This is a hybrid position based in our studio in Santa Monica, CA.
For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Parts I and II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we’re busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and we’d love to find talented individuals to join us.
Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contributes to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.
At Naughty Dog, we regard user interface (UI) technical design as a cornerstone of our ability to deliver immersive and captivating gaming experiences. Joining our team means stepping into a pivotal role where you will contribute to the seamless integration of design and technology that our games are celebrated for. We seek a skilled UI Technical Designer who is passionate about innovating and refining the technical aspects of game interfaces to enhance player interaction and engagement
What will you do:
- Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary teams, including art, design, programming, and sound, to realize and implement sophisticated UI elements, ensuring they align with Naughty Dog’s high standards of narrative and visual storytelling
- Design, maintain, and debug UI global systems to ensure consistency and functionality across our game environments
- Integrate assets, execute functionality, and conduct thorough testing of UI components to uphold the quality and polish Naughty Dog games are known for
- Engage in technical problem-solving to optimize UI performance, improving the overall user experience
- Contribute to establishing and optimizing our UI tools pipeline, enhancing development efficiency and creativity
- Work hand-in-hand with the QA team to develop robust UI test cases, ensuring a detailed user interface that complements the player's journey
- Collaborate with UI teammates, artists, and game designers to design systems that resolve complex user-experience challenges, pushing the boundaries of interactive entertainment
What skills will you use:
- A minimum of one year of experience in the gaming industry, focusing on UI or a related field
- Strong coding abilities supported by a degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or commensurate professional experience
- Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Lua, C#, or similar
- Proven expertise with game heads-up display (HUD), navigation interfaces, inventory systems, and other player progression systems
- Ability to work independently, manage workloads effectively, and meet project deadlines
- Exceptional communication and teamwork skills, crucial for integrating into Naughty Dog's creative team environment
Bonus Skills:
- Experience with developing interfaces for gaming controllers
- Competence in implementing UI animations to enrich user interactions
- Familiarity with Photoshop and Illustrator for UI design tasks
- Experience with C++
As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview
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What We Do
Naughty Dog is the developer of some of the most critically acclaimed and top-selling video games on PlayStation platforms, having created the classic Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series, as well as modern franchises Uncharted and The Last of Us. The studio is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment based out of Santa Monica, CA and is currently developing The Last of Us Part II.
Naughty Dog is also home to Sony World Wide Studios’ ICE Team, a central technology group that focuses on creating core graphics technologies for Sony’s worldwide first-party published titles, including low-level game engine components, graphics processing pipelines, supporting tools, and graphics profiling and debugging tools.
We are always looking for top tier talent to add to our development team. Visit https://www.naughtydog.com/careers for career opportunities. We offer successful applicants a highly competitive salary and compensation package including a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time hires.
