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Entry Level Video Game Developer Jobs in California

Spellbrush

AI Anime Researcher - LLM

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... anime, and video game industry. A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team. Unparalleled ...

Spellbrush

AI Anime Researcher - LLM

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... anime, and video game industry. A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team. Unparalleled ...

Jobsbridge

UI/UX Developer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$53 - $69/hr

... video game service and software industries is a plus Qualifications HTML, CSS, JavaScript Additional Information Multiple Openings

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$136K - $151K/yr

Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break ... Passion and enthusiasm for video games * One or more shipped AAA multi-player titles preferred

Intrepid Studios

Gameplay Programmer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$136K - $151K/yr

Work with game designers, artists, and other engineers to create compelling experiences * Break ... Passion and enthusiasm for video games * One or more shipped AAA multi-player titles preferred

Youth Beat

Junior Producer Apprenticeship

Oakland, CA · On-site

$20/hr

Junior Producer Apprenticeship An entry-level position in video, photography, video editing, and production, starting at $20 per hour. This position is open to YouthBeat alumni. Duration: 2 years ...

Youth Beat

Junior Producer Apprenticeship

Oakland, CA

$20/hr

Junior Producer Apprenticeship An entry-level position in video, photography, video editing, and production, starting at $20 per hour. This position is open to YouthBeat alumni. Duration: 2 years ...

Univision

Activations Technician-Seasonal

Los Angeles, CA

$21.25 - $29/hr

... engineering teams; * Maintain accurate inventory of promotional items, prizes, signage, and ... Strong social media skills and understanding of current trends. * Entry level video editing skills ...

Arc Games

Legal Counsel

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$105K - $140K/yr

Arc Games, Inc. is a video game publisher based in the Bay Area, with titles including Star Trek ... * Entry-level candidates are welcome to apply, prior in-house experience is a plus but not ...

Integrated Resources INC

Video Technician

San Jose, CA · On-site

Candidate should have some understanding of content and programming rights whether video, music, games or books. Candidate will monitor video feeds, check VOD playback and metadata, update via ticket ...

Arc Games Inc.

Legal Counsel

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$105 - $140/hr

Arc Games, Inc. is a video game publisher based in the Bay Area, with titles including Star Trek ... * Entry-level candidates are welcome to apply - prior in-house experience is a plus but not ...

Karla's Pet Care, LLC

Pet sitter Elk Grove only

Elk Grove, CA · On-site

$14.75 - $20/hr

Stay at home moms, full time careers, video game programmers, college students, veterinary technicians, teachers, retired state employees, retired Here is what we ask you to do: Between the hours of ...

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All JobsVideo Game Developer JobsEntry Level Video Game Developer JobsEntry Level Video Game Developer Jobs in California

Entry Level Video Game Developer information

See California salary details

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How much do entry level video game developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level video game developer in California is $18.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $19.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectEntry Level Video Game DeveloperJunior Game Programmer
Required CredentialsDegree in Computer Science, Game Design, or related fieldDegree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
Work EnvironmentGame studios, tech companies, freelance projectsGame studios, tech companies, internship programs
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in gaming industry for entry rolesOften used interchangeably, focusing on coding tasks

Entry Level Video Game Developers and Junior Game Programmers often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. The main difference lies in terminology; 'Entry Level Video Game Developer' emphasizes a broader role involving design and development, while 'Junior Game Programmer' focuses more specifically on coding tasks. Both roles serve as starting points in the gaming industry, with overlapping skills and responsibilities.

What is an entry level video game developer?

An entry level video game developer is a professional who helps design, code, and test video games, usually as part of a larger development team. These developers often work on specific tasks such as programming game features, fixing bugs, or creating basic game assets under the supervision of more experienced developers. Entry level positions are ideal for recent graduates or those new to the industry, providing hands-on experience with game development tools, engines, and workflows. Over time, entry level developers can advance to more specialized or senior roles as they gain experience.

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

To thrive as an Entry Level Video Game Developer, you need a solid grasp of programming languages (such as C++, C#, or Python), basic software engineering principles, and a relevant degree or portfolio of game projects. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems like Git, and possibly certifications in game development are commonly expected. Creativity, problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and effective communication help you stand out in collaborative, fast-paced development environments. These skills are crucial to efficiently creating engaging games, meeting project deadlines, and contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.

What are the most common challenges faced by entry level video game developers when joining a new project team?

Entry level video game developers often encounter challenges such as adapting to the team's workflow, learning proprietary tools or engines, and understanding the existing codebase. Collaborating effectively with designers, artists, and senior developers can also be a learning curve, as clear communication is essential for integrating features and gameplay elements. Over time, new developers gain confidence by asking questions, actively participating in team meetings, and taking on small tasks that gradually build their skills and familiarity with the project.
What are the most commonly searched types of Video Game Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Video Game Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Video Game Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Entry Level Video Game Developer job openings:
Entry Level Video Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Video Game Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 77% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,094 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

AI Anime Researcher - Motion Generation Models

Spellbrush

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

tl;dr: We're building a 3D first-person adventure game where an AI companion is the core of the game. Think MiSide with LLMs, but truly integrated with gameplay, not just a RP chatbot.

About Us

Here at Spellbrush, we're passionate about making a good anime game.

We also happen to be the world's leading generative AI studio—we're the team behind niji・journey.

Our mission is simple: use AI to bring characters to life and push the boundaries of narrative-driven games.
What We’re Building

We’ve developed an in-house LLM storytelling system that blends AI, story, and gameplay—going far beyond shallow “chat-only” experiences.

The result is an AI companion who cooperates with you in puzzles, remembers across worlds, and changes how each chapter unfolds.

In-game screenshots (development build)

About The Role

You will join a small but extremely talented team to define a new kind of video game experience. You'll work alongside top otaku minds in the industry, including the creator of Warudo and Cytoid, a Google Deepmind veteran behind Project Astra, and top-tier AI researchers.

As an early member of this team, you will have significant artistic and research freedom to shape what could become the next-generation LLM-driven storytelling experience.

Why You'll Love Working With Us

Impact and Ownership: As an early team member, you'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible at the intersection of the AI, anime, and video game industry.

A World-Class Team: You'll work directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world in a small, mighty, and fast-paced team. You also have the opportunity to collaborate with one of the best image and video generation model teams in the world on data collection.

Unparalleled Resources: You will have a generous amount of compute to build the best possible models for anime characters.

Culture: We are seeking individuals who ideally are fans of anime and the anime aesthetic. We believe in the unmatched speed of in-person collaboration.

International Opportunities: We have primary research offices in downtown Akihabara, Tokyo, and San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available for qualified candidates


You may be a good fit if:
You have hands-on experience in training text-to-motion or audio-to-motion models.

You might have previously published papers around the topic, or have worked at an industrial lab on this and related topics. You have seen the Grok AI companion and can develop systems inspired by such an audio-synced motion-generation system.

You have experience on facial motion generation

Most anime character’s facial expressions are easier to generate than real people. Nevertheless, we have several magnitudes of more real human data. You’ll be a good fit if you have worked on speech-driven 3D facial animation.

You have worked on real-time 3D motion generation

We need to interact with the character in real time. Knowing how to make that happen in terms of motion generation will be a big bonus.

You love anime and the anime aesthetic

As a member of our team, you'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible in the anime and video game industry. Ideally you're a fan of the genre.

You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams

Our engineering team is small but mighty. You'll be working directly with some of the best AI researchers and engineers in the world.

We also believe in the unmatched speed of in-person teams, and prefer on-site collaboration in either our primary research office in Tokyo (downtown Akihabara) or San Francisco. Visa sponsorships are available.

You can effectively balance research exploration with product-focused development

Or, putting it in RL jargon, exploration and exploitation. You excel at working with research teams to synthesize high-impact needs, design and implement technical solutions, and communicate deliverables and tradeoffs.