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Game Development Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Shield AI

Principal Designer (R5250)

Washington, DC · On-site

$230K - $340K/yr

... game development, interactive media design, ...). The charter of this group is to steer technology ... The result is direct contribution to products in the former case, and development of reference ...

Shield AI

Principal Designer (R5250)

Washington, DC

... game development, interactive media design, ...). The charter of this group is to steer technology ... The result is direct contribution to products in the former case, and development of reference ...

Es Vedra Cinemas

Regional Director

Washington, DC

... movies, bowling, games, and much more--all under one roof. At Es Vedra Cinemas, we believe ... Manages people issues to ensure retention, training and development, and hiring standards for all ...

i3

Program Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$146K - $239K/yr

Organize, direct and coordinate planning and implementation of all contract support activities ... game development and implementation. We have established a broad offering of products and ...

Maxtena Inc

Sales Director

Germantown, MD · On-site

Manage the business development efforts & direct selling of IOT Solutions offered by the Company ... Fun & games events * Coffee, sweets, & much more... Maxtena is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Maxtena Inc

Sales Director

Germantown, MD

Manage the business development efforts & direct selling of IOT Solutions offered by the Company ... Fun & games events * Coffee, sweets, & much more... Maxtena is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Fitness Equation

Kidz Gym Director

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$47K - $64K/yr

Communicates appropriate information to parents; maintains developmental profiles for children. We ... Organize and participate in recreational and educational activities, such as games, drawing ...

Overtime Athletics

Basketball Camp Director

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$21 - $23/hr

We need a Basketball Camp Director who knows the game, can manage a full day of programming, lead a ... Run or delegate station-based skill development (ball handling, shooting, defense, IQ) * Be the ...

BAE Systems

Dir I- Business Dev

Arlington, VA · On-site

$153K - $260K/yr

The Electronic Systems (ES) Sector's Business Development function is seeking a Director for US ... Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems' game-changing defense and ...

Golden Pond School

Preschool Director

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$47K - $64K/yr

... child development. We're not just a preschool-we're a beacon of learning, and we need your ... Why This Role is a Total Game-Changer : * Start NOW : Step into leadership today and make an impact!

Golden Pond School

Preschool Director

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

... child development. We're not just a preschool-we're a beacon of learning, and we need your ... Why This Role is a Total Game-Changer : * Start NOW : Step into leadership today and make an impact!

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Game Development Director information

How does a Game Development Director balance creative vision with project deadlines and budget constraints?

As a Game Development Director, one of the main challenges is ensuring the team's creative ideas are realized while staying within project timelines and budgets. This requires close collaboration with designers, producers, and engineers to prioritize features and make informed trade-offs. Regular progress reviews and open communication help identify potential risks early, allowing for adjustments before issues escalate. Directors often foster a culture where innovation is encouraged, but practical considerations guide decision-making to ensure the finished game meets both creative and business goals.

What does a Game Development Director do?

A Game Development Director oversees the entire process of creating and delivering video games. They manage teams of designers, programmers, artists, and other specialists, ensuring the project stays on schedule and within budget. Their responsibilities include setting the creative vision, making high-level decisions, and communicating with stakeholders to align the game’s direction with business goals. Additionally, they resolve conflicts, manage resources, and help maintain a productive and innovative work environment.

What is the difference between Game Development Director vs Game Producer?

AspectGame Development DirectorGame Producer
Primary FocusOversees overall game development strategy, creative vision, and team leadershipManages project timelines, budgets, and coordination among teams
Required SkillsLeadership, creative direction, technical knowledgeProject management, communication, organizational skills
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with designers, artists, programmers, and executivesCoordinates between departments, manages schedules and resources
Industry UsageCommonly found in AAA and large-scale game studiosWidely used across all game development levels

The Game Development Director focuses on the creative and strategic leadership of game projects, while the Game Producer handles project management, ensuring timely delivery within budget. Both roles are essential but serve different functions within the game development process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Game Development Director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Development Director, you need extensive experience in game design and production, leadership skills, and a strong understanding of the gaming industry, often backed by a degree in computer science, game design, or related fields. Proficiency with project management tools (such as Jira or Trello), game engines (like Unity or Unreal Engine), and familiarity with agile development methodologies is essential. Exceptional communication, creative vision, and team management abilities help foster innovation and guide multidisciplinary teams toward shared goals. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering high-quality games on schedule while leading teams effectively in a fast-paced, competitive environment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Development jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Game Development jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Development Director jobs in Washington? For Game Development Director jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Development Director jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Game Development Director jobs in Washington are:
Game Development Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Development Director job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.
Principal Engineer, Software (R5285)

Principal Engineer, Software (R5285)

Shield AI

Washington, DC • Remote

$220K - $330K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. 

Job Description:

The Special Projects team at Shield AI is an elite force within the office of the CTO. It consists of a group of very senior (L5-L8) and highly experienced software engineering experts from diverse fields (aerospace, robotics, cloud infrastructure, game development, interactive media design, ...). The charter of this group is to steer technology development towards strategic alignment with the CTO’s vision, through tactical insertion into teams and technologies across the organization. Individuals within this team make direct and at times forward-sprinting contributions to all three pillars of Hivemind, Shield AI’s software ecosystem for developing and deploying resilient intelligent teaming for aircrafts. Hivemind consists of four products: EdgeOS (C++ based high-performance middleware for autonomy development), Pilot (autonomy for the edge built atop EdgeOS; a models-based, modular and open architecture C++ codebase), Forge (Shield AI's AI Factory for the design, development, and testing of Hivemind Edge systems; a service-oriented architecture leveraged through an SDK, CLI, and web portal; a Go, Python, Typescript codebase), Commander (Software and hardware to support rich human-in-the-loop and human-on-the-loop interactions with the Hivemind; a C++-based back-end for interaction with Pilot; and a web-application UI for mission planning, command and control by operators implemented in a Typescript/React codebase).

The Special Projects team is chartered to operate effectively within ambiguity. While this team does not own any software products, it tactically and strategically impacts the development of all foundational Hivemind products and leverages those technologies to rapidly deliver low-TRL solutions. This work happens should-to-shoulder with the product teams in some cases, and in a forward-sprinting manner within the Special Projects team in other cases. The result is direct contribution to products in the formercase, and development of reference implementations in the latter. The Special Projects team also functions as a pipeline for product and solution engineering teams across the organization. Individuals who enter the Special Projects team rapidly gain depth and breadth in their understanding of the Hivemind software ecosystem. This positions them well for leading technology development effort across the product and solution organization. 

What you'll do:
  • Design and prototype generative AI experience focused on accelerating autonomy development
  • Work closely with members of the Office of the CTO to crystallize the vision of the Hivemind product and its documentation
  • Lead the user experience design of Hivemind Generative AI
  • Work closely with the technical leads of Hivemind Commander (mission planning, command and control, air-ground communications) and Hivemind Design (configurations, test and evaluation, rehearsal, analysis) to enhance the user experience of their products
  • Conduct user research to understand user personae and their needs
  • Investigate competing products and their user experiences, synthesize findings to present to engineering and product leadership
Required qualifications:
  • 15+ years experience developing large, production quality software systems.  
  • Excellent grasp of software development and coding principles with high productivity in a mainstream language (e.g. Typescript, C++, Go, Python, Rust, etc.).  
  • Strong knowledge of modern software engineering best practices; Experience with Git and code management tools; Good software hygiene regarding code documentation, unit testing, bug tracking.   
  • 5+ years of experience with React/Node/Typescript/Javascript development.
  • 5+ years of experience with Web applications development ("Front-End" or "Full-stack").
  • Deep understanding full-stack web development (Document-Object Model (DOM), browser APIs, standards, semantics, Websockets, HTTP Streaming and Server-Sent Events (SSE), Client and UI state management; best practises and strategies, as they apply to React-based rendering, Advanced SPA routing, URL-based state persistence,sharing mechanisms, Seamless content loading states and progressive rendering techniques.)
  • Multi-modal input handling (text, files, images, audio). Experience with client-side LLM Context Management
  • Fluid intelligence that allows one to operate effectively in sometimes ambiguous conditions, while finding opportunities to drive technical efforts and force multiply. 
  • Experience with Linux, Docker, and CI/CD environments.  
  • Hands-on experience with a major cloud platform (Azure, GCP, AWS).  
  • This role requires travel to a Shield AI location 1-3 times per quarter
Preferred qualifications:
  • Experience with geospatial data and WebGL. 
  • Experience with Playwright UI testing
  • Experience with Electron (or similar).  
  • Building debugging/inspection UIs for generative AI systems
  • Experience with user experience design video games
  • Experience designing for “Low Code” or “No Code” systems
  • Experience and/or comfort reading C++ and/or Python and/or Typescript
#LI-KC3
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Full-time regular employee offer package:
Pay within range listed + Bonus + Benefits + Equity
 
Temporary employee offer package:
Pay within range listed above + temporary benefits package (applicable after 60 days of employment)
 
Salary compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, licenses and certifications, and specific work location. All offers are contingent on a cleared background and possible reference check. Military fellows and part-time employees are not eligible for benefits. Please speak to your talent acquisition representative for more information.
 
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Shield AI is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.