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Concept Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Vuly Play

CGI Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

... concept, the one Engineering checks before committing to tooling, and the one a customer sees on ... You'll take support the early-stage concepts and engineering CAD data and turn them into imagery so ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

King's Hawaiian

Product Developer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$110 - $130/hr

Collaborate with Concept Developer Chefs, Marketing, Innovation Insights, R&D Process Engineers, Operations, Procurement, and Packaging Engineers in the Innovation product development process.

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll: sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

King's Hawaiian

Product Developer

Torrance, CA · On-site

Collaborate with Concept Developer Chefs, Marketing, Innovation Insights, R&D Process Engineers, Operations, Procurement, and Packaging Engineers in the Innovation product development process.

Ifg

Product Developer

Torrance, CA · On-site

Collaborate with Concept Developer Chefs, Marketing, Innovation Insights, R&D Process Engineers, Operations, Procurement, and Packaging Engineers in the Innovation product development process.

Apple Inc.

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$184.70 - $324.80/hr

Support concept transfer to Apple's world-class product development and software engineering groups * Manage multiple projects simultaneously, adapting your approach as program needs change Minimum ...

Apple

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

... engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms ...

Apple

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

... engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms ...

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All JobsConcept Developer JobsConcept Developer Jobs in California

Concept Developer information

See California salary details

$29.9K

$75.6K

$143K

How much do concept developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept developer in California is $75,605.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $58,753.00 and $86,661.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a concept developer?

A Concept Developer is a professional who creates, refines, and presents new ideas or concepts for products, services, or projects. They work closely with teams across design, marketing, and business development to turn abstract ideas into clear, actionable plans. Concept Developers conduct research, analyze trends, and ensure that concepts align with company goals and market needs. Their role is vital in the early stages of innovation, helping organizations bring fresh ideas to life.

How does a concept developer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

As a Concept Developer, you will regularly work alongside teams such as marketing, product development, design, and engineering. Collaboration often involves brainstorming sessions, presenting initial concepts, and gathering feedback to refine your ideas. You'll also participate in project meetings to ensure your concepts align with business goals and technical feasibility. Effective communication and adaptability are key, as you'll need to translate creative visions into actionable plans that resonate with various stakeholders.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a concept developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Concept Developer, you need strong creative thinking, market research abilities, and a background in design, marketing, or product development. Familiarity with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, prototyping software, and trend analysis platforms is often required. Excellent communication, collaboration, and presentation skills help differentiate top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for generating innovative ideas, aligning stakeholders, and bringing successful concepts to market.

What is the difference between Concept Developer vs Product Designer?

AspectConcept DeveloperProduct Designer
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in design, marketing, or related fields; strong creative portfolioDesign degree or related certification; proficiency in design tools
Work EnvironmentCreative teams, R&D departments, innovation labsDesign studios, tech companies, product teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in innovation, marketing, and product development sectorsCommon in tech, consumer goods, and digital product industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in concept creation and early-stage developmentFocus on designing and refining user-centered products

While both roles involve creativity and innovation, Concept Developers focus on generating new ideas and concepts for products or services, often in early development stages. Product Designers, on the other hand, concentrate on designing and refining the user experience and visual aspects of a product. Both roles collaborate closely but serve different phases of the product lifecycle.

What are popular job titles related to Concept Developer jobs in California?

For Concept Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Concept Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Concept Developer jobs in California are:

Concept Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Concept Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,605 per year, or $36.3 per hour.

CGI Concept Artist

Vuly Play

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Create photorealistic CGI imagery, animations, and visual effects for new Vuly design projects from concept through to launch.

  • Support product development by visualising early-stage ideas, including materials, textures, lighting, and realistic environments.

  • Work closely with Industrial Designers and Product Engineers to prepare CAD data for CGI workflows, including modeling, lighting, and building materials.

Job description

Turn concepts into images people believe are real

Vuly designs and manufactures outdoor play equipment sold around the world. Long before a product exists in metal, rope and plastic, it exists as a render — the one Industrial Design uses to sell a concept, the one Engineering checks before committing to tooling, and the one a customer sees on their screen before they ever touch the real thing. We're looking for the artists who collaborate with the team to build, update and own that image.

You'll take support the early-stage concepts and engineering CAD data and turn them into imagery so accurate that nobody questions whether it's a photograph. You'll work within a defined CGI pipeline that makes that possible at speed, across multiple concurrent projects, without the quality slipping.

This role will require artists who understand the importance of authentic visualisation and are happy to advocate for the visual representation of products we make both at the early design stage and at the consumer level end stage.


What you'll actually do

  • Travel the Globe. ~3 months+ a year travel to Hong Kong & China (Shenzhen) to collaborate with key R&D divisions working on rapid concepting & prototyping.
  • Make it look real. Create photorealistic CGI imagery, animations and visual effects for new Vuly design projects, from concept through to launch.
  • Visualise before it exists. Support product development by visualising early-stage ideas — materials, textures, lighting and realistic environments.
  • Prep CAD for CGI. Work closely with Industrial Designers and Product Engineers to prep CAD data for CGI workflows, then light and build materials around it.
  • Model what CAD can't sell. Model and sculpt, and support Industrial Designers across both hardsurface and non-traditional surface modelling.
  • Work inside the pipeline. Use the established CGI pipeline, asset management and scene optimisation to keep output consistent and efficient across projects.
  • Follow the playbook, then flag what's next. Implement pre-defined procedures for visual presentation in line with team workflows, and turn engineering/CAD data into visually accurate representations.


What we're looking for

Essential

  • 3+ years' professional experience in CGI, 3D visualisation or a related creative field — product, architectural or industrial CGI preferred
  • Mastery of Blender, Plasticity, diffusion models and Adobe Creative Suite
  • Strong modelling, lighting, shading and rendering skills for photorealistic scenes
  • Expertise in hard surface modelling, sculpting and animation
  • A strong portfolio spanning consumer products and industrial/interior design, including textiles, CMF and cloth
  • Experience turning engineering/CAD data into visually accurate representations
  • Open to regular and consistent travel to key R&D teams in the Asia region


Desirable

  • Background in design (UI, UX or Industrial Design)
  • A passion for interactive game design and a fresh eye for visual presentation


How you'll work

You'll work inside an established CGI pipeline rather than setting it, iterating fast alongside Industrial Design and Engineering. New tools, plug-ins or pipeline changes that affect the wider team need sign-off from the Senior CGI Concept Artist or Design Director, and anything brand-facing or a major shift in visual direction gets escalated rather than shipped solo.


What we offer

  • Hands-on CGI work on products before they exist in the real world
  • A global business with design and manufacturing teams across Australia, Kuala Lumpur and Asia


Apply

Please apply with your CV and portfolio. We're most interested in seeing how you think through a visual problem - the reference you chose, the lighting decision that made it click, the render that changed someone's mind - alongside the finished image.

Apply