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Game Programming Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

Game Developer

Greenville, NC · On-site

REQUIREMENTS: -3-5 years of professional experience or demonstratable equivalent personal experience developing interactive applications or games using Unity -Strong C# programming skills with an ...

Valicy

Game Developer

Wilmington, NC

REQUIREMENTS: -3-5 years of professional experience or demonstratable equivalent personal experience developing interactive applications or games using Unity -Strong C# programming skills with an ...

Qualcomm

Director of Game Product Management

San Diego, CA · On-site

$247.40K - $259K/yr

The Director of Game Product Management will play a crucial role in shaping mobile gaming ... Required : • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, Humanities ...

Tencent

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$147.80K - $343.60K/yr

Experience bringing multiple large-scale game titles to completion on PC and consoles * 7+ years of professional game programming experience * Experience managing direct reports * Experience ...

Spellbrush

Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You deeply understand Unity We're looking for someone with 5+ years of programming experience and a high level of familiarity with Unity. A good candidate must have shipped at least one game with ...

Spellbrush

Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You deeply understand Unity We're looking for someone with 5+ years of programming experience and a high level of familiarity with Unity. A good candidate must have shipped at least one game with ...

LightSpeed Studios

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$147.80K - $343.60K/yr

Experience bringing multiple large-scale game titles to completion on PC and consoles * 7+ years of professional game programming experience * Experience managing direct reports * Experience ...

DSN

Sr. Game Developer - casino games

Boca Raton, FL · On-site

Game Developer - Casino Gaming Location: Boca Raton, FL or Las Vegas, NV (Onsite) Employment Type: Full-Time (W2) My client is seeking a production-proven Game Developer to build high-performance ...

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Game Programming information

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$11K

$92.6K

$173.5K

How much do game programming jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for game programming in the United States is $92,636.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24,000.00 and $145,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Game Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Programmer, you need strong programming skills in languages such as C++, C#, or Java, along with a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals and a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems, and debugging tools is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective teamwork distinguish outstanding game programmers in collaborative development environments. These skills ensure efficient code development, innovative gameplay experiences, and seamless project execution in the dynamic gaming industry.

How do game programmers typically collaborate with designers and artists during the development process?

Game programmers work closely with designers and artists to bring the creative vision of a game to life. They translate design documents into functional gameplay systems, implement features, and ensure that artistic assets are integrated seamlessly into the game engine. Regular meetings, collaborative tools, and iterative feedback loops are common, allowing teams to quickly identify and resolve issues. Clear communication and flexibility are essential, as requirements often evolve throughout development.

What is game programming?

Game programming is the process of writing code to create video games. Game programmers use programming languages, such as C++ or C#, to develop the mechanics, graphics, physics, and interactions that make up a video game. They work closely with game designers, artists, and sound engineers to bring a game to life, ensuring it runs smoothly and meets the desired gameplay experience. Game programming also involves debugging, optimizing performance, and sometimes creating tools for other team members. It is a key part of the game development process, blending technical skill with creativity.

What is the difference between Game Programming vs Software Development?

AspectGame ProgrammingSoftware Development
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, programming skills, knowledge of game enginesBachelor's in Computer Science or related field, programming skills, software engineering knowledge
Work EnvironmentGame studios, entertainment industry, collaborative teamsTech companies, various industries, team-based or individual projects
Industry UsagePrimarily in gaming and entertainmentBroad, including finance, healthcare, enterprise apps
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

Game programming focuses on creating interactive entertainment using specialized game engines and graphics techniques, while software development encompasses a wide range of applications across industries. Both roles require strong programming skills and similar educational backgrounds, but game programming is more specialized towards gaming platforms and real-time graphics.

More about Game Programming jobs
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What are the most commonly searched types of Game Programming jobs? The most popular types of Game Programming jobs are:
What states have the most Game Programming jobs? States with the most job openings for Game Programming jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Game Programming jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Game Programming jobs are:
Game Programming jobs near you

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)

Seismic Squirrel

Issaquah, WA • On-site, Remote

$62 - $75/hr

Contractor

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)
Seismic Squirrel LLC
Job Title: Senior Unity Game Engineer
Our Games: Narrative-centric RPG videogames set in an alternate history 1930s New York.
Role: Unity programming and game architecture, Engineering leadership.
Experience: Senior Level, 8+ years of professional Unity videogame engineering experience
developing for PC / console. Must have successfully shipped game titles in the senior
engineering role.
Location: USA or Canada (Remote) - Must reside within the UTC-4 to UTC-8 timezones.
Company Size: 20
Pay: $62 - $75 USD per hour - Depends on skills and experience.
Job Type: Contractor or Contract-to-Hire (see below)
Overview
We are looking for a creative and resourceful Senior Gameplay Engineer with effective leadership skills, a clear understanding of Unity programming, experience developing combat AI systems, a logical and systemic thinker, with an iterative approach to development, a collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and an enthusiasm for RPG and turn-based videogames. The ideal candidate enjoys working with talented engineers, designers, writers, artists, and management, with a drive to create a fun and cohesive gameplay experience, able to empathize with both new players and with experts of the genre.
The ideal candidate communicates effectively in a small cross-functional remote team environment, clearly presenting their ideas to stakeholders for signoff. They bring a passion for working within an iterative development environment, having a collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for videogames.
This is a remote position which requires regular collaboration online during our core work hours (9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Pacific), attending relevant team meetings (e.g. daily scrum, retrospectives, sprint planning, and design meetings). Occasional evening calls should be expected for collaboration with overseas vendors. The option to convert to full-time employee may be available to ideal candidates, depending on their location, skills, fit, project needs and schedule, and funding. H-1B transfers and sponsorships are not available at this time.
Quests
  • Design, implement, and improve...
    • Narrative: Integration with authoring, dialog, localization, and voiceover tools and content.
    • Combat: Vehicle physics, damage states, targeting, firing arcs, line of sight, area of effect.
    • Maps and Scenes: Travel, POI availability and interactions, encounters.
    • Backend: Save file system, achievements, DLC support.
    • Tools: Level design, unit and stats configuration, map editor, narrative editor.[
  • Lead engineering efforts, mentoring, effectively coordinating and delegating engineering duties.
  • Prototype new gameplay ideas and mechanics.
  • Creatively apply engineering best practices to implement architecture and programming for our games.
  • Own and support our DevOps pipelines utilizing tools including Unity Cloud Build and Bitbucket.
  • Identify and modify existing frameworks according to our project needs, building some game frameworks and subsystems from scratch as needed.
  • Engage in all aspects of game programming: Systems, UI / UX, APIs, internationalization and localization, optimization, and instrumentation.
  • Expand games from PC to console platforms.
  • Troubleshoot code and fix bugs.
  • Mentor junior programmers.
  • Educate and explain programming concerns to the rest of the Development Team.
  • Work with the Design Team to maintain UX quality throughout the development process.
  • Actively collaborate with the rest of the Development Team, openly communicating progress and problems, helping us set realistic project timelines and expectations.
  • Participate in internal game testing and feedback.
  • Help to create and maintain core technical documentation.
  • Balance and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, working within agreed timeframes and budgets.

Character Stats
  • 8+ years of experience as a Unity software engineer through the full lifecycle of game development from start to finish:
    concept, design, prototyping, programming, content creation, testing, optimization, launch, support.
  • Strong Unity programming experience, specifically with turn-based combat games for PC / console.
  • Experienced creating and balancing combat AI.
  • Deep understanding of Unity and the performance impact of game architecture.
  • Adept at object-oriented programming and design principles using C# and the .NET platform.
  • Familiar with software engineering best practices, design patterns, and unit testing.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, resourceful, able to find solutions when needed.
  • Enthusiastic for quality gameplay and a familiarity with many games and genres, past and present.
  • Strong self-discipline, motivated, a self-starter with a drive for excellence.
  • Organized, detail-oriented, able to work fast and loose or carefully with quality when each is needed.
  • Courteous and patient, able to give and receive constructive and inspirational feedback gracefully.
  • Able to work effectively with people having a variety of personalities and backgrounds.
  • Wise leadership skills with high emotional intelligence, a respected mentor across disciplines.
  • Adaptable: The job can change according to the needs at hand and requires wearing various hats.
  • Able to work remotely using various collaboration tools.
  • Strong written, visual, and verbal English language communication and presentation skills.
  • Familiar with design diagramming techniques using UML.
  • Experienced working with professional narrative authoring tools (e.g. Articy, Arcweave, Pixel Crushers).
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Visio.
  • Passionate to learn new tools and technologies.

Bonus Points
  • Familiar with Pixel Crushers' Dialogue System for Unity.
  • Familiar with Dark Tonic's Master Audio.
  • Experienced using creative tools (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Blender, 3ds Max, Figma).
  • Experienced with XML processing, DOM, SAX, XSD, XPath, and XSLT.
  • Located in one of our hub metros: Seattle, Los Angeles, or Edmonton.

The Company
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.
If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you, and if you're located and authorized to work in the USA or Canada, please submit both your cover letter and résumé to Seismic Squirrel.
For more information about Seismic Squirrel, go to https://www.SeismicSquirrel.com/

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