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Full Time Game Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming, and we are focused on making it ... Interest or passion for the Discord platform The US base salary range for this full-time position ...

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefi ts at the Company, including ...

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefi ts at the Company, including ...

Experience in making developer-, engineer- or artist-facing tools, such as game development tooling ... All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits as described on ...

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefi ts at the Company, including ...

Job Type Full-time Description We are expanding MOCEAN Gaming and looking for a visionary Director ... developer tools. * Lead & Scale the Capture Team: Oversee, mentor, and grow our team of in-house ...

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefi ts at the Company, including ...

Data Engineer (L5) - Games

Los Gatos, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $160K/yr

This role will be partnering closely with our Game stakeholders to develop software and data ... Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation ...

Data Engineer (L5) - Games

Los Gatos, CA · On-site

$133K - $160K/yr

This role will be partnering closely with our Game stakeholders to develop software and data ... Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation ...

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

You'll collaborate with a passionate group of game developers including our Lead Rendering Engineer ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

Senior Rendering Engineer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

You'll collaborate with a passionate group of game developers including our Lead Rendering Engineer ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

Showing results 41-60

Full Time Game Developer information

See California salary details

$52.4K

$119.5K

$186.7K

How much do full time game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time game developer in California is $119,454.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $92,300.00 and $153,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a full time game developer?

Full time game developers are professionals who create video games as their primary occupation, typically working for a game studio or development company. Their responsibilities may include designing gameplay, coding, creating art assets, testing, and debugging games. Full time game developers often collaborate with other team members such as artists, designers, and producers to bring a game from concept to release. They usually work standard business hours, but may also put in overtime during critical stages of development. This career requires technical skills, creativity, and a passion for gaming.

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

To thrive as a Full Time Game Developer, you need strong programming skills in languages like C++ or C#, a solid understanding of computer graphics, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine, and familiarity with version control systems like Git, are essential technical qualifications. Creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for efficiently building engaging, high-quality games and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary development teams.

What are some common challenges full time game developers face when working on large-scale projects?

Full time game developers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges such as coordinating with cross-functional teams, managing shifting priorities, and resolving technical issues that arise during development. Balancing creative vision with project deadlines can be demanding, and adapting to frequent feedback from stakeholders requires flexibility. Additionally, integrating new technologies and optimizing game performance for various platforms are ongoing tasks that require collaboration and problem-solving skills.

What is the difference between Full Time Game Developer vs Part Time Game Developer?

AspectFull Time Game DeveloperPart Time Game Developer
Work HoursTypically 35-40 hours per weekLess than 20 hours per week
Employment StatusFull-time employment with benefitsPart-time, often without benefits
Project InvolvementLong-term projects, consistent team collaborationShort-term or freelance projects, flexible schedule
Required CredentialsDegree in Computer Science, Game Design, or related fieldSimilar credentials, but often more flexible or self-taught

Full Time Game Developers work regular hours, often with benefits, focusing on long-term projects within a team environment. Part Time Game Developers have flexible schedules, may work on short-term projects, and often do not receive benefits. The roles share similar skills and credentials but differ mainly in hours, employment status, and project scope.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in California are:

Game Development Engineer

Anduril Industries

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7.4

Company rating compared to similar companies: 7.4 out of 10

Manufacturers average

Based on 75,990 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our team builds, tests, integrates, and scales software that beautifully visualizes both real and simulated historical or live data. Our software acts as the visual client for Anduril's Mission Simulation product, bringing visions to life in a 2D environment as well as an immersive 3D AR environment. It lets users create "what ifs" to evaluate mission concepts, drive future mission tactics, and accelerate mission understanding. It is often used for Business Development and Engineering purposes.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Partner with stakeholders to establish clear priorities and define expectations which translate to a scope of work that you and the team can effectively deliver on
  • Identify technical risks and their solutions, collaborating with the broader engineering groups at Anduril.
  • Ensure client stability by diagnosing and resolving defects.
  • Analyze and optimize both memory and performance in systems that must scale from high-end desktops to mobile AR systems
  • Identify problems; solve them: implement robust, high-quality solutions

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Excellent C++ skills and software engineering principles
  • Experience working in large codebases to solve complex problems.
  • Minimum five years of professional programming experience
  • Solid understanding of 3D math
  • Ability to write clean, maintainable and extensible code with attention to reusability
  • Experience in a broad range of engineering areas on shipping games or real time visualization systems, with special attention given to low-level code
  • Excellent spoken and written communication
  • Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Linux development experience
  • Experience developing on console platforms.
  • Shipped at least one AAA game title in a similar role.
  • Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

US Salary Range
$166,000-$220,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.


What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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