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Contractual Unreal Engine Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL

HERE Technologies

Sr. Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

We are hiring a Senior Simulation Engineer to own core simulation and geospatial systems that ... with Unreal Engine or related simulation environments The expected base salary range for this ...

HERE Technologies

Sr. Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

We are hiring a Senior Simulation Engineer to own core simulation and geospatial systems that ... with Unreal Engine or related simulation environments The expected base salary range for this ...

HERE Technologies

Sr. Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

We are hiring a Senior Simulation Engineer to own core simulation and geospatial systems that ... with Unreal Engine or related simulation environments The expected base salary range for this ...

Tt

Computational Designer

Chicago, IL

$70K - $85K/yr

Thornton Tomasetti applies engineering and scientific principles to solve the world's challenges ... Unreal Engine); and scripting or automation (Python, C#, or similar) * A portfolio showcasing ...

Erm

Visual Simulations Technician

Chicago, IL

$95K - $121K/yr

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to communicate complex engineering and environmental ... Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity for real-time interactive environments. Key Responsibilities:

ERM

Visual Simulations Technician

Chicago, IL

$95K - $121K/yr

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to communicate complex engineering and environmental ... Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity for real-time interactive environments. Key Responsibilities:

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several ... Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine) * Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a ...

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several ... Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine) * Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Highland Park, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Wheaton, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Naperville, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Oak Lawn, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Buffalo Grove, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

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Contractual Unreal Engine Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$10

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How much do contractual unreal engine developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for contractual unreal engine developer in Chicago, IL is $61.69, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56.20 and $69.33 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contractual Unreal Engine developer?

A Contractual Unreal Engine Developer is a professional hired on a temporary or project-based contract to design, develop, and optimize interactive experiences using Unreal Engine. This role typically involves creating 3D environments, programming gameplay mechanics, and working closely with artists and designers to bring projects to life. Contractual developers may work remotely or on-site, often for game studios, architectural visualization firms, or companies requiring real-time 3D solutions. Their contracts can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on project needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contractual Unreal Engine developer?

To thrive as a Contractual Unreal Engine Developer, you need strong proficiency in C++ programming, 3D mathematics, and experience with Unreal Engine's Blueprint system, typically supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with version control systems like Git, Unreal Engine certification, and knowledge of game development pipelines are commonly required. Excellent problem-solving, time management, and communication skills help navigate remote or freelance team environments and client expectations. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering high-quality, efficient solutions in a competitive and collaborative project-based setting.

What are some common challenges faced by contractual Unreal Engine developers, and how can they be addressed?

Contractual Unreal Engine Developers often face challenges such as quickly adapting to existing codebases, meeting tight project deadlines, and efficiently collaborating with remote teams. To address these, it's important to maintain clear, proactive communication with project managers and team members, and to thoroughly document your work. Utilizing version control tools and familiarizing yourself with the project's technical standards early on can also help ensure smooth integration and successful delivery within the contract period.

What is the difference between Contractual Unreal Engine Developer vs Game Programmer?

AspectContractual Unreal Engine DeveloperGame Programmer
Required CredentialsProficiency in Unreal Engine, C++, and game development toolsProficiency in programming languages like C++, C#, and game engines
Work EnvironmentTypically freelance or project-based, working remotely or on-site for game studiosOften employed full-time at game studios or tech companies
Industry UsageUsed in game development, VR/AR projects, and interactive mediaUsed across gaming, simulation, and interactive applications

The main difference is that a Contractual Unreal Engine Developer specializes specifically in Unreal Engine for project-based work, while a Game Programmer may work with various engines and programming languages across different projects. Both roles require strong programming skills, but the Unreal Engine Developer focuses on Unreal-specific tools and workflows.

What are the most commonly searched types of Unreal Engine Developer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Unreal Engine Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Contractual Unreal Engine Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contractual Unreal Engine Developer job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,322 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Sr. Software Engineer

HERE Technologies

Chicago, IL • On-site

$130K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 9 days ago

Job description

We are hiring a Senior Simulation Engineer to own core simulation and geospatial systems that support advanced AI, perception, and mapping products. This person will work across simulation environments, map-derived scene construction, actor behavior, sensor and condition generation, and the systems needed to make these capabilities reliable at production quality.
 
This is a senior hands-on role for someone who can build robust technical foundations that remain useful across simulation-driven AI programs, not just a single initiative.
 
What You Will Own
- Own critical pieces of the simulation and geospatial systems stack
- Build and maintain simulation pipelines for scene construction, actor behavior, sensor or condition generation, and related tooling
- Define reliable environment and scenario setup for both prototype and production use cases
- Ensure scene structure is technically sound, scalable, and faithful to upstream map or scenario inputs
- Partner with data scientists and platform engineers to make simulation outputs usable for inference, evaluation, and production workflows
 
What You Will Do
- Build tooling for ingesting, validating, and operationalizing map or scenario inputs into simulation systems
- Resolve scene construction, routing, drivability, actor-behavior, and environmental fidelity issues
- Configure scenario generation, actor control, camera behavior, and related simulation outputs for repeatable and scalable operation
- Generate packaged simulation outputs with the metadata needed for reproducibility, evaluation, and production traceability
- Troubleshoot simulation failures such as unstable actors, broken topology, invalid map elements, or poor output fidelity
- Contribute to the roadmap for broader coverage, richer scenarios, and production-quality simulation operations

What We Are Looking For
 
- Strong experience with simulators, robotics simulation, game engines, or scene-generation systems
- Experience working with map formats, routing graphs, geospatial data, or autonomous-system simulation stacks
- Strong Python and systems debugging skills
- Ability to balance realism, stability, scalability, and delivery speed in an evolving product setting
- Comfort operating independently in an ambiguous technical program
 

Education & Experience

- Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, or related field.
- 3-5 years of experience in deep learning, computer vision, or multimodal AI.

 
Nice To Have
- Experience with traffic behavior modeling, sensor configuration, condition-representation generation, scenario generation, or map-grounded simulation
- Familiarity with autonomous-system data pipelines, geospatial tooling, or synthetic-data production flows
- Experience with Unreal Engine or related simulation environments
 
 

The expected base salary range for this position is $130,000 to $140,000 per year. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as skills and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, which is subject to company and individual performance. 

Life at HERE comes with generous benefits to support your health and overall wellness. Benefits available to US-based HERE employees include health (Medical/Dental/Vision) insurance, retirement savings plans, paid time off & leave policies.   

As part of HERE Technologies employment process, candidates will be required to successfully complete a background verification process. Offers of employment and any related claims are subject to the successful completion of a background verification. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, HERE will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

HERE is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.  

Under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and VEVRAA, we have developed an affirmative action program (AAP) for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans. Portions of the AAP are available for review by applicants and employees through our People Team. 

#LI-AG3


HERE Technologies is a location data and technology platform company. We empower our customers to achieve better outcomes – from helping a city manage its infrastructure or a business optimize its assets to guiding drivers to their destination safely.

At HERE we take it upon ourselves to be the change we wish to see. We create solutions that fuel innovation, provide opportunity and foster inclusion to improve people’s lives. If you are inspired by an open world and driven to create positive change, join us. Learn more about us on our YouTube Channel.

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