ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Game Engine Developer Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Roblox

Software Engineer, Communications

San Mateo, CA · On-site

You will work with teams across Game Engine, Safety, and ML Platform, building backend services at ... If you are a developer with an understanding of large scale systems and want to shape how the next ...

Roblox

Principal Rendering Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Help improve the performance and stability of our game engine * Work with other engineering and art teams * Take ownership of a project throughout its full lifecycle You Have: * Knowledge of C++ and ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsGame Engine Developer JobsGame Engine Developer Jobs in Berkeley, CA

Game Engine Developer information

See Berkeley, CA salary details

$39.8K

$132.8K

$220.4K

How much do game engine developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for game engine developer in Berkeley, CA is $132,816.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,800.00 and $151,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a game engine developer?

A Game Engine Developer is a software engineer who designs, develops, and maintains the core technology used to build video games, known as a game engine. They create systems for rendering graphics, handling physics, processing audio, and managing assets, enabling game designers and artists to build interactive worlds. Game Engine Developers work closely with other developers to ensure the engine is efficient, scalable, and supports the features needed for modern games. Their work is crucial for both building new engines and customizing existing ones like Unity or Unreal Engine.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game engine developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Engine Developer, you need strong proficiency in computer science fundamentals, C++ programming, and experience with rendering, physics, or audio systems, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with development tools like Visual Studio, version control systems (e.g., Git), and graphics APIs such as DirectX or OpenGL is typically required. Problem-solving ability, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and addressing technical challenges. These skills ensure robust, high-performance engine development that meets the complex needs of modern game production.

What are some common challenges faced by game engine developers when collaborating with cross-functional teams?

Game Engine Developers often work closely with artists, designers, and gameplay programmers, which can present challenges in balancing technical constraints with creative vision. Coordinating feature requests, optimizing for performance, and ensuring tools are user-friendly for non-programmers require strong communication and problem-solving skills. It's important to translate technical limitations into understandable terms and to build solutions that address the needs of different stakeholders. Successful developers proactively seek feedback and iterate on tools to support a smooth production pipeline.

What is the difference between Game Engine Developer vs Game Programmer?

AspectGame Engine DeveloperGame Programmer
Primary FocusDeveloping and optimizing game engines and toolsWriting gameplay code and implementing features
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in C++, graphics APIs, engine architectureStrong programming skills, knowledge of game frameworks
Work EnvironmentEngine development teams, software companiesGame development teams, studios

Game Engine Developers focus on creating and maintaining the core technology that powers games, while Game Programmers work on implementing gameplay features within those engines. Both roles require strong programming skills, but their responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

Are game engine developers in demand?

Game engine developers are in high demand due to the growth of the gaming industry and the need for skilled programmers proficient in tools like C++, C#, and Unreal or Unity engines. Companies seek developers who can optimize performance, create new features, and support cross-platform development, making this a competitive and evolving field.

What are popular job titles related to Game Engine Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA?

For Game Engine Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Game Engine Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Game Engine Developer jobs in Berkeley, CA are:

Game Engine Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Engine Developer job openings in Berkeley, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,816 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

Senior Software Engineer, Engine Systems

Roblox

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$242K - $293K/yr

Other

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Every day, tens of millions of people come to Roblox to explore, create, play, learn, and connect with friends in 3D immersive digital experiences- all created by our global community of developers and creators.
At Roblox, we're building the tools and platform that empower our community to bring any experience that they can imagine to life. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together, from anywhere in the world, and on any device.We're on a mission to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and looking for amazing talent to help us get there.
A career at Roblox means you'll be working to shape the future of human interaction, solving unique technical challenges at scale, and helping to create safer, more civil shared experiences for everyone.
As a Senior Software Engineer on the Engine DataModel team, you will own and innovate on the foundational components that form the backbone of the Roblox platform. In the Roblox Engine, the DataModel is a tree-like structure that is analogous to a scenegraph in other 3D engines. This role will report to the engineering manager and will be based out of our HQ in San Mateo, CA in a hybrid model 3 days a week (Tuesdays to Thursdays).
Our team owns:
  • The core structures and systems are used to build the DataModel and interact with it.
  • The C++ reflection bindings that form the Engine's Luau API surface and let creators interact with the DataModel. We've built custom codegen tooling to generate the C++ for these reflection bindings and other related structures.
  • DataModel serialization ... and much more!
You will:
  • Develop engine code that performs well for all user-created games on the Roblox platform.
  • Build the core systems and data structures used in the Roblox engine, working with other teams to find universal solutions.
  • Take ownership of projects throughout their full lifecycles.
  • Execute code that performs well on all the devices Roblox supports-from desktop clients to mobile phone clients to console clients.
You have:
  • Experience developing outstanding systems-level C++ programming.
  • Have experience working on game engine internals
  • Responsibility for building and maintaining systems that work optimally.
  • Curiosity to learn and stay up-to-date on technology developments.
  • Have a curiosity about the actual work the CPU does when you use smart pointers, templates, virtual functions, and blocks of memory, both structured and raw.

For roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA: The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits as described on this page.
Annual Salary Range
$242,100-$293,800 USD
Roles that are based in an office are onsite Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with optional presence on Monday and Friday (unless otherwise noted).
Roblox provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Roblox also provides reasonable accommodations to candidates with qualifying disabilities or religious beliefs during the recruiting process.
For US based roles only, please note the Company may not be able to employ candidates for this role who have United States work authorization related to certain U.S. visa categories, or support future H-1B sponsorship at this time.

Apply