and interest in leveling up personal, interpersonal, and craft skills
• Discretionary Time Off policy for many employees
• Unity Engine (UGUI, NGUI)
• Financial wellness program with unlimited access to certified financial planners
• Subsidized Back-up child care
• Very proficient with standard creative software such as the Adobe Creative Suite
• Flexible working hours on many teams
• Experience with assessing and addressing product usability and applying user psychology
• Competitive salary, bonus plan and ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
• Culture of diversity and inclusion including employee resource groups
• Familiarity with collaborative virtual environments (Miro, FigJam)
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced setting. Be able to rapidly develop new skills and behaviors in response to changing circumstances.
• Global Wellbeing Program
• Experienced in traditional game development methods and processes
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing.
• Skilled and experienced in user interface layout design, hierarchy, color theory, and information architecture
• Some experience designing for games vs. task completion, specifically supporting fun and engagement
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work efficiency, handle time effectively, and complete your work with minimal oversight.
• Very proficient with UI layout & design tools (Figma, Sketch, or similar tools)
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in the game development industry specializing in UX
• Skills with collaborating and partnering with technical team members such as Tech Art and Engineering
• Able to present complex ideas to diverse audiences and articulate a convincing point of view
• Global Fitness reimbursement program
• Be organized and demonstrate good digital hygiene and adhere to established naming conventions and organizational standard methodologies.
• Find opportunities to mentor, share your knowledge, insight, and experiences with others.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt and adhere to an established visual style and build upon it
• Ability to co-work and communicate with multiple studio locations, teams, and partners
• Well-practiced with the UX Design process: Defining usability challenges, researching the problem space, analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, crafting appropriate solutions, and validating ideas through testing.
• 401K Company Match Contribution (US)
• Zynga happy hours and frequent employee events
• Well-practiced and proficient with creating user interfaces in game engines (like Unity or Unreal)
• Knowledgeable in fundamental UX Design Principles
• A strong foundation in classic graphic design principles
• Health coverage, dental, disability, critical illness, EAP, and life insurance (Canada)
• Generous paid parental, pregnancy-related disability, caregiver, and compassionate leaves
• Able to consistently produce high-quality visual assets for user interfaces
• A bachelor’s degree in HCI, Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or equivalent education & work experience.
• Very experienced with prototyping design software (Figma, Sketch, or similar tools) and the prototype development process
• Experienced in working with the limitations and standard methodologies of developing games for mobile devices
• Work with cool people and impact millions of daily player
• Medical, dental, vision, EAP, life insurance, and disability benefits (US)

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $90, 000 and $136, 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.

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, colour, 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.

Zynga does not engage in financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process. We do not conduct job interviews over third-party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp or others. We will never ask you for your personal or financial information over unofficial chat channels. Our in-house recruitment team only contacts individuals via official company email addresses (i.e., via a zynga.com or naturalmotion.com email domain).

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, you may wish to contact the authorities. In the United States, you may file a complaint with the FBI. More information is available here: https://www.ic3.gov.