ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

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

Embedding VC

Founding Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$182K/yr

We're assembling a core team of engineers, artists and educators to build the interface between AI ... Experience with Godot, or any 2D game engine's design/prototyping tools. * Familiarity with ...

Roblox

Senior Rendering Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$119K - $163K/yr

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 ...

Unity

Senior Software Engineer, Webshops

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$144K - $190K/yr

Unity is the world's leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. They are seeking a Senior Full-Stack Engineer to join their LiveOps team, responsible for ...

Roblox

Senior Software Engineer, Game Solutions

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

As a Senior Software Engineer on our Game Solutions engineering team, you will push the envelope of ... You'll ultimately have a strong influence on our engine roadmap and APIs. You Will: * Be a trusted ...

Roblox

Senior Software Engineer, App Performance

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

You will work primarily in cross-platform C++ Roblox game engine code, partnering with teams across ... Collaborate closely with stakeholders across Engineering, Product, and Design to evaluate technical ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

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 Jul 6, 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.

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:
Game Engine Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Engine Developer job openings in Berkeley, CA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,816 per year, or $63.9 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer (Frontend/Engine), Messaging

Senior Software Engineer (Frontend/Engine), Messaging

Roblox

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$139K - $184K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Roblox is a platform that empowers users to create, explore, and connect in immersive 3D experiences. The Senior Software Engineer will focus on building engaging user communication experiences and advancing chat architecture to enhance safety and user experience for millions of users.
Responsibilities:
• Architect and build reusable components that help platformize communication to power user experiences on Roblox.
• Instrumental in launching high quality real time communication products/features on mobile devices and high end platforms
• Innovate on the platform to provide creators the tools they need to build deeply tailored & integrated social experiences
• Devise creative solutions to optimize and scale our systems to support communication for a billion people on the platform.
• Introduce and improve our processes to help us be more effective and efficient.
• Enforce high quality standards while we iterate on feature development.
• Collaborate with other engineering and product teams (Game engine, Creator, Trust & Safety to name a few) at the company to push the boundary of what is possible.
• Self-organize and take ownership of projects throughout its full lifecycle.
• Help recruit future talent and mentor engineers for the team.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years of experience as a front-end or client apps engineer working on complex user interfaces.
• Experience working on large-scale consumer applications in React (or other frontend frameworks like Vue, Angular or Svelte), React Native, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS and other platforms.
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a similar technical field.
• Experience collaborating with backend engineers on client/server design and architecture for high-scale products, including knowledge of performance principles like caching and modern technologies.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional partners in Product, Design, and Data Science to drive meaningful results that align with the team's overarching vision.
Preferred:
• Experience building communication products and features.
• Experience working closely with design, strong design interest/background.
• Experience in analyzing & improving client performance, optimizing device memory and framerate.
• Experience building applications in Lua.
• Experience with C++
• Experience of test driven development.
Company:
Roblox operates an online platform for user-generated games and immersive 3D experiences. Founded in 2004, the company is headquartered in San Mateo, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

Apply