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Associate Game Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

LA28

Associate, Containment

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$16.75 - $20.75/hr

The 2028 Games mark the return of the Summer Games to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years and ... Follow technical engineering design guides and principles and adapt IOC requirements to local ...

LA28

Manager, Cloud Engineering Lead

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$60 - $80.25/hr

The 2028 Games mark the return of the Summer Games to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years and ... GCP (Professional Cloud Architect or Associate Cloud Engineer), AWS (Solutions Architect ...

Corsair

Retail Sales Associate

Santa Clara, CA

$20 - $25/hr

Retail Sales Associate at Corsair As a Retail Sales Associate at Corsair's Valley Fair Mall store ... CRSR) is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gaming and streaming gear.

CORSAIR

Retail Sales Associate

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

Retail Sales Associate at Corsair As a Retail Sales Associate at Corsair's Valley Fair Mall store ... CRSR) is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gaming and streaming gear.

CORSAIR

Retail Sales Associate

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

Retail Sales Associate at Corsair As a Retail Sales Associate at Corsair's Valley Fair Mall store ... CRSR), founded in 1994, is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gaming ...

Corsair

Retail Sales Associate

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

Retail Sales Associate at Corsair As a Retail Sales Associate at Corsair's Valley Fair Mall store ... CRSR), founded in 1994, is a leading global developer and manufacturer of high-performance gaming ...

2K

Motion Capture Producer

Petaluma, CA · On-site

$85K - $126K/yr

Who We Are At 2K, we create some of the most iconic and culture-shaping video games in ... They will work with the Developers to set mocap timelines for rehearsal, shoots and deliverables.

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Associate Game Developer information

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How much do associate game developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for associate game developer in California is $18.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.03 and $18.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Game Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Game Developer, you need a solid understanding of programming fundamentals (such as C++ or C#), basic knowledge of game design principles, and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with industry-standard game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as version control systems such as Git, is typically required. Problem-solving, creativity, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills that help you adapt to evolving project requirements. These skills ensure you can contribute efficiently to game development projects and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

What does an Associate Game Developer do?

An Associate Game Developer is an entry-level role in the video game industry, responsible for assisting with the design, development, and testing of video games. Their tasks often include coding game features, fixing bugs, collaborating with artists and designers, and learning industry-standard tools and programming languages. They work under the supervision of senior developers and gain hands-on experience in game development processes. This role serves as a stepping stone to more advanced positions in game development.

What are some common challenges faced by Associate Game Developers when working on large-scale projects?

Associate Game Developers often encounter challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing project requirements and learning to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, including artists, designers, and senior engineers. Balancing multiple tasks, debugging code, and understanding legacy systems can be demanding, especially when deadlines are tight. It's important to communicate openly with team members and seek feedback to ensure that your work aligns with project goals and technical standards.
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Associate Game Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Associate Game Developer job openings:
Associate Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Game Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,147 per year, or $18.8 per hour.
Associate Art Director - Unpublished R&D Product

Associate Art Director - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

TheAssociate Art Director at Riot oversees the quality and management of a team with a focus on Mission, Direction, and Cohesion. In this role, you will guide the art direction for an unannounced project within one of Riot's core IPs. Your scope spans game art presentation, UI, motion graphics, and VFX, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience. You will be responsible for team health, performance, and growth, while driving alignment across engineering, design, narrative, and technical art. You will report to the Art Director.
As an Associate Art Director on an unpublished R&D product, you will lead the game's development from prototype through production. You will define how players experience illustrations as interactive elements through motion, VFX, and UI. You will manage a multidisciplinary team of artists and establish scalable pipelines for integrating and optimizing illustrations for digital platforms. You'll partner closely with other development disciplines to deliver a polished, performant, and immersive product. As part of the creative team, you will help shape product strategy, remove obstacles, and ensure the art supports both gameplay clarity and long-term player engagement.
Responsibilities:
  • Set and uphold the art direction across game art presentation, UI, motion graphics and VFX
  • Define art goals, production strategies, and timelines
  • Build, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of artists
  • Lead hiring efforts for the art team including defining roles, reviewing candidates, conducting interviews and making hiring decisions.
  • Partner with design to ensure strong gameplay clarity and readability
  • Collaborate with engineering and tech art to build scalable, performant game art
  • Work with narrative to ensure cohesive and compelling visual storytelling
  • Ensure high-quality integration and optimization of game art across required platforms
  • Provide clear direction, feedback, and foster a strong team culture
  • Establish efficient pipelines for high-volume asset integration and implementation
  • Manage external partners for game art, animation and VFX work
Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of industry experience creating high quality game art in UI, motion graphics, or VFX
  • Experience managing artists and leads across multiple disciplines like UI, motion graphics, VFX, and illustration
  • Experience shipping games across various platforms (i.e. mobile, PC, console, etc.), with strong visual direction and execution
  • Proven collaboration with engineering, design, narrative, and tech art
  • Strong understanding of visual hierarchy, readability, and player-focused design
  • Experience working with and adapting existing art assets for real-time applications
  • Experience building scalable production workflows
Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience working on live-service titles
  • Background in Visual Design or UI design
  • At least 3 years experience working within various game engines like Unreal, Unity, etc.
  • Strong foundation in art fundamentals and visual storytelling
  • Understanding of how VFX, animation, and UI support gameplay feedback
  • Familiarity with Riot Games' various IPs
  • Knowledge of current trends in cross-platform games
  • Portfolio demonstrating strength in UI, motion systems, and interactive presentation

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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