TECHNICAL UI DESIGNER - 12 Month Contract

Keywords Studios Plc; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working – UK sites (Daresbury/​

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Flexible working hours

No-crunch policy

Free parking

Team events and socials

Job summary

d3t, a studio within Keywords Studios, is expanding and seeks a Technical UI Designer to redefine UI/UX across platforms. The role is a 12-month fixed-term contract based in UK sites (Daresbury or Newcastle), with a hybrid pattern: three studio days weekly (Wed, Thu, and another day).

You will work with engineers, UX designers, and UI artists to implement 2D/3D layouts, menus, animations, and HUDs, using Python, JavaScript, C++, or visual scripting.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional game development experience focusing on UI.
• Implemented UI screens and data flows with collaboration across disciplines.
• Practical experience prototyping concepts end-to-end with ownership.
• Polished UI features to AAA quality and maintained them through production.
• Familiarity with Unity UI, Unreal UI, ImGui, WPF, or Qt is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Structure, plan, estimate, and implement UI features aligning with game goals.
• Collaborate with engineers, scripters, UX designers, and artists to deliver UI systems.
• Use Python/JavaScript/C++ or visual scripting to implement UI logic.
• Ensure UI scales across platforms and resolutions with stable performance.
• Develop tools and workflows to support other UI artists.

Skills

UI design

Game engines

Python/JavaScript/C++

2D/3D UI layouts

Collaboration

Accessibility

Tools

Unity

Unreal Engine

ImGui

WPF/Qt

Job description

d3t is at the forefront of videogame technology and creativity, delivering experienced co-development services to some of the biggest AAA clients in the world. Our studio, part of the global Keywords Studios Group, works on multiple exciting projects at any one time, offering plenty of variety and involvement.

Our studio projects have included EA SPORTS FC™ 26, Hogwarts Legacy, Exoborne, Mafia: The Old Country, Alan Wake Remastered, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Vampire The Masquerade - Blood Hunt, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Assetto Corsa Competizione. We also work in partnership with our global clients including: Playground Games, EA and Archetype Entertainment.

The d3t studios are based near Daresbury (Cheshire), Newcastle (Tyne & Wear) and Madrid (Spain) where we offer an amazingly professional and supportive working environment. We are passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our anti-crunch mentality, mentoring ethos and have been awarded ‘Best Places to Work’ multiple times by gamesindustry.biz. In addition, we won ‘Best Creative Service Provider’ at Develop 2022 and were nominated in 2023 & 2024.

d3t’s art team blends technical excellence with a passion for the craft of game development. Our expertise spans the full development cycle—from co-development on features and content to benchmark creation and work on remakes / remasters. We deliver world-class content across Environment, Character, VFX, UI/UX and Animation. We don’t just create art; we build the tools and pipelines that power it.

We are expanding our studio and looking for a Technical UI Designer to help us redefine what’s possible and build optimal, best in class UI/UX experiences across platforms in this Technical Art focused UI Role.

This Technical UI Designer opportunity will be a 12 month fixed-term contract (with possible extension) based in either of our UK studio sites (Daresbury or Newcastle), ideally on a hybrid working basis. Working pattern - 3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice.

The Role - Technical UI Designer:

• Work with the team to structure, plan, estimate, and implement features that align with the game’s goals, accessibility, and technical standards.
• Work with engineers, scripters, UX designers, and UI artists to implement UI features such as 2D and 3D layouts, menu logical flows, animations, AR, HUDs, and more.
• Use text-based languages such as Python, JavaScript, or C++ or visual scripting languages (such as Unreal Blueprints or Unity visual scripting) to implement UI logic.
• Improve implementation based on feedback, design requirements, art, and creative direction.
• Ensuring interfaces scale correctly across different platforms screen resolutions and perform without frame drops.
• Tool Authoring: Senior Tech UI artists don’t just build UI; they build tools and workflows for the other UI artists to use.
• Shader and Material Knowledge: Tech UI artists frequently write UI shaders (e.g., for cool health bar glows, holographic HUDs, or screen transitions).
• Report to technical directors and project managers.
• Have a good eye for detail and typography.
• Have a collaborative and inclusive attitude.
• Have a problem solving mentality to debug systems.

Essential Skills + Experience:

• 3+ years of professional game development experience working with game engines.
• Implemented UI screens, widgets, logic, and data flows in collaboration with other game disciplines.
• Experience in rapid prototyping to test the feasibility of concepts, taking an idea from start to finish with full ownership.
• Experience polishing features to AAA quality and maintaining them throughout the production cycle, promoting best practices.
• Experience with other UI systems such as Unity UI, Unreal UI, ImGui, WPF, or Qt would be a bonus.

Desirable Skills + Experience:

• Other engine experience such as Frostbite and Unity

We work flexibly, but value in-person collaboration: this position is offered ideally on a hybrid basis at either of our UK sites. Remote working within the UK only will be considered (3 days per week in the studio: Wednesday, Thursday and another day of your choice). We value work/life balance and have a discretionary flexible hours system and operate a no-crunch policy as a studio.

d3t Studio Benefits & Perks:

• 22 days holiday +3 Festive Studio Closure + Bank Holidays
• Company Pension Scheme
• Flexible Working Hours
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme - BUPA
• Anti-crunch ethos - a professional, fun and supportive working environment!
• Free Parking
• Company Socials, Monthly Lunches + Annual d3t Events
• Breakout Areas - filled with perks such as games, BBQ area, complimentary snacks to suit all dietary preferences etc.

First interviews will be help by video call, followed by second interviews on-site (if relevant).

At d3t we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace and culture.