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Gameplay Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Striking Distance Studios

Lead Gameplay Engineer

San Ramon, CA · On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

They are seeking a Lead Gameplay Engineer to guide a team in implementing various gameplay features and systems, ensuring high-quality game development. Responsibilities : • Lead a team of Gameplay ...

Spellbrush

Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Unity Engineer Role: We are looking for an experienced game engineer with strong C# and Unity skills. You will be working closely with a small, multidisciplinary team to build out our upcoming ...

Spellbrush

Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Unity Engineer Role: We are looking for an experienced game engineer with strong C# and Unity skills. You will be working closely with a small, multidisciplinary team to build out our upcoming ...

Search Solutions, LLC

iOS Game Developer

Los Angeles, CA

$55.75 - $76.75/hr

We're looking for iOS engineers to join our game studio! You will work on exciting new casual games with very high visibility and will help design game-play features and optimizations on multiple ...

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All JobsGameplay Developer JobsGameplay Developer Jobs in California

Gameplay Developer information

What is the difference between Gameplay Developer vs Game Designer?

AspectGameplay DeveloperGame Designer
Primary FocusImplementing gameplay mechanics, coding, scriptingConceptualizing game features, designing user experience
Required SkillsProgramming, scripting, technical problem-solvingCreativity, storytelling, game mechanics design
Work EnvironmentGame development teams, programming studiosDesign studios, creative teams, collaborative environments
Common ToolsUnity, Unreal Engine, C++, scripting languagesDesign software, storyboarding tools, game design documentation

While both roles are essential in game development, a Gameplay Developer focuses on coding and implementing gameplay features, whereas a Game Designer concentrates on creating game concepts and mechanics. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths and collaboration within game development teams.

What are popular job titles related to Gameplay Developer jobs in California?

For Gameplay Developer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Gameplay Developer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Gameplay Developer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Gameplay Developer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Gameplay Developer job openings:

Gameplay Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gameplay Developer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 26% Full Time, 58% Part Time, 5% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Striking Distance Studios

San Ramon, CA • On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Striking Distance Studios is a AAA development studio located in San Ramon, CA, known for its creative excellence. They are seeking a Lead Gameplay Engineer to guide a team in implementing various gameplay features and systems, ensuring high-quality game development.
Responsibilities:
• Lead a team of Gameplay Engineers to create best in class Game Modes.
• Lead the overall planning, development, and execution of the game, engine and architecture.
• Establish tech projects, initiatives, and processes in conformance with the studio’s goals and objectives.
• Take new products and features from the design phase to release.
• Work across disciplines to build, refactor and maintain a variety of robust, flexible, and well-architected gameplay features, including controls, abilities, AI, and RPG systems.
• Prototype and implement different game modes.
• Work with design team on different features like 3Cs, combat systems, inventory, etc. to get the best player experience.
• Implement metagame features, including save systems, game settings, etc.
• Work with UI engineers to integrate HUD elements with gameplay features in the best way.
• Review the work of other engineers and provide mentorship on your area of knowledge.
• Create and maintain technical design documents.
• Delve into code written by other engineers and take ownership of existing systems as needed.
• Keep current on technological developments and advancements.
• Research and develop coding techniques and algorithms.
• Collaborate with technology director on technical design and feature roll out.
• Write clear, maintainable, portable, and highly performant code.
• Communicate accurate status updates to your team leads, producers, and QA regarding tasks/features you are responsible for.
• Adhere to team coding standards and best practices.
• Foster a culture of open, honest, and respectful communication across all disciplines.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor's degree in software engineering, computer science, or equivalent.
• At least 7 years of games industry experience and preferably 3 years or more in a similar role.
• Advanced leadership skills, including high empathy, strategic thinking, positivity, organization, responsibility and conflict resolution skills.
• At least 1 year of experience with Unreal Engine.
• Experience shipping games on current generation consoles (PS5 or XSX) and PC.
• Expert ability to be self-directed, focused and detail oriented.
• Expert C++ skills.
• 3D math skills.
• Expert verbal and written communications skills.
• A demonstrable love / passion for playing and making video games.
• A highly communicative and collaborative disposition.
Company:
Striking Distance Studios specializes in the development of video and computer games. It is a sub-organization of Krafton. Founded in 2019, the company is headquartered in San Ramon, USA, with a team of 51-200 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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