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Game Developer Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA (NOW HIRING)

Netflix

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 ... Have programming proficiency in Python, or Scala/Java. You have a software engineering mindset and ...

Netflix

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 ... Have programming proficiency in Python, or Scala/Java. You have a software engineering mindset and ...

TabaPay

Senior DevOps Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$150K/yr

... gaming and wallets. TabaPay is a highly profitable rocketship that processes billions of dollars ... About the Role The DevOps Engineer will be responsible for managing the running of the Production ...

Socket.dev

Staff DevOps Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$124 - $271/hr

Implementing chaos engineering and game day exercises to proactively identify failure modes before user impact occurs. Building and evolving observability tools -- dashboards, alerting systems, and ...

TabaPay

DevOps Engineer Associate

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

$110K/yr

... gaming and wallets. TabaPay is a highly profitable rocketship that processes billions of dollars ... The DevOps Engineer will be responsible for managing the running of the Production Environment ...

Netflix

Senior Program Manager, Gen AI - Games

Los Gatos, CA · On-site

$135K - $135K/yr

... game engines, to services, to Agentic systems (Claude Code, Cowork, OpenClaw, custom agents and bots) * Drive cross-functional program coordination: partner with engineering, platform, and studio ...

New

Netflix

Senior Program Manager, Gen AI - Games

Los Gatos, CA · On-site

$135K - $135K/yr

... engineering workstreams through detailed milestone planning, running agile development processes, clarifying priorities, tracking sprints and deliverables. Work with technologies across the game ...

New

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All JobsGame Developer JobsGame Developer Jobs in Santa Cruz, CA

Game Developer information

See Santa Cruz, CA salary details

$37.5K

$125.2K

$207.8K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Santa Cruz, CA is $125,247.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,100.00 and $143,200.00 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 are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA?

The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Developer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA?

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

What job categories do people searching Game Developer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Developer jobs in Santa Cruz, CA are:

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

Cities near Santa Cruz, CA with the most Game Developer job openings:

Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Santa Cruz, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $125,247 per year, or $60.2 per hour.

Manager, Product Marketing Games Developer

Netflix, Inc.

Los Gatos, CA • On-site

$170 - $360/hr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Netflix rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

72nd of 78 rated media

Job description

Key Responsibilities
  • Develop the positioning statement for key developer product launches. What is the value of the core game services we offer to game development partners and game studios? How do we stack up to competitor capabilities? How does this launch tie back to our brand differentiators?
  • Build marketing strategy for developer product launches. Pull together business goals, games studio team needs, and the developer product teams to align on the value propositions of our game services.
  • Assess upcoming developer product and feature launches to identify bigger stories or position multiple product launches in a clear way for our development partners, and tie those launches back to the broader Netflix Games value proposition.
  • Understand the needs of the game developer audience to identify market opportunities and competitive differentiators; synthesize and socialize these market opportunities.
  • Work with product and comms partners to clearly define marketing needs and coordinate various parts of the marketing organization to execute against those needs (e.g. adoption of features like Achievements, Leaderboards, etc.).
  • Partner with Content Design and Technical Writers to ensure coherent, consistent language and narrative between the developer product features and any off-service messaging.
Requirements
  • 7+ years of experience in Marketing or related fields with an emphasis on product marketing or developer marketing
  • Preferred developer product marketing experience in a gaming or entertainment company
  • Experience partnering with product development teams to make insight-informed decisions that impact developers
  • Proven ability to galvanize and influence teams and partners across departments at all levels with ability to work across both highly technical and highly creative teams.
  • Strong project management skills
  • Experience in developing developer messaging, positioning, and targeting, and in handling multi-country product launches
  • High tolerance for change, and the capacity to accomplish enormous amounts of work in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
  • Respect, understanding and enthusiasm for Netflix culture
Compensation and Benefits
  • Annual salary in the range of $170,000 - $360,000.
  • Benefits include health plans, mental health support, 401(k) with employer match, stock options, disability and health savings accounts, family‑forming benefits, life and serious injury benefits, paid leave, paid time off, and flexible time off.
Equal‑Opportunity Employment

We are an equal‑opportunity employer and celebrate diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

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What Netflix employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Netflix

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Gatos, CA, US

Year founded

1997

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