UI/UX Designer

Job description

Please note that this is a hybrid position based in Cardiff, requiring 3 days onsite each week, with the option for remote work on the remaining days. Atomic Theory is a multinational team of seasoned AAA veterans with roots at studios like Blizzard, PUBG, Epic Games, and Unity. We’re passionate about building player-first experiences with strong engineering foundations, performance excellence, and accessibility baked in from day one. With offices in Albany, NY; Austin, TX; Cardiff, UK; and Brighton, UK, we operate globally with one mindset: Get Sh!t Done. ABOUT THE ROLE: As an Mid-Level UI/UX Designer, you are a fully capable, independent contributor who handles complex UI tasks and systems within your domain. You take ownership of mid-scope UI features and solve complex design or technical challenges. You are expected to work autonomously, unblock peers when necessary, and ensure your work is high-quality, stable, and integrated into the project pipeline. At this level, you are not leading the team, but you are a key contributor whose technical and design expertise keeps features moving forward efficiently. WHAT YOU'LL DO: - Design, implement, and optimise complex UI features and systems (menus, HUD modules, dynamic flows, procedural elements). - Develop and maintain UI libraries, reusable components, and critical systems to support your feature domain. - Implement and optimise or have knowledge of custom UI shaders, materials, or advanced animations to achieve specific visual or functional goals. - Debug and solve technical UI issues (engine, blueprint, middleware) to unblock your feature work. - Validate UI functionality and appearance across resolutions, aspect ratios, and gameplay contexts. - Improve personal and small-team workflows to increase efficiency and reliability. - Contribute to UX flows, usability, and interface consistency within your domain. - Maintain documentation for tools, systems, and components to ensure clarity and reproducibility. - Collaborate with engineers, designers, and producers to integrate features smoothly. WHAT WE VALUE: - 3+ years of experience in UI/UX design (games or interactive products). - Proven ability to deliver mid-scope UI features independently, including complex interactions or procedural systems. - Proficiency with design tools (Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator) and engine implementation (Unreal, Unity). - Strong understanding of UI technical fundamentals, including layout, anchoring, slicing, optimisation, and Blueprint/scripting basics. - Ability to debug and resolve complex technical and design challenges within your feature domain. - Experience developing or optimising UI systems or libraries that improve efficiency and consistency. - Clear communication skills, including the ability to flag blockers and propose practical solutions. - Strong grasp of UI/UX fundamentals, usability, readability, and accessibility. - Passion for polished, performant, and intuitive player experiences. WHAT YOU MAY ALSO HAVE: - Experience with dynamic HUDs, procedural UI, or live-service UI elements. - Familiarity with UI middleware or advanced engine pipelines. - Experience building shader-based UI, advanced materials, or complex animations. - Exposure to UX metrics, usability testing, or iterative optimisation. WHAT WE CAN OFFER: Competitive Salary and Benefits Package: Your health and wellbeing is important to us, so we offer a variety of benefits including: - Hybrid Working Arrangement: Our office in Brighton is located centrally. As a member of our team, you’ll have the flexibility to work at home and collaborate with your fellow team members in person. - Private Pension via Salary Sacrifice - Optional Private Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage - Annual Leave, plus Bank Holidays and Winter Break Office Closure - Annual Research Credit: We always encourage personal growth, so we provide all of our team members with an annual credit to further enhance your skills! - Professional Development: We offer annual reviews, as well as opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, internal tech talks, and the chance to learn from specialists with backgrounds from across the games and software development industries. - Work-Life Balance: We really believe that home life comes first and we promote a flexible working environment. And as an added bonus: We don’t crunch! - Family Friendly: We understand the importance of family, which is why we offer 6 weeks full of Maternity, Paternity, and Adoption Leave to support you during this exciting time! - Office Perks: In addition to everything above, we also provide: - Weekly Team Lunches - Snacks, Including the Good (Yorkshire) Tea - Fully Equipped Team Lounge, Including our Favourite Consoles and Games - And, most importantly, a supportive and creative working environment made up of talented and friendly people, as well as the opportunity to work on some pretty cool games and projects – if we do say so ourselves! A FRIENDLY NOTE FROM THE RECRUITMENT TEAM: Let us do the work for you: Even if your profile isn’t an exact match for all of the qualifications listed above, we still want you to apply. Our team members come from a variety of different industries, not all of which are immediately relevant to game or software development, and we welcome all candidates of similarly varied backgrounds, communities, and identities. Rocket Science is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a worry-free workplace void of discrimination or harassment. Rocket Scientists are expected to foster and champion an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve. Rocket Science does not accept unsolicited résumés from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms.