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Contract Game Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OR · On-site

$388K - $558K/yr

Define the API and integration contracts that allow game developers to bring their experiences into ... the Playground hub. * Build backend services for game discovery, user state, achievements, and ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

... Game Developer, Data Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, AI Engineer, Robotics Software Engineer ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

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Contract Game Developer information

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$32.5K

$108.5K

$180K

How much do contract game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract game developer in the United States is $108,471.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $124,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Contract Game Developer job?

A Contract Game Developer is a freelance or temporary professional hired to develop video games for a specific project or duration. They typically work on programming, game mechanics, optimization, or other development tasks. Unlike full-time employees, contract developers work on short-term agreements and may collaborate with multiple studios or clients. This role offers flexibility but may require finding new contracts regularly.

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

To thrive as a Contract Game Developer, you need a solid background in programming languages such as C++, C#, or JavaScript, and experience in game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine. Familiarity with source control systems (e.g., Git), debugging tools, and relevant certifications or portfolios showcasing shipped games are highly valued. Strong time management, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help developers excel, especially when working remotely or with diverse teams. These competencies enable contract game developers to deliver high-quality projects on tight deadlines, adapt to different workflows, and collaborate efficiently with clients and teammates.

What types of projects or tasks can a Contract Game Developer expect to work on?

As a Contract Game Developer, you may be involved in a wide range of tasks depending on the studio's needs, such as designing new game features, fixing bugs, optimizing performance, or creating game prototypes. Projects can vary from short-term assignments like implementing specific mechanics to long-term contributions on larger game releases. You'll likely collaborate closely with artists, designers, and other developers, often joining existing teams to bring specialized expertise or cover resource gaps. This role offers exposure to different genres and technologies, which can greatly broaden your experience and skill set as you work with multiple clients.

More about Contract Game Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Game Developer jobs? Cities with the most Contract Game Developer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs? The most popular types of Game Developer jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Game Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Game Developer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contract Game Developer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 37% Full Time, 37% Part Time, 13% Temporary, and 13% Contract. Highlights an 74% In-person, 13% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,471 per year, or $52.1 per hour.
Software Engineer 5 - Android & Backend

Software Engineer 5 - Android & Backend

Netflix

OR • On-site

$388K - $558K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago


Netflix rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 65 rated media


Job description

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology. Come be a part of what's next.

Who We Are

The Kids Experiences team is part of the Games Player Experience organization at Netflix. We lead the development of Netflix Playground, a curated destination where kids can instantly jump into games and interactive experiences without friction or the concerns that come with open platforms.

We are looking for a Full Stack Engineer (L5) who leads with Android expertise and is equally comfortable building the backend services that power what they ship on device. You will help shape how Netflix Playground evolves, from the native client experiences kids interact with to the application layer that makes those experiences fast, reliable, and safe.

Our work involves large-scale A/B experiments, the WebView and JS bridge layer that enables web-based games to run inside native clients, and direct collaboration with game developers to define SDK and integration points. We partner closely with product management, experience design, game developers, and the broader Games Engineering org.

Who You Are
  • Your primary depth is Android. You build production-quality Kotlin or Java code with a strong point of view on architecture, lifecycle, and performance.

  • You are equally comfortable on the backend. For this role, that means API design, service contracts, application logic, and observability at scale.

  • You understand WebView and JS bridge integration. You know how to build the communication layer between native clients and web-based games, and you care about making that interface clean, well-documented, and developer-friendly.

  • You have genuine curiosity about the game development problem space. The technical challenges of running games inside a native container are interesting to you on their own terms.

  • You are comfortable with greenfield work. Netflix Playground is still being built. You can take an ambiguous problem, identify the highest-leverage decisions, and move forward without everything being specified upfront.

  • You actively use AI-assisted engineering tools in your real work. You have developed strong verification habits, and your workflow has changed meaningfully as the tools have improved.

  • You care about what ships to kids. Performance, safety, and correctness are part of how you define done.

  • You build strong working relationships outside of engineering. Product managers, designers, and game developers are partners you communicate with directly and push back on when you need to.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications
  • Swift UI or iOS development experience.

  • Game development experience with Unity, Phaser, Three.js, or similar engines.

  • Experience integrating 2D or 3D game assets into mobile experiences.

  • Experience building developer-facing SDKs where your API is another engineer's interface.

  • Experience building for a kids' or family product surface.

What You Will Do
  • Design and build Netflix Playground features end-to-end: server-side APIs and application logic through Android client implementations, with contributions to iOS parity where relevant.

  • Build and maintain the WebView and JS bridge layer that enables web-based games to run reliably within native clients.

  • Define the API and integration contracts that allow game developers to bring their experiences into the Playground hub.

  • Build backend services for game discovery, user state, achievements, and session management, with a focus on clean API design and solid application logic.

  • Partner with game developers across the Netflix Games ecosystem to understand their integration needs and make the right tradeoffs in SDK design.

  • Architect code for testability and write automated tests to uphold quality on a fast-moving codebase.

  • Use AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate your work and raise the team's quality bar.

Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $388,000.00 - $558,000.00. This compensation range will vary based on location.

Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here.

Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

Job is open for no less than 7 days and will be removed when the position is filled.


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About Netflix

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Gatos, CA, US

Year founded

1997