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Entry Level Indie Game Developer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Senior Graphics Engineer

Bellevue, WA ยท On-site

$158K - $195K/yr

As a Senior Graphics Engineer on the Shader Systems team, you will be an integral part of ... The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console ...

Machine Learning Engineer

Bellevue, WA ยท On-site +1

$117K - $152K/yr

We're looking for a Machine Learning Engineer to join our Offline Infrastructure team. This is an ... The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console ...

Entry Level Indie Game Developer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$37K

$123.4K

$204.8K

How much do entry level indie game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level indie game developer in Seattle, WA is $123,443.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,700.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Indie Game Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Indie Game Developer, you need a solid grasp of programming fundamentals (often in languages like C# or C++), basic game design principles, and a relevant degree or portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine and version control systems like Git is typically expected. Creativity, problem-solving ability, and strong teamwork skills help you contribute to small, collaborative teams and adapt to evolving project requirements. These competencies ensure you can effectively build, iterate, and launch engaging indie games in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level indie game developers, and how can they be overcome?

Entry level indie game developers often face challenges such as limited resources, tight budgets, and wearing multiple hats within small teams. Balancing creative ambitions with practical constraints can be difficult, especially when managing time between programming, art, sound, and marketing tasks. Effective communication and collaboration with team members, utilizing accessible development tools, and participating in online communities can help overcome these hurdles. Learning to scope projects realistically and seeking feedback early in the process are also essential strategies for success.

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

AspectEntry Level Indie Game DeveloperJunior Game Programmer
Required SkillsBasic programming, game design, creativityProgramming languages, debugging, software tools
Work EnvironmentIndependent projects, small teams, startupsGame studios, development teams, collaborative settings
Industry UsageIndie game development, small studiosGame development companies, larger studios

Both roles often require foundational programming skills and a passion for gaming. An Entry Level Indie Game Developer typically works on personal or small team projects, focusing on creativity and design, while a Junior Game Programmer is more involved in coding, debugging, and technical implementation within a professional studio environment. The roles overlap in skills but differ mainly in scope and work setting.

What are entry level indie game developers?

Entry level indie game developers are individuals who are new to game development and work within small, independent teams or as solo creators to produce video games. They typically handle a range of tasks, such as programming, designing, art creation, and testing, often learning on the job and wearing multiple hats. Their focus is usually on creative projects with limited budgets, aiming to break into the gaming industry or build a portfolio. Entry level indie developers may release their games on platforms like Steam, itch.io, or mobile app stores. The role is well-suited for those passionate about games, creativity, and self-driven learning.
What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA? For Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Indie Game Developer job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 65% Full Time, and 35% Part Time. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,443 per year, or $59.3 per hour.

Senior Graphics Engineer

Unitytech

Bellevue, WA โ€ข On-site

$158K - $195K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

The opportunity

The Unity Engine is used by millions of creators around the world to build powerful and engaging real-time experiences. At the heart of this is our flexible and powerful RT3D offering, giving users control from the initial point of content creation down to the final pixels on the target device.

In the graphics department, we focus on bringing pioneering graphics features to all the platforms Unity supports now and in the future! Our mission is to enable Unity developers to write rendering code without foreknowledge of what API it will ultimately be running on.

As a Senior Graphics Engineer on the Shader Systems team, you will be an integral part of collaborating with other graphics teams within Unity to improve workflows for artists and shader authors. This position will see you tackle problems across our shader tech stack, from runtime variant handling to dealing with our cross-platform shader compiler systems and building new ways for developers to define their shader workflows.

What you'll be doing

  • Develop and maintain high-quality and performant shader management system

  • Maintain existing systems, improving performance, testability and stability

  • Work with multi-functional teams to bring new engine features to all platforms

  • Enable Unity shaders to work across platforms, render pipelines, and performance levels

  • Build automated tests for new features and bug fixes

What we are looking for

  • Demonstrated programming skills in C++ and modern shader languages

  • Knowledge of real-time 3D graphics and modern computer APIs.

  • Ability to collaborate with developers, customers, and leadership, both verbally and via documentation

You might also have

  • Understanding of modern engine systems and rendering architectures and experience of working on real-world productions or large multi-platform engines

  • Understanding of modern shader compilers (DXC, Slang) and IL such as DXIL, SPIR-V, and MSL

  • Familiarity with the Unity engine, C# programming, and writing production shaders

  • Familiarity with asset management, import, and build pipelines


This range reflects the anticipated base salary for this position. Beyond base salary, this role may be eligible for equity awards and participation in our company incentive plans (such as annual discretionary bonuses or sales commissions). The final offer amount will depend on several factors, including geographic location and the candidate's relevant experience, professional background, and skill set.


Benefits


At Unity, we want our team members to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support well-being and work-life balance.


Please note: Benefits eligibility, specific offerings, and coverage vary based on the country and employment status.


While specific benefits vary, here are some of the ways we strive to take care of our eligible team members globally: Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance | Commute subsidy | Employee stock ownership | Competitive retirement/pension plans | Generous vacation and personal days | Support for new parents through leave and family-care programs | Office food snacks | Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and support | Employee Resource Groups | Global Employee Assistance Program | Training and development programs | Volunteering and donation matching program


Life at Unity


Unity [NYSE: U] is the world's leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console games, and virtually all of the top XR and Web Games are developed, deployed, and grown in Unity. Unity also enables teams across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare to design, simulate, and collaborate in 3D - closing the gap between ideas and reality. For more information, please visit www.unity.com.


Unity is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment and celebrate our employees across age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our differences are strengths that enable us to support the growing and evolving needs of our customers, partners, and collaborators. If you have a disability that means there are preparations or accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please fill out this form to let us know.


This position requires the incumbent to have a sufficient knowledge of English to have professional verbal and written exchanges in this language since the performance of the duties related to this position requires frequent and regular communication with colleagues and partners located worldwide and whose common language is English.
This posting is intended to fill an existing vacancy, and we are committed to providing applicants with updates throughout the hiring process in accordance with applicable law.


Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. Unity does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Unity will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Unity.
Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to review our
Prospect and Applicant Privacy Policies. Should you have any concerns about your privacy, please contact us at DPO@unity.com.