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Game Engine Programmer Jobs in North Carolina (NOW HIRING)

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... ENGINEERING - UNREAL ENGINE What We Do Unreal-powered projects have been on the bleeding edge of ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Durham, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Matthews, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Chapel Hill, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Wilmington, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Raleigh, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Greensboro, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Charlotte, NC ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or ...

Lead UI Engineer

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$57.25 - $73.25/hr

Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company that creates award-winning games and engine technology. They are seeking a Lead UI Engineer who will be responsible for core UI features and ...

We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development. ENGINEERING - EPIC ... GAMES SERVICES What We Do Driving the plug-in power behind Unreal Engine 5. We bridge connections ...

AI Programmer

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$119K - $132K/yr

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... ENGINEERING - GAMES What We Do Unreal projects have been leading the pack of real-time ...

... game engine. - Collaborate effectively with a team of artists and programmers to offer creative solutions to both art and game design challenges. - Produce concept sketches and quick edits to ...

Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being ...

Game Designer, Activities

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$143K/yr

Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being ...

Principal Engineer, AI Platform

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$125K - $167K/yr

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... Behind the products is an engineering organization that operates at rare scale: real-time ...

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Game Engine Programmer information

See North Carolina salary details

$10K

$84.2K

$157.7K

How much do game engine programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for game engine programmer in North Carolina is $84,188.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21,800.00 and $132,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a game engine programmer?

To thrive as a Game Engine Programmer, you need strong skills in C++ or C#, computer graphics, mathematics, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard engines like Unreal or Unity, version control systems (e.g., Git), and sometimes specialized certifications in game development tools are highly beneficial. Effective problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are critical for building robust and efficient game engines that support creative teams and deliver high-quality gaming experiences.

What is a game engine programmer?

A Game Engine Programmer is responsible for developing and optimizing the core technology that powers video games. They work on rendering, physics, memory management, and other low-level systems to ensure the engine runs efficiently. Their job involves writing and maintaining engine code, debugging performance issues, and implementing new features to support game development. They often collaborate with other programmers, artists, and designers to ensure the engine meets the technical and creative needs of the project.

What are some typical challenges faced by game engine programmers, and how can they be addressed?

Game Engine Programmers often encounter challenges like optimizing for performance across multiple platforms, integrating new features without breaking existing systems, and troubleshooting complex bugs that can impact gameplay. Addressing these challenges requires a mix of strong debugging skills, continuous learning of new technologies and industry standards, and effective collaboration with other developers and artists. Open communication and regular code reviews within the team help catch issues early and promote best practices. Additionally, staying updated with the latest optimization techniques and hardware advancements ensures that the engine remains competitive and efficient. Embracing a problem-solving mindset and being proactive in seeking feedback are key to managing the ever-evolving technical landscape of game development.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina? The most popular types of Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina? For Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina look for? The top searched job categories for Game Engine Programmer jobs in North Carolina are:
Infographic showing various Game Engine Programmer job openings in North Carolina as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $84,188 per year, or $40.5 per hour.

Engine Programmer

Epic Games

Cary, NC โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ENGINEERING - UNREAL ENGINE
What We Do
Unreal-powered projects have been on the bleeding edge of real-time entertainment for over 20 years. Our team of engineering experts are always innovating to improve the tools and technology that empower content developers worldwide.
What You'll Do
The Fortnite Tech Desktop team is looking for an experienced Engine Programmer to enhance the player experience on the PC platform. You will work with other engineers and directly contribute to building and improving our Desktop platform support to an industry-leading state.
This role covers a wide range of specialties, focusing on stability and performance engineering and ensuring critical features are available and performant for the Fortnite user base.
In this role, you will
  • Analyze and resolve stability and performance problems of Fortnite on a wide range of PC hardware configurations; this includes identifying solutions in such areas as:
    • Solving CPU and GPU performance and compatibility issues
    • Making improvements to platform toolchains, i.e., compiler/linker support, SDK upgrades, platform-specific data management tools, debugger integration, crash reporting, etc.
    • Improvements in low-level systems that interface with platform APIs, i.e., memory allocators (physical and virtual), file systems, and input systems
  • Monitor stability and performance data from Fortnite releases, address live issues that players are facing, and improve Unreal Engine's systems and applications in Fortnite-specific use cases
  • Build and maintain Fortnite's support across PC storefronts, operating systems, and architectures, including Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store builds and Windows on ARM
  • Collaborate with a variety of other Epic teams within Fortnite and Unreal Engine to help them solve complex technical challenges in ways that move the stability and quality of Fortnite and our internal products forward
What we're looking for
  • Strong C++ knowledge and multi-threaded programming techniques; ability to code and architect various core engine systems
  • Experience in profiling and optimizing a large codebase
  • Ability to diagnose, debug, and action complex problems coming from a live-service title and experience in handling stability issues
  • Demonstrated ability to reason about and debug large, interacting systems from the macro-level to the micro-level
  • Experience with Linux, such as profiling and optimizing code that also runs on servers, is preferred
  • Experience with OS-level systems, Windows/Linux APIs, and common frameworks is a plus
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.