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Game Developer Jobs in Cottage Grove, MN (NOW HIRING)

Escapology

Be Seen First

Game Master

Burnsville, MN · On-site

$16/hr

We are hiring game masters to help guide groups through an hour-long adventure while delivering the best customer experience possible. Game Master Job Summary From the time customers enter our venue ...

Escapology

Be Seen First

Game Master

Burnsville, MN · On-site

$16/hr

We are hiring game masters to help guide groups through an hour-long adventure while delivering the best customer experience possible. Game Master Job Summary From the time customers enter our venue ...

AEG

Manager, Game Presentation

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

The Game Presentation Manager is responsible for planning and executing all in-arena entertainment and fan engagement elements during Minnesota Wild home games. This role leads the coordination of ...

Minnesota Wild

Manager, Game Presentation

Saint Paul, MN · On-site

$55K - $65K/yr

The Game Presentation Manager is responsible for planning and executing all in-arena entertainment and fan engagement elements during Minnesota Wild home games. This role leads the coordination of ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Edina, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Minneapolis, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Saint Paul, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

THE BLAKE SCHOOL

Game Worker

Hopkins, MN · On-site

Job Type Part-time Description Following the mission of The Blake School and the core purposes of the athletic department, the Game Worker will serve at the discretion of the Blake School Athletics ...

Valleyfair LLC

Games

Shakopee, MN · On-site

$15.50/hr

Operate and manage game booths and attractions. Encourage guests to participate and explain game rules. Handle transactions and prize distribution accurately. Maintain a fun and energetic atmosphere.

EVS Engineering

Structural Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$75K - $100K/yr

Rooted in Respect, Integrity, and Humility, we're on a mission to make every project a game-changer ... STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Hybrid Schedule: Full-Time Salary: $75,000 - $100 ...

EVS Engineering

Civil Engineer

Eden Prairie, MN · On-site

$75K - $110K/yr

Rooted in Respect, Integrity, and Humility, we're on a mission to make every project a game-changer ... CIVIL ENGINEER Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Hybrid | Remote Schedule: Full-Time Salary: $75,000 ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsGame Developer JobsGame Developer Jobs in Cottage Grove, MN

Game Developer information

See Cottage Grove, MN salary details

$33.9K

$113K

$187.6K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Cottage Grove, MN is $113,049.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,900.00 and $129,200.00 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.
More about Game Developer jobs

What cities near Cottage Grove, MN are hiring for Game Developer jobs?

Cities near Cottage Grove, MN with the most Game Developer job openings:

Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Cottage Grove, MN as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 47% Full Time, 33% Part Time, 10% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 88% In-person, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,049 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Programmer (CONTRACT)

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

Afton, MN • On-site, Remote

$82.74 - $100/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

This is a 12 month contract. This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.

Insomniac is looking for a Senior Gameplay Programmer (Contract). In this role you'll collaborate closely with our content teams as we design, implement and maintain industry leading experiences, with a heavy focus on enemy, boss and ally behaviors. A Senior Gameplay Programmer anticipates design needs and player expectations and leverages their experience to provide feedback on code quality, user experience, and performance throughout the course of development. We value ownership, technical expertise, initiative, and effective communication.

At Insomniac, we've embraced a digital-first culture, and support in-office, remote and hybrid working arrangements. We're passionate about creating robust, scalable systems for AAA games and delivering outstanding new player experiences while fostering employee well-being!

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

  • Collaborate across teams to drive player experience and feature quality with a focus on Enemy<>Player interactions
  • Act as a subject matter expert on our enemy and boss teams, providing mentorship/assistance to more junior staff through code reviews and participation in relevant special interest groups
  • Create features and systems that can work flexibly and dynamically across diverse environments and situations
  • Architect and implement systems that are as simple as possible without compromising scalability and extensibility
  • Accurately estimate assigned work, contribute to efforts to ensure work is in scope, and proactively update team on task status
  • Understand complex existing systems and how they interact. Expand or create new systems as needed to deliver on the promise of our features
  • Work across teams to understand how our internal customers use the tools and systems that we develop to deliver great gameplay experiences
  • Drive new feature and architecture development within enemy behavior systems

Skills you should bring to this role:

  • Prior experience owning and delivering features in the areas of enemy, boss, or ally behaviors
  • Extensive C++ skills
  • Knowledge of memory management, performance optimization, systems interfaces, and other programming principles and best practices.
  • Knowledge of mathematical concepts, particularly 3D math and visualization using linear algebra
  • An eye for player-centered design
  • Ability and willingness to articulate strengths and weaknesses of proposed features, and to advocate for alternatives

At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click hereto learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.
$82.74-$100 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

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