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Entry Level Game Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SpiderWare

Video Game QA Tester

... engineers, designers, whoever it takes, until it's actually solved. You'll be the person who ... This is an entry-level role, so we don't specify a degree, your age, or your background. We care ...

Permobil

Entry Level CNC Programmer

New Berlin, WI · On-site

$26 - $35.50/hr

Entry Level CNC Programmer Would you like to work in an international environment where you'll make ... At Permobil, we're looking for game-changers to join us as we innovate for individuals and develop ...

Nintendo

Software Engineer I, Game Development (NST)

Redmond, WA · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Nintendo Software Technology is a tight-knit game development studio located in Redmond, WA. As ... Ability to solve engineering problems by applying entry level specialty. Ability to read and debug ...

New

Nintendo

Software Engineer I, Game Development (NST)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$94K - $141K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Nintendo Software Technology is a tight-knit game development studio located in Redmond, WA. As ... Ability to solve engineering problems by applying entry level specialty. Ability to read and debug ...

New

Evs

Electrical Engineer - Substation, Entry Level

Eden Prairie, MN · Hybrid

$75K - $85K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Rooted in Respect, Integrity, and Humility, we're on a mission to make every project a game-changer ... ELECTRICAL ENGINEER - SUBSTATION (ENTRY LEVEL) Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Hybrid Schedule ...

Evs

Structural Engineer - Entry Level

Eden Prairie, MN · Hybrid

$72K - $75K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Rooted in Respect, Integrity, and Humility, we're on a mission to make every project a game-changer ... STRUCTURAL ENGINEER - ENTRY LEVEL Location: Minnetonka, MN | Hybrid Schedule: Full-Time Salary ...

New

Evs

Substation Structural Engineer - Entry Level

Eden Prairie, MN · Hybrid

$72K - $75K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Rooted in Respect, Integrity, and Humility, we're on a mission to make every project a game-changer ... STRUCTURAL ENGINEER - ENTRY LEVEL Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Hybrid Schedule: Full-Time Salary ...

Shop LC

Broadcast Engineer I (Entry Level)

Austin, TX · On-site

$45K - $55K/yr

Broadcast Engineer I (Entry Level) Work Location: Austin, TX Position Summary The Broadcast ... Demonstrated curiosity and passion for technology through school projects, home labs, gaming PCs ...

SAIC

ATC Training Scenario Developer

Orlando, FL · On-site

ORA_ON_SITE Description The ATC Training Scenario Developer is an entry-level technical role ideal for a college student or recent graduate with a background in game development, computer science, or ...

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Entry Level Game Programmer information

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How much do entry level game programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level game programmer in the United States is $92,636.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24,000.00 and $145,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Game Programmer vs Junior Game Developer?

AspectEntry Level Game ProgrammerJunior Game Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Programming skillsBachelor's in Computer Science or related, basic programming knowledge
Work EnvironmentGame studios, software companiesGame studios, tech firms
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in gaming industry for entry rolesUsed interchangeably in gaming and software development
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level programming roles in gamingExploring junior development positions in game development

Entry Level Game Programmers and Junior Game Developers often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. However, the term 'Entry Level Game Programmer' typically emphasizes programming skills specifically for game development, while 'Junior Game Developer' may include broader responsibilities like design and testing. Both roles serve as starting points in the gaming industry, with overlapping skills but slightly different focus areas.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level game programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Game Programmer, you need a solid grasp of programming languages such as C++ or C#, basic game development principles, and often a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine and version control systems such as Git is commonly expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with designers and artists. These combined skills enable you to contribute efficiently to game development projects, troubleshoot issues, and work productively within multidisciplinary teams.

What are some common challenges entry level game programmers face when starting out, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level game programmers often encounter challenges such as adapting to large codebases, understanding existing game engines, and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams. It can be overwhelming to navigate legacy code or pick up new tools quickly. To overcome these hurdles, it's helpful to ask questions, seek mentorship from senior developers, and actively participate in code reviews. Building strong communication skills and regularly studying project documentation also play a key role in ensuring a smooth transition into professional game development.

What does an entry level game programmer do?

An entry-level game programmer works to develop application code for video games. Your duties in this career include coding different complex sequences and algorithms that can adapt to video game design. You can choose to work in a specialty of video game programming, such as graphics, network creation, artificial intelligence, or building the user interface. You take the design team’s ideas and assist them in bringing the content to life in a way that a computer understands. Other responsibilities may include trying out a prototype, testing the software for bugs and code errors once the team completes it, communicating with the designers, artists, and writers, and helping to integrate functions into the game.

More about Entry Level Game Programmer jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Game Programmer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Programmer jobs? The most popular types of Game Programmer jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Game Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Game Programmer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs are:
Entry Level Game Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Game Programmer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,636 per year, or $44.5 per hour.

Video Game QA Tester

SpiderWare

Remote

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

Soulbound (https://soulbound.game/) is a top-down pixel-art MMO launching on Steam. Over 1 million players played the browser version; we've rebuilt the entire game for PC - new engine, new progression, new narrative framework. We're a remote team of ~20, we hire from anywhere in the world, and we care about one thing above all: passion.
Forget everything you think QA is. This is not a role where you log bugs and toss them over a wall. At Spiderware, QA means finding, understanding, and solving. When something breaks, you're the detective: you work out exactly how it broke, chase down why, and then help drive the fix by pulling in engineers, designers, whoever it takes, until it's actually solved. You'll be the person who protects what a million players see, on a game that ships changes in real time. It's the most hands-on QA role you will find anywhere. This is an entry-level role, so we don't specify a degree, your age, or your background. We care about three things:
1. You solve problems, not just spot them. When a quest snags or a number looks wrong, you can't let it go, and you can't stop at "it's broken." You want to know why. You form a theory, test it, narrow it down, and hand the team a solved case.
2. You're a gamer. You play RPGs, MMORPGs and indie games, and you understand how they're meant to feel. You know the difference between "annoying" and "broken," and you can say why. If you don't play games in this genre, this isn't the role for you.
3. You learn fast and take feedback. You write clearly, follow a repro step-by-step, and turn "it's weird" into something an engineer can act on in minutes. When someone shows you a better way, you use it the same day.
What You'll Actually Do
  • Playtest new quests, systems and builds before players ever see them
  • Break the game on purpose then investigate why it broke, isolate the cause, and propose the fix
  • Work directly with engineers and designers to get problems actually solved, not just filed
  • Verify fixes and run regression passes on a live, fast-moving game
  • Stress-test around the big moments like launches, events, updates
  • Feed patterns back to the whole team: you're the player's early-warning system
  • Feedback what feels fun, and what doesn't, working with designers to improve the experience.
  • Have a space to propose your ideas and improvement designs to the design team.

What This Is (And What It Isn't)
This is your foot in the door in the games industry with real QA experience on a shipping MMO with a proven player base, direct access to the people building it, and a genuine path to ongoing roles.
Where This Leads
Almost everyone who joins Spiderware at junior level starts in QA or Support, by design. It's the fastest way to learn the game inside out: you play it, you test it, you see exactly where players get stuck. It's also how you learn the studio, how we operate, who does what, how it all fits together. From there the path is wide open: QA and Support people here have become quest designers, narrative writers, game designers, and heads of department, some within six months. If you're passionate and dedicated, the opportunity is enormous.
Requirements
  • A genuine passion for gaming especially RPGs, MMORPGs, indie and top-down/pixel-art games
  • Sharp attention to detail
  • Clear written communication, you can describe a problem so someone else can reproduce it
  • You must be self-motivated and proactive, working remote, you don't wait to be told what to test, you think ahead and work without being directed.
  • Thick skin, you can take direct, sometimes brutal feedback and use it to improve.
  • Available to commit meaningful hours, night shifts or weekends. this isn't a "check in once a week" role.
  • English speaking at native level, reading and writing.
  • A steam profile with a strong playtime record.

Nice to Have
  • Experience filing bugs (any tracker)
  • Modding or running game servers
  • A basic feel for how games are built
  • Familiarity with test cases or checklists

Benefits
  • You'll learn faster here than at any studio you could join, because we ship to a live game in real time and you see the results the same day
  • Real QA experience on a live game with 1M+ players
  • Direct access to the studio founder, design and engineering, with no layers between you and the people who fix things
  • Learn professional QA end to end: repro, triage, root-cause investigation, regression, release testing
  • Flexible hours that fit around your studies or other commitments
  • Work remotely from anywhere in the world
  • Genuine path to ongoing roles for standout performers
  • Small, fast-moving indie studio where your work protects what millions of players see

Apply