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Games Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

GDIT

Game Developer

Daleville, AL · On-site

$72K - $97K/yr

Yes Game Developer GDIT is the Prime contractor for the Flight School Training Support Services (FSTSS) program, which supports the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE). Located ...

A5 Labs

Senior Game Developer At A5 Labs, we are pioneers in creating exceptional AI-driven solutions that ... Experience developing games for iOS, Android, and HTML5 platforms. Additional Skills: * Exposure to ...

Akima, LLC

Game Developer

Huntsville, AL · On-site

... serious games. Daily work will require experience in the Unity or Unreal game engines and the ... Collaborate with designers, artists, and senior developers to implement gameplay features. * Follow ...

Apple

Senior Gaming Platform Engineer

Seattle, WA

$139K - $258K/yr

Apple Games is the home of gaming on Apple's platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro. Join the Game Services Framework team to help us build the developer-facing technologies ...

Motocol

Gameplay Engineer

Glendale, CA · On-site

$25/hr

Ideal candidate is also driven to make games. This position is part technical and part designing for the user. The Client is seeking a talented Gameplay Engineer (Designer Programmer) to join its ...

Rubix Recruiting

Expert Game Developer

Boulder, CO · On-site

Role Overview This Expert Game Engineer works in our studio organization to develop high quality ... Ensures that our games are optimized for all supported hardware and platforms. * Understands the ...

Apple

Software Engineering Manager - Games

Seattle, WA

$216K - $325K/yr

Apple Games is seeking a dynamic engineering manager to lead the Game Center team, driving the next ... Description In this role, you'll balance creativity with technical rigor-translating developer ...

Stardock Corporation

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI

$120K - $160K/yr

Are you an avid gamer interested in creating awesome games? Stardock is currently seeking a talented Senior Game Developer. The ideal candidate is well versed in C++, has shipped titles in the past ...

Stardock Corporation

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Are you an avid gamer interested in creating awesome games? Stardock is currently seeking a talented Senior Game Developer. The ideal candidate is well versed in C++, has shipped titles in the past ...

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All JobsGames Developer Jobs

Games Developer information

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$32.5K

$108.5K

$180K

How much do games developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for games developer in the United States is $108,471.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $124,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Games Developer vs Game Designer?

AspectGames DeveloperGame Designer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; programming skillsBachelor's in Game Design, Art, or related field; creative and conceptual skills
Work EnvironmentTypically in a tech or game development studio, coding and testingOften in a creative studio, focusing on game concepts, story, and mechanics
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by game studios, tech companies, and independent developersUsed by game studios, design firms, and entertainment companies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding technical roles in game creationUnderstanding creative roles in game development

Games Developers focus on coding, programming, and implementing game features, while Game Designers concentrate on game concepts, mechanics, and storytelling. Both roles are essential in game development but differ in skills and responsibilities.

More about Games Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Games Developer jobs? Cities with the most Games Developer job openings:
What states have the most Games Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Games Developer jobs include:
Games Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Games Developer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 63% Physical, and 37% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,471 per year, or $52.1 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer, Gameplay Systems & Animation - Unpublished R&D Product

Senior Software Engineer, Gameplay Systems & Animation - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

Job description

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. As a Software Engineer, you'll also dive into projects that focus on team cohesiveness and cross-team objectives. You'll drive important features and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering.
As a Senior Software Engineer (Gameplay Systems & Animation ) on an unpublished R&D product, you will report to the Gameplay Engineering Lead, you'll help bring our characters to life through responsive, expressive, and high-quality animation systems. You'll work at the intersection of gameplay engineering and content creation - partnering closely with animators, designers, and technical artists to build scalable systems that power movement, locomotion, and moment-to-moment feel. This role collaborates with multiple groups within the gameplay team, contributing directly to the quality, polish, and performance of our core combat experience. The ideal candidate is passionate about player feel, thrives in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and takes pride in building robust systems that unlock content at scale.
Responsibilities:
  • Design, prototype, and implement robust, scalable gameplay and animation systems, evolving underlying systems to improve reuse, polish, maintainability, and performance.
  • Contribute to locomotion, movement feel, and animation-driven gameplay systems across multiple gameplay domains.
  • Partner closely with animators and technical artists to improve workflows, clarify handoff points, and enable efficient content production.
  • Identify technical risks in animation and gameplay systems and collaborate with technical leaders to implement sustainable architectural solutions.
  • Contribute to adjacent gameplay domains such as combat systems, camera, VFX integration, or other core gameplay systems as needed.
  • Mentor peers across disciplines by sharing insights on animation systems, gameplay feel, and technical problem-solving.

Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of professional experience in game development.
  • 3+ years of experience developing or supporting animation systems.
  • Strong C++ programming skills and solid computer science fundamentals.
  • Experience working with Unreal Engine, including its animation systems.
  • Experience implementing gameplay systems closely tied to animation
  • Strong debugging, optimization, and performance-tuning skills.
  • Experience collaborating effectively in cross-disciplinary teams, with strong product sense and player empathy.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with Unreal Engine internals and extending or modifying engine animation systems.
  • Experience improving content pipelines and animation workflows.
  • Exposure to related domains such as gameplay VFX, camera systems, etc.
  • Experience working on mid-sized engineering teams in a live or in-development game environment.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first . That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
  • (Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $161,500.00 - $227,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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