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Graphic Programmer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Description As a Graphics Emulation Engineer in Apple's GPU Design Verification and Validation organization, you'll ensure our complex GPU designs meet Apple's quality standards through comprehensive ...

Principal Graphics Developer Tools Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$138K - $171K/yr

The Graphics Developer Tools team is seeking an exceptional technical leader to help shape the future of graphics development. This role spans multiple areas of NVIDIA's graphics software ecosystem ...

Principal Graphics Developer Tools Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$138K - $171K/yr

The Graphics Developer Tools team is seeking an exceptional technical leader to help shape the future of graphics development. This role spans multiple areas of NVIDIA's graphics software ecosystem ...

Principal Graphics Engineer

Austin, TX

$138K - $171K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a passionate and resilient Principal Graphics Engineer to own a foundational piece of our infrastructure: the rendering and runtime layer that lets unmodified mobile ...

Principal Graphics Engineer

Austin, TX · Remote

$143K - $177K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a passionate and resilient Principal Graphics Engineer to own a foundational piece of our infrastructure: the rendering and runtime layer that lets unmodified mobile ...

GPU Programmer - Remote

Austin, TX · Remote

$60 - $85/hr

Background in graphics programming, ML acceleration, scientific computing, HPC, or related GPU-focused fields. * Strong understanding of GPU architecture and performan

GRAPHIC DESIGNER (STARLINK) As a Graphic Designer on the Starlink design team, you'll own the ... engineers, and leadership * Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly integrated team ...

GRAPHIC DESIGNER (STARLINK) As a Graphic Designer on the Starlink design team, you'll own the ... engineers, and leadership * Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, highly integrated team ...

Visual and Graphics Designer 2 We're continually raising the bar in Visual Design. Our team ... You will collaborate closely with Industrial Designers, Packaging Engineers, CMF teams, Brand ...

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Graphic Programmer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$109.5K

$133.8K

$155.1K

How much do graphic programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for graphic programmer in Austin, TX is $133,813.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,900.00 and $143,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graphic programmer?

Graphic programmers are specialized software developers who focus on creating and optimizing visual elements in computer programs, particularly in video games, simulations, and multimedia applications. They work on rendering engines, shaders, lighting, and other graphical effects to achieve high-quality visuals and efficient performance. Their expertise lies in graphics APIs, mathematics, and hardware acceleration to ensure smooth and realistic graphics. Graphic programmers often collaborate closely with artists and designers to bring visual concepts to life. This role requires strong programming skills, usually in languages like C++ and knowledge of graphics libraries such as DirectX or OpenGL.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graphic programmer?

To thrive as a Graphic Programmer, you need a strong background in computer science, mathematics, and graphics programming, often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Proficiency with programming languages like C++, graphics APIs such as DirectX or OpenGL, and familiarity with shader languages and game engines is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective collaboration with artists and developers are essential soft skills that set top performers apart. These skills and qualities are crucial for creating visually compelling, high-performance graphics that enhance user experiences in interactive applications.

How does a graphic programmer typically collaborate with artists and designers during a game's development cycle?

Graphic Programmers work closely with artists and designers to ensure that visual concepts are both achievable and optimized for performance. They often translate creative ideas into technical solutions, developing shaders, rendering techniques, and visual effects that align with the team's artistic vision. Regular meetings and iterative feedback sessions help bridge the gap between technical feasibility and creative intent, making strong communication skills essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Graphic Programmer vs Shader Developer?

AspectGraphic ProgrammerShader Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Graphics, or related field; knowledge of graphics APIsSimilar educational background; specialized knowledge of shader languages
Work EnvironmentGame studios, visual effects companies, simulation firmsGame studios, graphics software companies, real-time rendering projects
Employer & Industry UsageUsed broadly across industries involving graphics programmingPrimarily in graphics and game development sectors
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in graphics developmentFocusing on shader-specific tasks within graphics programming

Both Graphic Programmers and Shader Developers work in graphics-intensive environments, often requiring similar educational backgrounds and skills. While Graphic Programmers handle overall graphics systems and engine integration, Shader Developers focus specifically on creating and optimizing shaders for rendering effects. The roles are closely related, with Shader Developers often being a specialized subset within the broader scope of Graphic Programming.

What job categories do people searching Graphic Programmer jobs in Austin, TX look for?

The top searched job categories for Graphic Programmer jobs in Austin, TX are:

What cities near Austin, TX are hiring for Graphic Programmer jobs?

Cities near Austin, TX with the most Graphic Programmer job openings:

Infographic showing various Graphic Programmer job openings in Austin, TX as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 71% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 75% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $133,813 per year, or $64.3 per hour.

Graphics Emulation Engineer

Austin, TX • On-site


Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 678 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Recommended by students


Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago


Job description

Do your life's best work here - with the whole world watching. At Apple, new ideas and complex challenges have a remarkable ability to transform into phenomenal products, services, and customer experiences in a relatively short period.
Join Apple's GPU team and contribute to the creation of graphics processing technology that powers millions of devices worldwide. As part of our growing team, you'll work on pre-silicon validation of cutting-edge GPU microarchitectures, spanning from mobile devices to high-performance computers. Your role will involve exploring the intricate architectural details that drive exceptional graphics performance. Together, we'll empower our customers to enjoy all the features they love on their devices!
Description
As a Graphics Emulation Engineer in Apple's GPU Design Verification and Validation organization, you'll ensure our complex GPU designs meet Apple's quality standards through comprehensive hardware platform testing. You'll validate designs that enable seamless execution of demanding graphics workloads. You'll be responsible for supporting functional verification, power and performance analysis, implementation, and silicon validation by building emulation models, running both synthetic and real-world test cases on those emulation models, debugging and resolving issues, reporting status, and driving emulation and acceleration solutions from concept to silicon.
Minimum Qualifications
BS + 3 years of relevant experience.
Experience with CPU and/or GPU architecture and micro architecture
Experience with writing synthesizable code
Experience with one or more of the following programming languages: C/C++, Perl, Ruby, Python)
Preferred Qualifications
Excellent planning, collaboration, and communication abilities
Demonstrated ability to build emulation models, run tests on emulation machines, and debug issues in a schedule-oriented silicon design project with competing priorities
Ability to debug hardware issues from waveforms
Ability to interface emulation hardware with virtual systems, simulation environment, and silicon validation
Experience with DPI/transactors
Graphics knowledge; 3D graphics pipeline, OGL/OCL programming
Ability to collaborate under tight schedules
Excellent planning, collaboration, and communication abilities

Apple logo

About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976


What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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