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Game Developer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

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 ...

Senior Gameplay Programmer

Austin, TX · On-site

$90K - $130K/yr

The gameplay programmer will work with the technical leadership to implement gameplay features ... Use your expertise to identify and resolve technical issues in the game, from minor bugs to ...

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 ...

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 ...

Game Host

Marble Falls, TX · On-site

$15 - $17/hr

At Game Changer , we're on a mission to bring joy to our guests while giving back to the community. If you're ready to combine your hospitality skills with a lively atmosphere, this is your chance to ...

This role involves re-keying, cleaning, testing, and programming gaming machines, organizing warehouse inventory, and ensuring quality control. The Expert Game Technician will also be responsible for ...

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 ...

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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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 Aug 16, 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game developer?

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.

What is a game developer?

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.

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.

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 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:

Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,517 per year, or $51.7 per hour.

Principal Software Developer - Full Stack (Unity, C#)

Zynga

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 2 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment, known for its diverse portfolio of games. They are seeking a Principal Software Developer to develop and maintain core client technology and engine-level systems for a new game targeting a casual audience, emphasizing engineering excellence and problem-solving skills.
Responsibilities:
• Define, architect, and develop core systems and client infrastructure in Unity and C#
• Diagnose and resolve complex, game-wide technical issues such as slow load times, low frame rates, memory pressure, and build/runtime stability
• Own the evaluation, upgrade, and maintenance of third-party libraries, SDKs, and engine dependencies
• Design and implement foundational architecture changes that enable future feature roadmaps for feature-focused engineers to build upon
• Produce technical design documentation and implementation plans for infrastructure and systemic initiatives
• Scope and cost work accurately from loosely defined requirements, presenting estimates with clear assumptions and identified risks
• Adapt plans and technical approaches when requirements or platform constraints change
• Review code, technical design documentation, and implementation plans for other team members
• Proactively profile, optimize, and refactor code to meet team performance and stability KPI goals
• Explore, develop, and integrate new technologies and tools that benefit the broader engineering team
• Work closely with other engineers to lead multi-week or month-long infrastructure and tooling efforts
• Give team and divisional tech talks on architectures that you’ve built
• Work to improve and evolve team process and engineering standards
• Help to mentor other engineers
Qualifications:
Required:
• B.Sc. in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent education / work experience
• 6+ Years game industry / mobile app experience as a software developer
• Shipped titles and/or live games experience, especially mobile (iOS / Android)
• Expert knowledge in C#
• 3+ Years Unity experience, including engine-level and low-level systems work
• A solid understanding of client/server architecture in modern mobile games
• Understanding, interest and knowledge of server-side architecture in mobile games
• Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms and software methodologies
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and resolving performance issues such as load times, frame rate, and memory usage
• Experience upgrading, integrating, or maintaining third-party libraries, SDKs, or engine versions
• Experience with the AWS ecosystem, Kubernetes, and back end monitoring technologies such as Datadog
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working in a collaborative environment
• Excellent ability to foresee and proactively resolve blockers, technical risk, and points of failure
• Excellent ability to function in an asynchronous distributed work environment while still tuning in to key team meetings
• Experience with git
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization tools
Preferred:
• Experience with Unity engine source modification or custom engine forks
• Experience with build pipeline, CI/CD, or dev tooling for game teams
• Experience playing and working on games that target a casual audience
• Experience using Claude Code or a similar AI coding tool
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.