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

StaffGreat.com

Engineer (early career)

Sonoma, CA · On-site

They're hiring early-career engineers with raw ability rather than domain experience. The role is ... Exposure to one of four adjacent domains: CAD, robotics, perception, or graphics and game design.

StaffGreat.com

Engineer (early career)

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

They're hiring early-career engineers with raw ability rather than domain experience. The role is ... Exposure to one of four adjacent domains: CAD, robotics, perception, or graphics and game design.

Cloud Chamber

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of designers, artists, and engineers to create industry-leading AI characters and combat gameplay. You will ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of designers, artists, and engineers to create industry-leading AI characters and combat gameplay. You will ...

2K

Senior Combat Designer (AI archetype)

Novato, CA · On-site

$119K - $128K/yr

As a Senior Combat Designer at Cloud Chamber, you will collaborate with an innovative team of designers, artists, and engineers to create industry-leading AI characters and combat gameplay. You will ...

2K

Senior Manager, Global Product Marketing, NBA

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Collaborate with Developers, Product and Commercial leads to launch marketing workstreams for new in-game technologies. * Creative Execution: Guide the briefing process for new products, ensuring ...

2K

Senior Manager, Global Product Marketing, NBA

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Collaborate with Developers, Product and Commercial leads to launch marketing workstreams for new in-game technologies. * Creative Execution: Guide the briefing process for new products, ensuring ...

Anvil Builders Inc

Project Engineer II

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site

Anvil Builders is a dynamic general contracting and civil engineering firm boasting a diverse scope ... Daily game plans * CO & RFI tracking * Cost and labor tracking and projections Requirements

2K

Technical Stage Manager

Petaluma, CA · On-site

... gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment. Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers ...

2K

Technical Stage Manager

Petaluma, CA · On-site

... gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment. Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, thinkers ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Level Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As an artist, your years of experience in the games industry have given you a solid understanding ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

2K

Lead Level Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As an artist, your years of experience in the games industry have given you a solid understanding ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Level Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As an artist, your years of experience in the games industry have given you a solid understanding ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

2K

Lead Level Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

As an artist, your years of experience in the games industry have given you a solid understanding ... We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams ...

2K

Manager, Social Marketing

Novato, CA · On-site

... gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment. Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, problem ...

2K

Manager, Social Marketing

Novato, CA · On-site

... gaming genres, including sports, shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, casual, and family entertainment. Our team of engineers, marketers, artists, writers, data scientists, producers, problem ...

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Showing results 41-60

All JobsGame Developer JobsGame Developer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA

Game Developer information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$35.5K

$118.6K

$196.8K

How much do game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for game developer in Santa Rosa, CA is $118,594.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,100.00 and $135,600.00 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 popular job titles related to Game Developer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA?

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

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

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

Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Developer job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,594 per year, or $57 per hour.

Engineer (early career)

Sonoma, CA • On-site

StaffGreat.com
See more jobs at StaffGreat.comexternal

Other

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Our client is a fast-moving startup doing ambitious work in AI. They're hiring early-career engineers with raw ability rather than domain experience. The role is deliberately broad: machine learning, geometry, graphics, and AI, spanning geometry and data pipelines, evaluation harnesses, internal tooling, and training and experiment support. They want real strength in one of those areas and curiosity about the rest.


What will you be doing?

  • Build and maintain geometry and data pipelines. Parse CAD, convert formats, extract features, and verify that what comes out matches what went in.
  • Write the evaluation harnesses and tooling that tell the team whether a model actually got better.
  • Support training and experiment runs. Instrument them, debug failures, and turn results into something readable at a glance.
  • Build internal tools that remove friction for everyone else.
  • Take well-scoped pieces of larger research and engineering efforts, then grow your scope as you earn it.


Dealbreaker

Work experience

  • Experience with ML training, data pipelines, or internal tooling
  • Internships or research at organizations with a high hiring bar: top aerospace, automotive, or robotics companies, leading AI research labs, or major tech companies, or a lab affiliation

Education

  • BS or MS in CS, engineering, math, physics, or a related technical field, from a highly competitive, top-tier program

Hard skills

  • Proficient in Python and/or C/C++

Baseline

Seniority

  • 0–2 years of experience (ONLY) in software engineering, including internships and research

Miscellaneous

  • Willing to start as a generalist before specializing

Nice-to-have

Hard skills

  • Exposure to one of four adjacent domains: CAD, robotics, perception, or graphics and game design. Coursework or projects count; depth is not expected.



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