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Game Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Anduril Industries

Game Development Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Linux development experience * Experience developing on console platforms. * Shipped at least one AAA game title in a similar role. * Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance ...

Visa Hunt

Game Development Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Linux development experience * Experience developing on console platforms. * Shipped at least one AAA game title in a similar role. * Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance ...

Anduril Industries

Game Development Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166K - $220K/yr

Linux development experience * Experience developing on console platforms. * Shipped at least one AAA game title in a similar role. * Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance ...

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Game Development information

See California salary details

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$107K

$177.6K

How much do game development jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for game development in California is $107,050.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,400.00 and $122,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is game development?

Game development is the process of creating video games, encompassing everything from concept and design to programming, art, sound, testing, and release. It often involves a team of professionals with different skills, such as game designers, programmers, artists, writers, and testers. The process may use game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine to build the game's mechanics, graphics, and overall experience. Game development can be done by large studios or individual indie developers, and projects can range from simple mobile games to complex, multi-platform titles.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in game development teams?

Game development often involves tight deadlines, rapidly changing project requirements, and the need to balance creative vision with technical constraints. Team members regularly collaborate across disciplines—such as programming, design, art, and sound—which can lead to communication challenges and the need for strong teamwork skills. Additionally, adapting to new technologies and tools is essential, as the industry evolves quickly, requiring continuous learning and flexibility.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in game development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Game Development, you need strong programming skills (commonly in C++, C#, or Java), a solid understanding of computer graphics, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as version control systems such as Git, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills that help in designing engaging gameplay and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualifications are crucial for creating technically sound, innovative, and commercially successful games.

What is the difference between Game Development vs Game Design?

AspectGame DevelopmentGame Design
Primary FocusProgramming, coding, and technical implementation of gamesConcept creation, story, and gameplay mechanics
Required SkillsProgramming languages, software engineering, problem-solvingCreativity, storytelling, user experience design
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, coding labs, software studiosDesign studios, creative teams, collaborative workshops
Common CertificationsComputer Science, Software Engineering, Programming coursesGame Design degrees, Creative Arts, Storytelling courses

Game Development involves the technical creation and programming of games, focusing on coding and software engineering. Game Design centers on crafting game concepts, storylines, and gameplay mechanics. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and educational backgrounds, making them distinct yet interconnected careers in the gaming industry.

What jobs are there in game development?

In game development, common roles include game designer, programmer, artist, animator, sound designer, and quality assurance tester. These positions often require skills in programming languages, graphic design, and familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Development jobs in California?

The most popular types of Game Development jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Game Development jobs in California?

For Game Development jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Game Development jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Development jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Game Development jobs?

Cities in California with the most Game Development job openings:

Game Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Development job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,050 per year, or $51.5 per hour.

Game Development Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA • On-site

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees
Learn more about Anduril Industriesexternal

$166K - $220K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago

Anduril rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Anduril

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century's most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril's family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Our team builds, tests, integrates, and scales software that beautifully visualizes both real and simulated historical or live data. Our software acts as the visual client for Anduril's Mission Simulation product, bringing visions to life in a 2D environment as well as an immersive 3D AR environment. It lets users create "what ifs" to evaluate mission concepts, drive future mission tactics, and accelerate mission understanding. It is often used for Business Development and Engineering purposes.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Partner with stakeholders to establish clear priorities and define expectations which translate to a scope of work that you and the team can effectively deliver on
  • Identify technical risks and their solutions, collaborating with the broader engineering groups at Anduril.
  • Ensure client stability by diagnosing and resolving defects.
  • Analyze and optimize both memory and performance in systems that must scale from high-end desktops to mobile AR systems
  • Identify problems; solve them: implement robust, high-quality solutions

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Excellent C++ skills and software engineering principles
  • Experience working in large codebases to solve complex problems.
  • Minimum five years of professional programming experience
  • Solid understanding of 3D math
  • Ability to write clean, maintainable and extensible code with attention to reusability
  • Experience in a broad range of engineering areas on shipping games or real time visualization systems, with special attention given to low-level code
  • Excellent spoken and written communication
  • Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export controlled information or facilities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Linux development experience
  • Experience developing on console platforms.
  • Shipped at least one AAA game title in a similar role.
  • Be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Top Secret security clearance

US Salary Range
$166,000-$220,000 USD
The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Benefits
At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you're supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.
Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.
To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:
  • No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.
  • Please always verify communications:
    • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
    • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.
  • Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.
  • What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy
To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.
By submitting your application, you consent to Anduril Industries using a third-party service provider to conduct pre-employment risk, integrity, and due diligence screening and assessing potential risks as part of your application process. This third-party service provider provides risk-intelligence services that may include analysis of sanctions and watchlists, adverse media, public-record information, and other lawful open-source or commercial data sources. This third-party service provider does not act as a consumer reporting agency. Use of this provider helps to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect technology, intellectual property, and organizational security.

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

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