At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UI engineering for Football Manager, combining hands-on development with mentoring.
- Company: Join Sports Interactive, the creators of Football Manager, in a dynamic tech hub.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, gym memberships, and free access to SEGA games.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make an impact on a beloved game while growing your technical leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in Unity UI development and strong mentoring abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Studio Overview
We are Sports Interactive, the studio behind Football Manager. Founded in 1994, Sports Interactive became a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA Europe in 2006. Based at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London, the SI team continues to expand as we bring our titles to an ever‑growing audience across an increasing variety of platforms.
Working Model: Hybrid 2‑3 days per week in Studio | Remote by exception
Location: Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E15 2GW
Position Overview
We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer (UI) to provide technical leadership for the UI engineering discipline on Football Manager. This role is responsible for the technical direction, quality, and delivery of UI systems, tooling, and workflows, working closely with production, design, QA, gameplay, and core technology teams. This is a working lead role: you will combine hands‑on engineering with mentoring, technical decision‑making, and day‑to‑day leadership of UI engineers.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership for UI engineering, ensuring high‑quality, maintainable, and performant UI systems across all supported platforms.
- Own and evolve UI‑related systems, tools, and workflows within Unity, improving iteration speed, reliability, and developer experience.
- Collaborate closely with UI design, production, gameplay, core tech, and QA to deliver cohesive, end‑to‑end user experiences.
- Lead by example through hands‑on development, code reviews, and adherence to engineering best practices.
- Mentor and support UI engineers at varying levels, helping to grow technical capability and promote good engineering habits.
- Contribute to planning and prioritisation with production, ensuring UI technical work is well understood, scoped, and delivered on time.
- Identify technical risks and opportunities within the UI domain and proactively propose solutions.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, and knowledge‑sharing within the UI engineering team.
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
- Significant professional experience developing complex UI systems in Unity using C#.
- Strong understanding of UI architecture, data binding, performance considerations, and cross‑platform delivery.
- Proven experience providing technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to other engineers.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
- Experience shipping and supporting large, long‑lived codebases.
- Experience developing or maintaining internal UI tooling.
- Familiarity with accessibility considerations and usability best practices.
- Experience working on live or frequently updated products.
Benefits of Working at Sports Interactive
- Private Healthcare and Dental Plans.
- A range of Gym Membership options through our Benefits partners.
- Travel Insurance for yourself and your family.
- Subsidised mental health, therapy, and coaching sessions are available.
- Access to our on‑site physical and massage therapist services.
- Free access to games released under the SEGA Europe umbrella.
- Contributory Pension Scheme (up to 7% of annual salary).
- Regular events in collaboration with our partnered football clubs.
- Free onsite evening bar in our London HQ.
- A well‑stocked breakfast bar with cereals, fruits, teas, and coffees.
- Multiple clubs and societies to join e.g., book club and art workshops.
- Your club’s shirt personalised upon passing probation.
- Trophies & gift cards for length of service milestones.
- Cupcakes delivered on your birthday.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from any relevant candidate irrespective of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. SI is proudly a Disability Confident Committed employer, and we are dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. Our studio has disabled access and facilities but please ensure you advise us if you require any other reasonable adjustments to be made to support you during the recruitment process.
Hybrid Lead UI Engineer (Unity) — Hands-on & Mentoring employer: Sports Interactive
At Sports Interactive, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration in the heart of East London. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while providing ample opportunities for professional growth through mentoring and hands-on leadership in UI engineering. With comprehensive benefits including private healthcare, gym memberships, and regular team events, we ensure our employees feel valued and supported as they contribute to the success of Football Manager.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Hybrid Lead UI Engineer (Unity) — Hands-on & Mentoring
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Sports Interactive on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects that highlight your UI engineering prowess in Unity, make sure to share it during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the technical interview! Brush up on your C# and UI architecture knowledge. Be ready to discuss your past projects and how you’ve tackled challenges in UI development. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team at Sports Interactive.
We think you need these skills to ace Hybrid Lead UI Engineer (Unity) — Hands-on & Mentoring
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Skills:When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience with UI systems in Unity. We want to see how you've tackled complex projects and what tools you've used to deliver high-quality results.
Be Yourself:Let your personality shine through in your application! We’re looking for someone who can lead and mentor, so don’t be afraid to share your approach to teamwork and collaboration. Show us how you communicate and connect with others.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to the role. Reference specific responsibilities from the job description, like your experience with technical leadership and mentoring. This shows us that you understand what we’re looking for!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it makes it easier for us to keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sports Interactive
✨Know Your Unity Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Unity skills, especially around UI systems. Be ready to discuss your experience with C# and how you've tackled performance issues in past projects. They’ll want to see that you can not only code but also understand the architecture behind it.
✨Show Off Your Mentoring Skills
Since this role involves mentoring other engineers, think of examples where you've successfully guided a team or individual. Prepare to share how you’ve helped others grow their technical skills and fostered good engineering habits.
✨Collaboration is Key
This position requires close collaboration with various teams. Be prepared to talk about how you've worked with designers, QA, and production in the past. Highlight any specific projects where teamwork led to a successful outcome.
✨Prepare for Technical Challenges
Expect some technical questions or challenges during the interview. Brush up on common UI-related problems and be ready to propose solutions. This will show your proactive approach to identifying risks and opportunities in UI development.
