Software Engineer, UI | WoW Classic | Irvine, CA

About the role

The World of Warcraft Classic team is looking for a Software Engineer with a strong gameplay foundation and a passion for building high-quality player-facing UI. In this role, you will contribute to gameplay and UI systems that support an authentic Classic experience while meeting modern expectations for polish, performance, and reliability.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement gameplay and player-facing UI features that support World of Warcraft Classic systems and content.
• Collaborate with designers and artists to translate gameplay and UI/UX concepts into functional, polished, and performant in-game experiences.
• Implement UI solutions within existing gameplay and engine frameworks, including data-driven UI elements, layout improvements, and targeted optimizations.
• Own features end-to-end, including implementation, iteration, bug fixing, polishing, and ongoing maintenance.
• Work with gameplay, server, and UI engineers to ensure features integrate cleanly across systems.
• Partner with QA, design, and production to identify issues, assess risk, and help resolve problems before they reach players.
• Apply sound engineering judgment when balancing gameplay fidelity, UI clarity, performance, and development timelines.
• Support team collaboration through code reviews, technical discussions, and knowledge sharing.
• Stay current with relevant gameplay, UI, and game development practices, and contribute ideas that improve workflows, tools, or player experience over time.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in a software engineering role or equivalent.
• Strong proficiency in C++, Lua, or similar native and scripting languages.
• Experience working on gameplay systems, player-facing features, or real-time applications.
• Comfort collaborating across disciplines, including design, art, and QA.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Self-motivation and willingness to contribute across multiple areas of game development.

Extra Points

• Experience building or supporting UI systems for games.
• Familiarity with performance or memory optimization in real-time applications.
• Experience working with client-server interactions or data-driven systems.
• Understanding of World of Warcraft (Classic or modern), MMOs, or live service games.
• Experience solving ambiguous, technically challenging problems through collaboration.
• Familiarity with database technologies such as MySQL or Oracle.
• A growth-oriented mindset and curiosity for learning new systems and techniques.
• A passion for improving gameplay quality, player experience, and team collaboration.

Pay

The standard base pay range for this role is $38.08 - $70.44 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location.

Schedule

This role offers a flexible hybrid work week, with a mix of remote and on-site days. While hybrid is the standard arrangement, you're also welcome to work on-site full-time if you prefer. Our primary studio location is in Irvine, CA.