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Freelance Game Developer Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

... freelance client work). Not a fit if * You're a sales engineer looking for the next sales engineer ... It's used by artists, filmmakers, game studios, designers, researchers, and VFX houses, including ...

Producer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$35 - $37/hr

... and programming * Collaborate with Videographers, Editors, Motion/Graphic Designers on custom ... Work with Senior Producer to manage photography requests and delegate tasks to in-house & freelance ...

Freelance Game Developer information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$39.8K

$132.8K

$220.4K

How much do freelance game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance game developer in Berkeley, CA is $132,816.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,800.00 and $151,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a freelance game developer?

A Freelance Game Developer is a self-employed professional who designs, develops, and programs video games for clients or personal projects. They often work on various aspects of game development, including coding, art, design, or audio, depending on their skill set. Freelancers typically find work through contracts, commissions, or by creating and selling their own games. This role offers flexibility in choosing projects and work hours but requires strong self-discipline, technical skills, and business acumen.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a freelance game developer?

To thrive as a Freelance Game Developer, you need strong proficiency in programming languages (such as C++, C#, or JavaScript), game engines (like Unity or Unreal Engine), and a solid understanding of game design principles. Expertise in using version control systems (e.g., Git), graphics tools, and sometimes relevant certifications, such as Unity Certified Developer, are valuable. Excellent communication, time management, and problem-solving skills help build client relationships and effectively manage multiple projects. These skills are crucial for delivering high-quality games on schedule while adapting to varying client needs and technical challenges.

What are some common challenges freelance game developers face, and how can they overcome them?

Freelance game developers often encounter challenges like finding consistent work, managing multiple client expectations, and staying updated with the latest technology and industry trends. Balancing creative freedom with client requirements and ensuring timely delivery of projects can also be demanding when working independently. To overcome these challenges, successful freelancers focus on building a strong portfolio, networking within the gaming community, regularly updating their skillset, and using project management tools to organize tasks and deadlines. Staying proactive in communication and maintaining professionalism with clients helps build long-term working relationships and a steady stream of opportunities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA?

The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Game Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Game Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

What cities near Berkeley, CA are hiring for Freelance Game Developer jobs?

Cities near Berkeley, CA with the most Freelance Game Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Freelance Game Developer job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 57% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 21% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $132,816 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

Manager, Live Technical Production

49ers

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Part-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Career Opportunities: Manager, Live Technical Production (6826) At the San Francisco 49ers, our mission is simple but powerful: to create meaningful moments that inspire and connect. Whether it's on the field, in the community, or behind the scenes, we're united by the belief that the work we do has the power to bring people together and leave a lasting impact. Success here takes more than passion; it's about bringing your best to every challenge. We thrive by balancing priorities with precision, making thoughtful decisions in fast-paced environments, and always looking ahead to what's next. Our team is built on core competencies that shape how we work: adaptability, integrity, collaboration, strong communication, and a relentless focus on continuous improvement. Together, these qualities fuel our ability to deliver world-class experiences for our fans, partners, and community. If you're excited about being part of a supportive team where you can develop your skills, share your ideas, and help make a difference, we'd love to have you join us. Position Summary The Manager of Live Technical Production is responsible for managing the 49ers' live event presentation technical production. This role oversees the day-to-day loading, configuration, and operation of game-day elements within the venue content management system (Ross CMS) and ensures the successful delivery of high-quality, reliable technical production. The Manager leads and coordinates part-time, freelance, and contracted game-day operators (70+) required to staff control room and technical production positions for 49ers home games and serves as the primary liaison for the Live Events department with Levi's Stadium Broadcast A/V, Stadium Operations, Stadium Engineering, and internal partners to align production needs with venue capabilities. In addition to 49ers games, this role supports the control room production crew for publicly ticketed events held at Levi's Stadium, including logistics, parking, and credentialing. Responsibilities & Duties Event Crewing & Staffing Operations Serves as the primary point of contact for all control room technical production positions Coordinates, schedules, and assigns crew and support personnel for live productions, owning the end-to-end crewing process Forecasts staffing needs based on production calendars, show scope, and operational timelines Build and maintain production rosters, confirm availability, manage backfills, and ensure shift coverage Maintains and updates the master scheduling matrix, including crew availability, bookings, and assignments Ensures all scheduled personnel are properly briefed, prepared, and credentialed prior to on-site shifts Manages payment processing for all control room production staff, vendors, freelancers, etc. Technical Production & Live Event Support Oversees control room content loading & programming for 49ers home games within Ross CMS, including playlist creation, playback sequencing, timing validation, and real‐time adjustments to support live game and event production Provides baseline technical support for live productions, including the operation of audio consoles, video switchers, and other control room equipment Actively participates in the technical preparation, configuration, troubleshooting, and live operation of production systems and equipment Delivers on-site technical support during events, including system setup, live monitoring, issue escalation, and real‐time troubleshooting Daily Operations, Coordination & Reporting Coordinates daily technical production priorities with venue technology managers and service providers Provides daily updates, incident summaries, and escalation reports as needed Assists in post-event reporting, tracking technical issues, resolutions, and lessons learned Production Workflow & Project Coordination Serves as a technical project manager for game day and event-related production elements, interfacing with third-party vendors supporting staging, lighting, special effects, and large-scale scenic elements Coordinates installation, design, setup, and operational logistics in partnership with Stadium Broadcast A/V, Stadium Operations, and Stadium Engineering Attends pre-production and planning meetings to capture technical and staffing requirements and translates them into executable plans Other duties as assigned Required Abilities and Skills Demonstrates ability to effectively build a network of contacts at all levels within the industry and in the community, both internally and externally. Ability to lead people through processes towards agreed‐upon objectives in a manner that encourages participation, ownership, and creativity by all those involved. Ability to initiate, design, plan, execute, monitor, and evaluate outcomes of a project or initiative. Ability to achieve planned objectives through completing relevant tasks and focus. Possess strong organizational skills with the ability to manage time effectively, while balancing and prioritizing multiple or competing tasks. Communicates orally and in writing in a clear, concise, and impartial manner. Must be detail‐oriented and highly self‐motivated with a shared commitment to excellence. Education and Experience At least 5-7 years; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Strong understanding of video production specs, codecs, and media asset management. Experience with Ross CMS (XPression, Tessera, Dashboards) is a plus. 2-4 years of experience scheduling broadcast technical operators or specific control room roles (TD, A1, shader, playback, utility, replay operators). Experience supporting shift‐based broadcast operations or handling real‐time staffing escalations. Shooting, editing, lighting, and/or audio skills are a plus. Proficient with Mac and PC operating systems and using apps within the Google Suite (Drive, Docs, Sheets). Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere Pro) and other graphic/video editing software required. Extensive knowledge of, and experience using typical control room technology and equipment, including but not limited to multi‐viewers, digital video & graphic playback, replay systems, switchers, CG equipment, HD cameras, camera shading & remote/robotic operation, communication systems, audio systems (including microphones, speakers, monitors, etc.). Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. The employee will be sitting in a typical office environment the majority of the time and may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The employee is frequently required to sit, use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus. This position requires the employee to work extended hours, weekends and/or holidays. Travel 10% of local travel time is expected for this position. Compensation $95-105K The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. #J-18808-Ljbffr