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Backend Game Developer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior Backend Programmer

Rockville, MD ยท On-site

$122K - $159K/yr

Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by ... You have familiarity with Cloud Architecture in AWS and Azure, Containerization systems, and DevOps ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLESSoftware Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLESSoftware Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLESSoftware Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLESSoftware Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

SIMILAR CAREER TITLES Software Developer, Application Developer, Full Stack Developer, Backend ... Automation Engineer, Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer ...

Junior Data Integration Developer

Mclean, VA ยท On-site

$67K - $87K/yr

Support scalable backend services using AWS cloud technologies. * Perform data transformation ... BLN24 benefits are game changing. We like our team to play hard and that means they need to be ...

Junior Data Integration Developer

Mclean, VA ยท On-site

$67K - $87K/yr

Support scalable backend services using AWS cloud technologies. * Perform data transformation ... BLN24 benefits are game changing. We like our team to play hard and that means they need to be ...

Design and implement backend services and APIs * Contribute to system architecture and design ... Amazon Prime, gym reimbursement, monthly lunches, games and prizes * Pet adoption program, generous ...

Java Developer

Hanover, MD ยท On-site

$170K - $191K/yr

Design and implement backend services and APIs * Contribute to system architecture and design ... Amazon Prime, gym reimbursement, monthly lunches, games and prizes * Pet adoption program, generous ...

Design and implement backend services and APIs * Contribute to system architecture and design ... Amazon Prime, gym reimbursement, monthly lunches, games and prizes * Pet adoption program, generous ...

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Showing results 1-20

Backend Game Developer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Backend Game Developer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Backend Game Developer, you need strong programming skills in languages such as C#, Java, or Python, a deep understanding of server architecture, and proficiency in database management. Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure), RESTful APIs, and real-time networking frameworks is often expected, while experience with tools like Docker or Kubernetes can be advantageous. Excellent problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication are important soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities ensure the efficient development, deployment, and maintenance of scalable and reliable game server systems that power online multiplayer experiences.

What is a typical day like for a Backend Game Developer?

A typical day for a Backend Game Developer involves designing and implementing game server features, troubleshooting server issues, optimizing code for performance, and collaborating with front-end developers, designers, and QA teams to ensure seamless gameplay experiences. You might participate in daily stand-up meetings, review code, address bug reports, and work on scaling server infrastructure for new features or increased player loads. The role often requires balancing new development with ongoing support and maintenance, keeping communication open with cross-functional teams. This varied and dynamic environment allows for both technical growth and creative problem-solving.

What does a Backend Game Developer do?

A Backend Game Developer is responsible for building and maintaining the server-side of a game, ensuring smooth multiplayer functionality, database management, and game logic processing. They work with technologies like databases, cloud services, and networking protocols to handle player interactions, matchmaking, and game state persistence. Their role is essential for scalability, security, and performance, enabling seamless gameplay experiences across various platforms.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Game Developer jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Backend Game Developer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Backend Game Developer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Backend Game Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Backend Game Developer job openings in Washington as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 78% In-person, and 22% Remote job distribution.

Senior Backend Programmer

ZeniMax Media

Rockville, MD โ€ข On-site

$122K - $159K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Overview
Come join Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning development team behind Starfield, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by providing competitive salaries, a generous benefits program, and offices located in some of North America's best cities.
With a goal of creating a culture as fun and diverse as our games and our players, we welcome applicants with unique skillsets, experience levels and backgrounds. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to some of the most significant games in the industry we'd love to hear from you!
We will consider candidates for any of our four Bethesda Game Studios office locations: Rockville, MD; Montreal, Quebec; Austin, TX; Dallas, TX.
Responsibilities
Your Daily Life at Bethesda Game Studios
Bethesda Game Studios is seeking a Senior Backend Programmer who can design, implement, and maintain backend services in the cloud as well as build the game side APIs to talk to them. This role involves analyzing requirements, developing architecture plans, and managing cloud microservice applications to ensure optimal performance and security.
In your role as Senior Backend Programmer, you will...
  • Help architect, build, and maintain cloud-based microservice systems primarily in Golang and C++ to support Bethesda Game Studios games. This will include both services for the games and services to support development of the games.
  • Code review and mentor more junior team members
  • Plan, organize, and control multiple responsibilities to achieve project objectives.
  • Work with teams to bring continuous improvement to processes and tools.
  • Lead and participate in team or customer meetings as necessary.
Qualifications
What Makes You S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
  • You have previous experience building and architecting microservice based distributed applications for deployment to a cloud environment
  • You have a B.S. (or higher) in Computer Science, or equivalent work experience.
  • You have 10+ years experience in object-oriented and asynchronous programming in multiple languages (you're a polyglot), preferably C++, Golang, Python, and C# (Java acceptable substitute for Golang or Python if you have C++)
  • You have 5+ years building microservices in the cloud using HTTP protocols, message brokers, caching, and databases systems to support a microservice based architecture
  • You have 5+ years architecting scalable database solutions to work with microservice architecture (Relational and/or NoSQL)
  • You have been responsible for coding and/or reviewing the code for most of the Skills (What Makes You Extra S.P.E.C.I.A.L.) listed below
  • You have significant experience working in a Linux based environment including basic system administration and performance management
  • You have familiarity with front end frameworks like React or similar
  • You have familiarity with Cloud Architecture in AWS and Azure, Containerization systems, and DevOps principles
  • Previous on call experience where you can identify root causes of issues and fix most issues independently
Preferred Skills
What Makes You Extra S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
Programming
  • Solid Computer Science fundamentals including design patterns, algorithms and algorithmic complexity, memory management, state/object management, compilation, execution, and asynchronous processing and how all these apply to the language you are working with
  • Solid understanding of object-oriented principles including application of composition vs inheritance as well as SOLID principles as it applies to the language you are working with
  • Expertise in async programming principles and networked applications
  • Strong C++ fundamentals
  • Solid Golang or Java
  • Proficiency with Python or C#

Microservice architectures
  • Proficiency in how to build multi-layered microservice architecture at enterprise scale
  • Proficiency in message broker and caching system and how to use them to further scale over a microservice architecture
  • Knowledge of where horizontal scale in cloud architecture fails
  • Knowledge of cost implications of different architectures

Cloud Platform Proficiency
  • Experience with major cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
  • Familiarity with services and technologies available in Azure and AWS you can build upon
  • Ability to develop towards Azure using a multi-cloud framework while managing capacity issues and fallback to AWS
  • Ability to develop towards hybrid data center and cloud platforms
  • Expertise in strengths and weakness of solutions offered by each cloud provider

Database Proficiency
  • Database knowledge of basics for different database types (MySQL and variants and Mongo and variants) to the degree you can optimize and tune from the developer perspective
  • Knowledge of database schema and scaling methodologies to further optimization and scale
  • Proficiency in database query languages

Linux Proficiency
  • Ability to diagnose performance and connectivity Linux and Windows related issues

Security
  • Understanding of application side security best practices for multilayered micro-services environment

DevOps and Automation
  • Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and tools like Jenkins, Git, Perforce, and Team City
  • Expertise in branch management

Open Source and Containerization
  • Experience with open-source frameworks, operating systems, and containerization technologies like Docker, ECS, AKS, and Kubernetes

Testing
  • Expertise in application and API testing methodologies and best practices
  • Expertise in automated testing

Bonus Skills
  • You have an educational background in Mathematics and/or Statistics
  • You have Cloud or Security certifications
  • You have C++ development experience in systems or gameplay
Salary Range
Senior Backend Programmer - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $105,000 - $225,000 per year.
ZeniMax has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role; the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate's primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At ZeniMax certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, such as merit increases and discretionary bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance and are not guaranteed. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with ZeniMax and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays, among others.
This position is in a union and represented by the Communication Workers of America.
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