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Game Developer Jobs in Carson, CA (NOW HIRING)

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

Create wireframes, design documents, and prototypes that communicate your intent clearly to engineering and art. Game Economy & Balance * Design and maintain in-game economies (currencies, pricing ...

HoYoverse

Senior Game Recruiter

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Experienced in small to mid sized companies and helping dynamic organizations scale quickly, and at least 2+ years work experience recruiting for gameplay engineering, production, art/animation or ...

TapBlaze

Game Designer, Casual F2P

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$167K/yr

Create wireframes, design documents, and prototypes that communicate your intent clearly to engineering and art. Game Economy & Balance * Design and maintain in-game economies (currencies, pricing ...

HoYoverse

Senior Game Recruiter

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Experienced in small to mid sized companies and helping dynamic organizations scale quickly, and at least 2+ years work experience recruiting for gameplay engineering, production, art/animation or ...

Lightspeed Studios

Senior Mission Designer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$93K - $216K/yr

Collaborate with other game development teams--game designers, narrative designers, artists, and programmers--to ensure that the mission design aligns with the game's overall vision and mechanics.

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Game Developer information

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$34K

$113.4K

$188.3K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Carson, CA is $113,442.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,200.00 and $129,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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 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 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.

Is a game developer a good career?

A game developer creates video games and typically requires skills in programming, design, and software tools like Unity or Unreal Engine. The field offers opportunities for creativity and growth, but it can also involve long hours and competitive job markets. Overall, it can be a rewarding career for those passionate about gaming and technology.

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

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For Game Developer jobs in Carson, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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

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Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Carson, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,442 per year, or $54.5 per hour.

Principal Game Designer, Combat & Controls - Unpublished R&D Project

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Riot Games
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees
Learn more about Riot Gamesexternal

$167K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Maintain a holistic vision for combat and controls while driving design vision and execution for core gameplay systems

  • Prototype, design, and iterate on difficult gameplay problems in early-stage development, creating multiple design approaches and analyzing tradeoffs

  • Partner with cross-disciplinary teams to turn design goals into playable, testable experiences

Job description

As a Principal Game Designer on an unpublished R&D product, you will help shape and evolve the future of gameplay through hands-on design leadership in early-stage development. You are a gameplay generalist with deep expertise in combat and controls, and you know how to translate strong player empathy into responsive, satisfying, and strategically rich gameplay experiences.
You will personally drive some of the team's hardest design problems across combat, controls, targeting, camera, and gameplay feel. You will work closely with product managers, engineers, UX, artists, and design leaders to prototype, validate, and refine new gameplay directions, while helping establish the quality bar for how we build, evaluate, and iterate on player-facing systems.
You will work as part of a small cross-disciplinary prototype team. In this role, your work will help inform the long-term gameplay direction through experimentation, rapid iteration, and applied learning.
If you thrive in ambiguous spaces, love solving difficult gameplay problems, and care deeply about creating intuitive, resonant experiences for players, this role is for you.
Responsibilities:
  • Maintain a holistic vision for combat and controls while driving design vision and execution for core gameplay systems
  • Personally prototype, design, and iterate on difficult gameplay problems in ambiguous, early-stage development spaces, creating multiple design approaches and articulating the tradeoffs, risks, and player implications of each
  • Partner closely with product managers, engineers, UX designers, artists, and producers to turn design goals into playable, testable experiences
  • Define and evolve design frameworks, principles, and quality bars that improve team decision-making and raise the standard of gameplay craft
  • Lead cross-disciplinary conversations around tradeoffs, risks, and opportunities, aligning teams around strong design rationale
  • Mentor other designers through feedback, craft guidance, and principled problem solving
  • Contribute to broader gameplay direction by identifying learnings and opportunities that can inform future initiatives
Required Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of professional experience in game design
  • Deep experience designing, prototyping, and iterating on core gameplay systems
  • Strong expertise in combat design, controls, targeting, camera, and gameplay feel
  • Experience owning large, complex design spaces and delivering high-impact player-facing outcomes
  • Experience working in ambiguous or exploratory development environments where fast learning and iteration matter
  • Experience partnering closely with engineers to develop and refine gameplay systems from concept through implementation
  • Ability to break down complex design problems, generate strong solutions, and clearly communicate design rationale across disciplines
Desired Qualifications:
  • Expertise with designing for twin-stick controls
  • Experience mentoring designers and giving clear cross-disciplinary feedback that raises the craft bar for a team
  • Experience leading strategically important gameplay features and establishing frameworks or principles that improve team-wide quality and consistency
  • Experience helping teams evolve established gameplay systems and development practices through thoughtful adoption of AI-native tools and workflows
  • Experience using scripting or engine-level tools to prototype gameplay ideas directly

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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