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Game Developer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Zynga

Principal Software Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment, known for its diverse portfolio of games. The Principal Software Developer will play a key role in financial analysis and data visualization ...

Marencor

Senior XR/Unity Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

Senior XR/Unity Developer Location: Austin TX || Onsite Interview: Virtual Senior XR/Unity ... Master's degree in computer science, Game Development, or a related field. * Experience with ...

Zynga

Senior Product Manager

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Zynga is a mobile game developer that creates and operates social games as live services played on the Internet. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2007, the ...

playstudios

Game Designer

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$153K/yr

Work with software engineers to test and verify game math model simulations using statistical methods * Analyze metrics and user feedback to derive insights and adjust game designs accordingly

Aspyr

Engineering Manager - Infrastructure

Austin, TX · On-site

Aspyr is a leading game publisher and developer dedicated to crafting high-quality games. They are seeking an Engineering Manager - Infrastructure to lead and mentor a team focused on CI/CD pipeline ...

Zynga

Director of Product

Austin, TX · On-site

$231K - $241K/yr

Zynga is a mobile game developer that creates and operates social games as live services played on the Internet. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2007, the ...

Zynga

Executive Producer

Austin, TX · On-site

Zynga is a mobile game developer that creates and operates social games as live services played on the Internet. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2007, the ...

Cloud Imperium Games

Community Manager

Austin, TX

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, 1,000+ employees, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA ...

Cloud Imperium Games

Community Manager

Bee Cave, TX · On-site

Founded in 2012 by renowned game developer Chris Roberts, Cloud Imperium Games (CIG) is one of the largest global independent studios, 1,000+ employees, dedicated to delivering next-generation AAA ...

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All JobsGame Developer JobsGame Developer Jobs in Austin, TX

Game Developer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$32.2K

$107.5K

$178.4K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Austin, TX is $107,517.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,800.00 and $122,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the 80 20 rule in game development?

In game development, the 80/20 rule suggests that approximately 80% of the game's value comes from 20% of the features or effort. Developers often focus on the most impactful features to optimize time and resources, ensuring a better player experience while managing scope and deadlines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Game Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Developer, you need strong programming skills (often in C++, C#, or Java), a solid understanding of computer graphics, and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems, and sometimes certifications in these platforms are commonly required. Creative problem-solving, teamwork, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this field. These abilities are crucial for building engaging, technically robust games and collaborating successfully within multidisciplinary development teams.

Will game dev be replaced by AI?

Game developers create and design interactive entertainment, and while AI tools can assist with tasks like asset generation and coding, they are unlikely to fully replace human creativity, problem-solving, and storytelling skills essential to game development. AI can enhance productivity but requires human oversight and expertise to produce high-quality, engaging games.

What jobs can a game developer do?

A game developer can work in roles such as game programmer, game designer, level designer, graphics programmer, or technical artist. They often collaborate with artists, sound designers, and project managers, and may specialize in areas like mobile, console, or PC game development using tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.

What Are Game Developers?

As a game developer, you write the code for video game software. Your code, combined with the work of other developers, brings video games to life on computers and gaming consoles. Your responsibilities are to design core game features and to collaborate with a team of other developers, graphic designers, and artists. Your job duties include game testing, debugging, and production in all aspects of gaming—player character creation, non-player characters, backgrounds, and gameplay. Being a gamer yourself gives you a solid understanding of the importance of game mechanics and storytelling.

Is game developer in high demand?

Game developers are in high demand due to the growing gaming industry and increasing investment in mobile, console, and PC games. Skills in programming languages like C++ and Unity or Unreal Engine are highly valued, and job opportunities are expected to grow as the industry expands globally.

What are some common challenges game developers face when working on large team projects?

Game developers working on large team projects often encounter challenges such as coordinating across multiple disciplines (programming, art, design, audio), ensuring clear communication, and managing dependencies between different parts of the game. Balancing creative vision with technical constraints and deadlines can also be demanding. Adapting to shifting priorities and integrating feedback from playtesting are key aspects of the collaborative process, making strong teamwork and flexibility essential in this role.

What does a game developer do?

A game developer is responsible for designing, creating, and programming video games for computers, consoles, or mobile devices. Their work involves coding, testing, and debugging game software, as well as collaborating with artists, designers, and other team members to bring a game concept to life. Game developers may specialize in areas like gameplay programming, graphics, or artificial intelligence, and often use game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine to build their projects.

What is the difference between Game Developer vs Game Designer?

AspectGame DeveloperGame Designer
Primary RoleProgram and build game mechanics, code, and softwareDesign game concepts, storylines, and gameplay experiences
Skills & CertificationsProgramming languages (C++, C#), software developmentCreative design, storytelling, game design tools
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, coding environments, software studiosDesign teams, creative studios, collaborative spaces
Industry UsageUsed across game studios for technical implementationUsed for conceptualization and gameplay design

While both roles are essential in game development, Game Developers focus on coding and technical implementation, whereas Game Designers craft the gameplay experience and story. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and collaboration in the gaming industry.

More about Game Developer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX? The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX? For Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX are:
What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Game Developer jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Game Developer job openings:
Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Austin, TX as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,517 per year, or $51.7 per hour.
Principal Software Developer

Principal Software Developer

Zynga

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

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

Job description

Job Summary:
Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment, known for its diverse portfolio of games. The Principal Software Developer will play a key role in financial analysis and data visualization within the FinOps team, ensuring effective cost management and strategic decision-making across the company's games.
Responsibilities:
• Lead financial analysis activities with regards to internal cost allocations for technology spend
• Lead data model design and data analysis aspects of the FinOps team’s software development, including close collaboration with other FinOps software engineers
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to design and iterate upon user-facing data visualizations
• Develop data ingestion and normalization to serve data visualizations and dashboards, as well as owning maintenance and ensuring ongoing data quality
• Support FinOps guidelines and work with other teams and partners to implement cost analysis and optimizations for technology spend across Zynga
• Interact with members of Finance and the C-suite with regards to technology cost allocations, forecasts, and ad hoc FinOps-related requests
Qualifications:
Required:
• B.S. in Computer Science, Math, Statistics, Engineering, or other quantitative field (or equivalent experience)
• Demonstrated proficiency with Python for data cleaning and data wrangling (pandas, NumPy), and ability to work with source code via pull requests, CICD pipelines, etc
• 8+ years of hands-on experience with the following: SQL, data warehouses, Tableau or similar data visualization tools
• Ability to design monitoring rules for validating data quality within data pipelines
• Experience collaborating with customers to assess their analysis and visualization needs and design solutions that present the data effectively and clearly
• Ability to think through the UI/UX of data visualizations to best serve the target audience's needs
• Comfort interacting with stakeholders at a much more senior level, ability to adjust communication style to the audience
• Experience working autonomously and capable of tackling solo projects with ease
Preferred:
• Familiarity with FinOps practices
• Familiarity with financial concepts related to budgeting, forecasts, amortization, etc
• Previous experience with software engineering platforms such as AWS, Splunk, Datadog
Company:
Zynga is a mobile game developer that creates and operates social games as live services played on the Internet. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in San Mateo, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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