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Game Software Developer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Principal Software Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

$119K - $169K/yr

Fan-favorites and latest hits include FarmVille™, Words With Friends™, Zynga Poker™, Game of ... Previous experience with software engineering platforms such as AWS, Splunk, Datadog What We Offer ...

Fan-favorites and latest hits include FarmVille™, Words With Friends™, Zynga Poker™, Game of ... The Principal Software Engineer will be working with a complementary team of software engineers to ...

Sr. Software Developer

Austin, TX

$54 - $71.25/hr

... to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we ... AMD is hiring a Sr. Software Developer to Research, design, develop, and/or test enterprise systems ...

New

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record ...

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record ...

Senior Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100K - $200K/yr

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record ...

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Lead Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of ...

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Lead Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of ...

Lead Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$150K - $220K/yr

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Lead Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of ...

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Lead Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of ...

Panic Button is seeking a highly experienced and motivated Senior Software Engineer with a strong focus on game porting to join our growing team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record ...

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Game Software Developer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$47.6K

$110.8K

$164.5K

How much do game software developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for game software developer in Austin, TX is $110,835.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,200.00 and $128,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs can I get as a game developer?

As a game software developer, you can pursue roles such as game programmer, gameplay engineer, graphics programmer, tools developer, or technical artist. These positions often require skills in programming languages like C++ or C#, familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal, and knowledge of software development processes. Opportunities exist in both independent and large studio environments, with some roles focusing on specific platforms like PC, consoles, or mobile devices.

What is a Game Software Developer job?

A Game Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains video game software. They write code, implement game mechanics, optimize performance, and collaborate with designers, artists, and testers to create engaging gaming experiences. Developers typically use programming languages like C++, C#, or Python and work with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine. Their role may also include debugging, testing, and ensuring games run smoothly across different platforms.

What is the 80 20 rule in game development?

The 80/20 rule in game development suggests that approximately 80% of a game's value comes from 20% of its features or content. Game developers often focus on the most impactful features to maximize quality and efficiency, using project management tools and iterative testing to prioritize tasks.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Game Software Developer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Software Developer, you need strong programming skills (such as proficiency in C++, C#, or Python), a solid understanding of computer science fundamentals, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems like Git, and experience with debugging and performance profiling tools are highly beneficial. Creative problem-solving, effective collaboration, and clear communication are standout soft skills for this position. These abilities are crucial for creating engaging, high-performance games while working effectively in multidisciplinary teams under tight deadlines.

Is AI replacing game devs?

Game software developers use AI tools to enhance game design, testing, and player experience, but AI is not replacing the need for human developers. Creativity, problem-solving, and understanding player behavior remain essential skills in game development. AI serves as a complement to developers' work rather than a replacement.

What are some typical daily responsibilities for a Game Software Developer?

As a Game Software Developer, your daily tasks often include designing and coding game features, fixing software bugs, and collaborating with artists and designers to integrate assets and refine gameplay. You'll frequently participate in code reviews, test new features, and optimize game performance to ensure a smooth player experience. Communication with other team members is a key part of the job, as is adapting to feedback from playtesting sessions and design reviews. You may also help write technical documentation and support junior team members, contributing to a dynamic and creative work environment.

Is 30 too old to get into game dev?

Game software development is open to individuals of all ages, and many successful developers start or transition into the field later in life. Skills such as programming, understanding game engines, and a strong portfolio are more important than age, and continuous learning can help new entrants succeed regardless of when they start.
What are popular job titles related to Game Software Developer jobs in Austin, TX? For Game Software Developer jobs in Austin, TX, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Software Developer jobs in Austin, TX look for? The top searched job categories for Game Software Developer jobs in Austin, TX are:
What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Game Software Developer jobs? Cities near Austin, TX with the most Game Software Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Game Software Developer job openings in Austin, TX as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $110,835 per year, or $53.3 per hour.
Principal Software Developer

Principal Software Developer

Zynga

Austin, TX • On-site

$119K - $169K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Level Up Your Career with Zynga!
At Zynga, we bring people together through the power of play. As a global leader in interactive entertainment and a proud label of Take-Two Interactive, our games have been downloaded over 6 billion times-connecting players in 175+ countries through fun, strategy, and a little friendly competition.
From thrilling casino spins to epic strategy battles, mind-bending puzzles, and social word challenges, our diverse game portfolio has something for everyone. Fan-favorites and latest hits include FarmVille™, Words With Friends™, Zynga Poker™, Game of Thrones Slots Casino™, Wizard of Oz Slots™, Hit it Rich! Slots™, Wonka Slots™, Top Eleven™, Toon Blast™, Empires & Puzzles™, Merge Dragons!™, CSR Racing™, Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells™, Match Factory™, and Color Block Jam™-plus many more!
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in California, our teams span North America, Europe, and Asia, working together to craft unforgettable gaming experiences. Whether you're spinning, strategizing, matching, or competing, Zynga is where fun meets innovation-and where you can take your career to the next level.
Join us and be part of the play!
Position Overview:
Come join the team at Zynga making an impact across all of the company's games - Mobile Game Tech! Do you love developing data models and visualizations to help teams make strategic decisions? This analyst role is a key figure in our cost transparency efforts on the FinOps team, delivering critical insights into service costs. This position also provides dashboards, data visualizations, and analyses for areas that make our org effective at serving our internal customers, allowing all teams to make better decisions.
What You'll Do:
  • Lead financial analysis activities with regards to internal cost allocations for technology spend
  • Lead data model design and data analysis aspects of the FinOps team's software development, including close collaboration with other FinOps software engineers
  • Engage with customers and stakeholders to design and iterate upon user-facing data visualizations
  • Develop data ingestion and normalization to serve data visualizations and dashboards, as well as owning maintenance and ensuring ongoing data quality
  • Support FinOps guidelines and work with other teams and partners to implement cost analysis and optimizations for technology spend across Zynga
  • Interact with members of Finance and the C-suite with regards to technology cost allocations, forecasts, and ad hoc FinOps-related requests

What You Bring:
  • B.S. in Computer Science, Math, Statistics, Engineering, or other quantitative field (or equivalent experience)
  • Demonstrated proficiency with Python for data cleaning and data wrangling (pandas, NumPy), and ability to work with source code via pull requests, CICD pipelines, etc
  • 8+ years of hands-on experience with the following: SQL, data warehouses, Tableau or similar data visualization tools
  • Ability to design monitoring rules for validating data quality within data pipelines
  • Experience collaborating with customers to assess their analysis and visualization needs and design solutions that present the data effectively and clearly
  • Ability to think through the UI/UX of data visualizations to best serve the target audience's needs
  • Comfort interacting with stakeholders at a much more senior level, ability to adjust communication style to the audience
  • Experience working autonomously and capable of tackling solo projects with ease

Bonus Points:
  • Familiarity with FinOps practices
  • Familiarity with financial concepts related to budgeting, forecasts, amortization, etc
  • Previous experience with software engineering platforms such as AWS, Splunk, Datadog
What We Offer You:
Zynga offers a world-class benefits package that helps support and balance the needs of our teams. To find out more about our benefits, visit the Zynga Benefits site.
The pay range for this position in Ontario at the start of employment is expected to be between $119,140 and $169,140 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.
Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. The use of Artificial Intelligence is not being used to screen candidates. The position is for an existing vacancy.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, which means we are committed to creating and celebrating diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds throughout our organization. Employment with us is based on substantive ability, objective qualifications, and work ethic - not an individual's race, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sex offenses, reproductive health decision, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing the necessary support and accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities, health conditions, or impairments (subject to any local qualifying requirements) to ensure their full participation in the job application or interview process. Please contact us at accommodationrequest@zynga.com to request any accommodations or for support related to your application for an open position.
Please be aware that Zynga does not conduct job interviews or make job offers over third-party messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, or others. Zynga also does not engage in any financial exchanges during the recruitment or onboarding process, and will never ask a candidate for their personal or financial information over an app or other unofficial chat channel. Any attempt to do so may be the result of a scamp or phishing attack, and you should not engage. Zynga's in-house recruitment team will only contact individuals through their official Company email addresses (i.e., via a zynga.com, take2games.com, naturalmotion.com, smallgiantgames.com, themavens.com, gram.gs email domain).