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Game Developer Jobs in Santa Fe, NM (NOW HIRING)

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Game Developer information

See Santa Fe, NM salary details

$31.8K

$106.1K

$176K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Santa Fe, NM is $106,066.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,700.00 and $121,200.00 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 Fe, NM?

The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in Santa Fe, NM are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Developer jobs in Santa Fe, NM?

For Game Developer jobs in Santa Fe, NM, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Santa Fe, NM are hiring for Game Developer jobs?

Cities near Santa Fe, NM with the most Game Developer job openings:

Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Santa Fe, NM as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,066 per year, or $51 per hour.

Software Developer III

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

Los Alamos, NM • On-site, Remote

Contractor

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Overview

Longenecker & Associates (L&A), a Geosyntec Company, is a trusted partner enabling critical missions across the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex for more than 30 years. We contribute to DOE's nuclear security and environmental remediation enterprise by providing the highest-caliber staff and experts. We are seeking a motivated Software Developer III to contribute to our mission supporting our work at Los Alamos National Lab in Los Alamos, NM.

Geosyntec is an innovative, international engineering and consulting firm serving private and public-sector clients to address new ventures and complex problems involving our environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Our engineers, scientists, technical and project employees serve our clients from offices across the world. Ranked by ENR as one of the top environmental engineering design firms, Geosyntec is internationally known for its technical leadership, broad experience, and exceptional client service.

We invest in our people.  Each employee is unique, and your career at Geosyntec will be too.  We offer competitive pay and benefits, and well-being programs to support you and your family.

To Learn More Visit: http://www.geosyntec.com/careers/.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties include, but are not limited to:

  • Manage and direct the daily tasks required to perform ongoing support of design, construction, startup and/or operations/ maintenance activities of complex high technology systems or projects;
  • Render expert opinions on engineering and technical issues, provides recommendations to project design and construction teams in specific areas of expertise;
  • Provide independent reviews and assessments in areas of specialized expertise and provides guidance to project teams in delivering results on projects of comp le high- technology nature;
  • Interface with management personnel and customer representatives;
  • Develop and enforces work standards, assigns schedules, reviews work quality, communicates goals, objectives, and policies of the organization to subordinates;
  • Provide leadership for the project team, coordinates with the functional organizations, and supervises senior personnel within the project organization;
  • Deploy, configure, and maintain containerized environments using Red Hat OpenShift;
  • Install, configure, and support Strategy Customer Managed Cloud (CMC) software Integrate CMC components within OpenShift-based infrastructure;
  • Perform system tuning, patching, upgrades, and operational support Troubleshoot deployment, configuration, and runtime issues across the stack;
  • Collaborate with technical teams to ensure system reliability, performance, and compliance Mentor LANL staff on OpenShift operations, including best practices for deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting ("care and feeding" of container platforms); and
  • Develop and maintain clear technical documentation and knowledge transfer materials.
Education and Licensure
  • BS/BA degree in Engineering, Science, or Business Management. (required)
Skills, Experience and Qualifications
  • At least seven (7) years of directly applicable experience in a specialized technical field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. (required)
  • Demonstrated hands-on experience with Red Hat OpenShift (deployment, administration, and operations).
  • Proven experience installing and configuring Strategy Customer Managed Cloud (CMC) software.
  • Strong understanding of containerization, Kubernetes concepts, and platform operations.
  • Experience with Linux system administration.
  • Due to federal contract security requirements, candidates must be able to successfully pass a federal background investigation to secure and maintain DOE Q security clearance. (required)
  • Due to federal contract security requirements, this position requires U.S. Citizenship. (required)
  • Health & Safety training, medical monitoring, and client-driven drug and background testing. (required)

Please note that marijuana remains a Schedule III controlled substance under Federal Law. Federal contractors must follow Federal drug-free workplace rules, which prohibit marijuana use, even if medical or recreational use is permitted under State Law.  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS & LOCATION DETAILS:

  • Experience using OpenShift and Strategy CMC together in a production environment,
  • Prior work in DOE, federal, or other government-regulated environments
  • Familiarity with security, compliance, and configuration management requirements in regulated systems
  • Current or prior DOE Q Clearance,
  • Previous experience on DOE sites and programs.
  • Remote Position - No Travel Required.
  • Los Alamos National Lab
  • 5/8 Schedule

#LI-TG1

#LI-Remote

Employment Type: CONTRACTOR

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