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Computer Science Game Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Atomic Machines

PLM/CAD Administrator

Emeryville, CA · On-site

At Atomic Machines, we're completely rethinking how things are built-and we need a PLM/CAD Administrator with a science or engineering background who can make our revolutionary technology easy to ...

Atomic Machines

PLM/CAD Administrator

Santa Clara, CA

$110K - $145K/yr

At Atomic Machines, we're completely rethinking how things are built--and we need a PLM/CAD Administrator with a science or engineering background who can make our revolutionary technology easy to ...

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All JobsComputer Science Game Design JobsComputer Science Game Design Jobs in California

Computer Science Game Design information

See California salary details

$76.5K

$152K

$225.5K

How much do computer science game design jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for computer science game design in California is $152,045.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,800.00 and $173,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is computer science game design?

Computer science game design is a multidisciplinary field that combines principles of computer science, such as programming and algorithms, with game design concepts to create interactive digital games. Professionals in this area work on both the technical and creative aspects of games, including software development, graphics, artificial intelligence, and gameplay mechanics. The field requires strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and a solid understanding of how to engage players through both technology and storytelling.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a computer science game designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Computer Science Game Designer, you need strong programming skills (often in C++, C#, or Python), a solid understanding of algorithms, and a relevant degree in computer science or game development. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, experience with version control systems, and sometimes certifications in game design tools are typical requirements. Creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving stand out as essential soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities ensure you can effectively build engaging, technically sound games and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Is computer science good for game design?

Computer science is highly valuable for game design roles, as it provides essential skills in programming, algorithms, and software development. Knowledge of programming languages like C++ or Python and familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine are often required for game designers with a computer science background.

What jobs can I get with a computer science game design degree?

A computer science game design degree prepares individuals for roles such as game designer, game programmer, or gameplay programmer, involving skills in programming languages like C++ and Unity or Unreal Engine. Graduates can also pursue positions in quality assurance, technical art, or interactive media development, often requiring knowledge of software development processes and creative problem-solving. These roles typically involve working in game studios, tech companies, or independent development environments.

What is the difference between Computer Science Game Design vs Software Developer?

AspectComputer Science Game DesignSoftware Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Game Design, or related fieldsBachelor's in Computer Science or Software Engineering
Work EnvironmentGame studios, entertainment companies, independent projectsTech companies, startups, corporate IT teams
Industry UsageVideo game industry, entertainment sectorSoftware industry, app development, enterprise solutions
Common Search IntentDesigning and developing games with a focus on gameplay and graphicsBuilding software applications and systems

While both roles require a strong foundation in computer science, Computer Science Game Design focuses on creating engaging games with an emphasis on gameplay mechanics and graphics, often within the entertainment industry. Software Developers have a broader scope, working on various software applications across industries. The two careers share similar educational backgrounds but differ in their primary focus and work environments.

What are some common challenges faced by computer science professionals working in game design, and how can they be addressed?

One common challenge in computer science game design is balancing technical constraints with creative vision, especially when optimizing for performance across different platforms. Game designers often need to collaborate closely with artists, writers, and audio engineers, ensuring that all elements integrate seamlessly while maintaining efficient code. Meeting tight deadlines and adapting to evolving project requirements can also be demanding. To address these challenges, strong communication, agile project management skills, and a willingness to iterate on both design and code are essential.
What are popular job titles related to Computer Science Game Design jobs in California? For Computer Science Game Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Computer Science Game Design jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Computer Science Game Design jobs in California are:
Computer Science Game Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Computer Science Game Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $152,045 per year, or $73.1 per hour.

Software Engineer, Sensor Simulation

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 8 hours ago

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,163 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Sensor Simulation team at Anduril is building a platform for generating synthetic imagery for a variety of teams across the company. Use cases span a variety of areas, such as SITL (software in the loop) and HITL (hardware in the loop) integration tests of our systems, machine learning (ML) data generation and user training simulations. Our mission is to close the sim2real gap-building synthetic imagery pipelines so realistic and physically accurate that our autonomy stack can't tell the difference between synthetic and real-world data. This directly accelerates development and validation of Anduril's perception and autonomy capabilities. We're looking for software engineers with strong coding skills and deep, relevant experience who can learn quickly and help build out the platform. Candidates must have hands-on background in robotics, autonomy systems, or game engines-we need versatile generalists who can connect cutting-edge graphics with real-world sensor behavior.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Develop and maintain core capabilities in Unreal Engine such as a terrain rendering pipeline, vehicle physics models, and many more
  • Work with other platform teams at Anduril to ensure our service integrates seamlessly with other core services
  • Integrate various plugins and third party capabilities into our platform, figuring out how to best make use of them and working around or fixing any bugs
  • Collaborate closely with other teams across the company to enable them to integrate synthetic imagery and bring back lessons learned to help improve our product
  • Iterate on sensor fidelity and environmental realism based on feedback from autonomy teams, bridging the gap between synthetic training data and real-world performance
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Must have 4+ years of professional C++ programming experience
  • Must be willing to travel 10% for collaboration across offices
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Strong communication skills are a must.
  • Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Computer Science, Software Engineering, Game Design, Robotics.
  • Proven understanding of data structures, algorithms, concurrency, and code optimization
  • Proficiency with Unreal Engine OR demonstrated experience in robotics/autonomy systems (e.g., sensor simulation, perception pipelines, SITL/HITL testing)
  • Experience troubleshooting and analyzing remotely deployed software systems
  • Experience with various tools for performance analysis and debugging problems (gdb, bpftrace, perf, etc)
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • MS in Computer Science or Software Engineering
  • Rust programming experience
  • Experience in a Linux development environment
  • GPU and graphics programming experience, including languages such as HLSL, Vulkan, or CUDA
  • Familiarity with training machine learning models, especially for computer vision use cases
  • Understanding of sensor physics (cameras, LiDAR, radar, EO/IR) and how to model them accurately in simulation
  • Experience with 3D modeling tools

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

Social media

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