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Game Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Game Development information

See California salary details

$32.1K

$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.

Business Development Manager (BDM) | San Francisco- All Services

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Socket.dev
Network Security • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Socket.devexternal

Other

Retirement

Posted 7 days ago

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to drive growth across Side's full portfolio of video game development and production services in North America.

This is a broad commercial role responsible for winning new clients and growing existing partnerships across:

  • Game Development / Codev
  • Art Production
  • Audio Production
  • Quality Assurance (QA)
  • Localization
  • Localization Quality Assurance (LQA)
  • Player Support

While experience in a particular service area may be preferred depending on the role, this is not a single-service sales position. The successful candidate will be expected to understand, represent, and sell Side's complete service offering to game developers, publishers, and other interactive entertainment companies within their assigned North American market.

Sales and Account Growth

Drive sustainable revenue growth through a balanced focus on new client acquisition and expansion of existing customer partnerships.

Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities within assigned accounts and markets.

Own and grow a portfolio of existing client relationships, developing a strong understanding of their business, production roadmaps, and evolving needs.

Identify opportunities to broaden Side's relationships within existing accounts through cross-selling, new service lines, and engagement with additional teams, studios, and decision-makers.

Develop and execute strategic account plans that support long-term, multi-service partnerships and sustainable growth.

Market Development

Identify new opportunities by tracking industry activity, production trends, emerging technologies, and changing client needs across the games market.

Build Side's presence within the assigned North American territory through targeted prospecting, relationship development, industry networking, and market intelligence.

Position Side as a strategic partner capable of supporting clients across multiple stages of the game development lifecycle.

Client Discovery and Solution Development

Lead client discovery conversations to understand business objectives, production needs, timelines, and commercial requirements.

Work with Side's service-line and delivery teams to develop appropriate solutions, proposals, pricing, and scopes of work.

Take a consultative approach to identifying where Side can provide additional value across both new and existing client relationships.

Internal Collaboration

Collaborate closely with Side's delivery teams, service-line experts, and commercial colleagues to develop integrated solutions that meet client needs.

Act as the commercial point of contact for assigned accounts, bringing in the appropriate internal specialists as opportunities develop.

Share client feedback, market intelligence, and emerging opportunities with relevant internal teams.

Pipeline and Performance Management

Own individual revenue and business development targets across assigned accounts and markets.

Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities, manage forecasting, and maintain accurate CRM records.

Regularly review account strategy, pipeline development, and commercial performance with leadership.

Requirements
  • 5+ years of experience in business development, sales, or operations within the games or entertainment industry
  • Proven track record of managing client relationships and closing deals in creative or technical service environments
  • Strong understanding of video game development and production workflows, with familiarity across disciplines such as game development, art, audio, QA, localization, LQA, and Player Support.
  • Ability to identify and develop opportunities across multiple service lines and position Side as an integrated, full-service partner.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
  • Proficiency with CRM tools and MS Office or Google Workspace
  • Self-driven, organised, and comfortable managing complex sales cycles and client relationships end to end.
  • Passion for video games and player experience
Preferred but not essential
  • Experience within Quality Assurance, game testing, certification, compliance, or related production services is preferred but not essential.
  • Existing network of contacts among producers, development leads, operations managers, or game developers in the Bay Area and the rest of North America.
  • Experience working in or selling to AAA, AA, or mobile game studios
  • Exposure to selling or delivering services across multiple disciplines (e.g. art, game audio, QA, localization, game development or co-development support)
Benefits
  • Competitive basic salary
  • Working with people creating cutting edge interactive entertainment
  • Excellent OTE with percentage based commission package
  • Group pension scheme and death in service benefit
  • Dynamic and entrepreneurial culture
  • Video games focused environment
  • The opportunity to work with video games pioneers creating cutting edge interactive entertainment
Who we are

Side (formerly PTW) is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world.

Founded in Japan in 1994, Side has grown to become a global force in the video games industry, with over 40 studios in 15 countries worldwide and offices across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Our industry-leading services include codev, art production, localization, audio production, quality assurance, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets. For more information, visit www.side.inc

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