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Entry Level Game Programmer Jobs in Somerset, NJ

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Entry Level Game Programmer information

See Somerset, NJ salary details

$11.6K

$97.9K

$183.3K

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

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level game programmer in Somerset, NJ is $97,874.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $25,400.00 and $153,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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 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.

Is it hard to get a job as an entry level game programmer?

Entry level game programmers typically need a strong foundation in programming languages like C++ or C#, along with knowledge of game engines such as Unity or Unreal. Competition can be high, but building a portfolio with personal projects or internships can improve chances of securing an entry-level position.
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What cities near Somerset, NJ are hiring for Entry Level Game Programmer jobs?

Cities near Somerset, NJ with the most Entry Level Game Programmer job openings:

Entry Level Game Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Game Programmer job openings in Somerset, NJ as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,874 per year, or $47.1 per hour.

Data Engineer II - (Remote)

Fanatics Betting & Gaming

New York, NY • On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

About the Team

We're looking for a Data Engineer II to join our Data Engineering team, which builds and governs the data foundation that powers the business. You'll work within our stack - Python ingestion pipelines, Airflow orchestration, and Snowflake/Databricks - helping move data reliably and securely from source to decision-ready output.

This is an entry-level role. You'll execute well-defined tasks under the direction of senior data engineers, learn our team's stack and conventions, and build a strong foundation in pipeline correctness. You're not expected to own designs independently yet - you're expected to build reliable software against a design, ask good questions, and grow quickly from feedback.

Responsibilities
  • Implement ingestion pipelines and Airflow DAGs from a senior engineer's design, using the team's scaffolding and conventions - including writing the code, unit tests, and documentation
  • Support data security and governance work, such as PII masking and access controls, following established patterns
  • Contribute to data delivery work, including reverse ETL integrations, under guidance from senior engineers
  • Add and extend fields in existing pipelines, incorporating review feedback and applying learned patterns on future work
  • Take oncall pages for pipeline failures, work through runbooks, and escalate with clear context when needed
  • Pair with senior engineers on data integrity issues you can't yet diagnose alone
  • Write clear, reviewer-friendly PR descriptions and ask clarifying questions before starting new work
  • Flag blockers early and with context rather than going quiet when stuck
  • Build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders (BI analysts, other data engineers, data scientists) and help gather and clarify requirements
  • Conduct and participate in code and system inspections
  • Help the team define and adhere to data engineering best practices
  • Mentor more junior data engineers as you grow into the role
Experience and Skills
  • 1-3 years of professional software or data engineering experience
  • A self-learner with a strong ability to gather, evaluate, and analyze requirements
  • Solid foundation in Python and deep understanding of SQL and ETL/ELT for complex data transformations
  • Comfort reading and writing unit tests, and working within an established codebase and conventions
  • Familiarity with (or eagerness to quickly learn) workflow orchestration tools like Airflow (Managed Workflows for Apache Airflow)
  • Basic understanding of data pipeline concepts: ingestion, idempotency, scheduling, and data quality
  • Knowledge of several of the following technologies: Snowflake, Databricks, AWS, dbt, Tableau, MongoDB, PostgreSQL
  • Familiarity with Git-based version control and PR-based code review workflows
  • Strong communication skills - asks clarifying questions, writes clear PR descriptions, and escalates blockers with useful context rather than staying stuck silently
  • A growth mindset: takes review feedback well, improves processes, and champions best practices to avoid technical debt
Preferred But Not Required
  • Exposure to cloud data warehouses/lakehouses (Snowflake, Databricks, AWS) and data catalog/lineage tooling
  • Familiarity with dbt, Tableau, MongoDB, or PostgreSQL
  • Familiarity with reverse ETL tools or patterns (e.g., Segment, LaunchDarkly, Kafka, S3-based delivery)
  • Exposure to PII masking, data security, or RBAC/access governance concepts
  • Exposure to observability/monitoring tooling (e.g., Datadog) for pipeline health and alerting
  • Background in gaming, betting, e-commerce, or another regulated/high-compliance industry
  • Familiarity with responsible handling of customer/PII-sensitive data
Why Join Us
  • Join a team that's literally described as "the foundation" - everything at FBG, FES, and FMX runs on the data we ingest, govern, and deliver
  • Learn from senior and staff data engineers on a well-invested, modern data platform, with a clear growth path from DE2 into independent ownership
  • Work on high-visibility, high-trust systems: regulatory and financial reporting, PII security, and data governance that the business depends on
  • A culture built around clear tenets: standardize before you scale, own the outcome (not just the ticket), and clarity over complexity
  • Collaborative culture with strong engineering practices, code review, and mentorship

Depending on the role, your interview and onboarding experience may include in-person components, such as onsite interviews or Launching into Better: LIVE-a multi-day cultural immersion in New York City for full-time, non-seasonal hires. These sessions are designed to build connection and bring our culture to life, though specific travel and participation requirements will be confirmed based on your role and location. Your recruiter will provide clear guidance at each stage of the process.

For information about our benefits, please visit https://benefitsatfanatics.com/

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