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Gameplay Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Arrow International Inc

Senior Game Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $150K/hr

You will create compelling prize-first 'slot-like' concepts working with all game-design disciplines to develop your concept to a finished product including math, programming, audio, production, and ...

GN Group

Lead Software Engineer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$140 - $180/hr

SteelSeries is the original esports brand at the intersection of gaming and culture, celebrating ... As a Lead Software Engineer, you will be responsible for working closely with our hardware and ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Des Plaines, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Naperville, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Schaumburg, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Evanston, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Highland Park, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Skokie, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Lake Forest, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Chicago, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Buffalo Grove, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Oak Lawn, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Wheaton, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines, programming player interactions, creating or integrating art assets, and conducting playtesting sessions.

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Showing results 21-40

All JobsGameplay Engineer JobsGameplay Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Gameplay Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$83.5K

$149.9K

$211.3K

How much do gameplay engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for gameplay engineer in Chicago, IL is $149,859.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,600.00 and $178,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a gameplay engineer do?

A Gameplay Engineer designs, implements, and optimizes game mechanics, player interactions, and core gameplay systems. They collaborate with designers, artists, and other engineers to bring engaging experiences to life. Their role involves coding in game engines like Unity or Unreal, debugging issues, and ensuring smooth gameplay. They may also work on AI behavior, physics, and animations to enhance immersion. Strong problem-solving skills and proficiency in languages like C++ or C# are essential.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a gameplay engineer?

To thrive as a Gameplay Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages such as C++ or C#, a solid understanding of game development principles, and a degree in computer science or related fields. Experience with popular game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine and familiarity with source control tools are typically required. Creative problem-solving, collaboration, and effective communication are valuable soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for building engaging gameplay features, ensuring technical quality, and working efficiently with designers and artists.

How much does a gameplay engineer make?

A gameplay engineer's salary typically ranges from $70,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced engineers with specialized skills in game development tools can earn higher salaries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Gameplay Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Gameplay Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Gameplay Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $149,741 per year, or $72 per hour.

Principal Software Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Rolling Meadows, IL • On-site

$108K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Northrop Grumman rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 368 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

66th of 545 rated manufacturers

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes
CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret
TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
The Software Platform Solutions (SPS) SceneGen (Scene Generation) team within the Northrop Grumman Mission Systems pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing high fidelity virtual hardware and test automation capabilities to our customers to enable testing of embedded software without real hardware. Come be a part of our mission!
The SPS SceneGen team seeks a talented Software Engineer with an interest in video game engines, scientific visualization, image processing and/or tools development to join our growing team in Rolling Meadows, IL. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will join our diverse team and be responsible for architecture, design, implementation, and integration of game engine technology to simulate radio-metrically correct scenes for our mission critical sensors and algorithm development. You will be working with a highly innovative and fast paced team.
Basic Qualifications for Principal Software Engineer:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 5 years of engineering experience, or a Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum of 3 years of engineering experience or in lieu of degree an additional 4 years of engineering experience.
  • Experience with Unreal Engine, Unreal Editor, and Unreal Blueprints
  • Experience with C++ or similar language using object-oriented development
  • Experience with scripting languages (Python, Bash, Batch, etc)
  • Experience with software engineering
  • Familiarity with computer graphics principles
  • Familiarity with automated testing and continuous integration frameworks
  • Familiarity with version control systems (GitHub, Bitbucket, ClearCase) and Agile software planning tools (Rally, Jira, etc)
  • US Citizenship
  • Interim secret clearance prior to start. Once started, must have the ability to obtain and maintain DoD secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with game engines, scientific visualization, or image processing
  • Software architecture skills (design patterns, objected oriented design)
  • Experience with general purpose GPU (gpGPU) development
  • Experience with CUDA development
  • Experience with video game engine development
  • Experience with video game development
  • Experience with physics engines
  • Familiarity with camera systems and optics

Primary Level Salary Range: $108,800.00 - $163,200.00
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.
Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

What Northrop Grumman employees say

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About Northrop Grumman

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible.

Industry

Space research administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Falls Church, VA, US

Year founded

1939

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