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Graphics Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Peraton

Graphics Developer/Designer

Fort George G Meade, MD · On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Peraton is seeking a Graphics Developer/Designer to support USCYBERCOM J2 intelligence production at Fort Meade, MD, providing expert graphic design and layout solutions that bring analytic content ...

Peraton

Graphics Developer/Designer

Fort George G Meade, MD · On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Peraton is seeking a Graphics Developer/Designer to support USCYBERCOM J2 intelligence production at Fort Meade, MD, providing expert graphic design and layout solutions that bring analytic content ...

Umd

Graphics Software Engineer

College Park, MD

$138K - $171K/yr

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field. Experience: Strong academic record with relevant coursework in real-time graphics, computer vision, XR ...

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Graphics Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$70.8K

$161.4K

$198.2K

How much do graphics engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for graphics engineer in Washington is $161,359.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $158,600.00 and $180,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graphics engineer?

To thrive as a Graphics Engineer, you need a strong background in computer graphics, mathematics, and programming languages such as C++ or Python, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with graphics APIs (like DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan), shader programming, and real-time rendering engines is typically required. Exceptional problem-solving, creativity, and communication skills help you devise innovative solutions and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. Mastering these skills ensures the delivery of visually compelling, high-performance graphics crucial for gaming, simulation, and visualization industries.

How do graphics engineers typically collaborate with artists and game designers during a project's development cycle?

Graphics Engineers work closely with artists and game designers to ensure that visual assets and effects are integrated seamlessly into the project. They often participate in regular meetings to discuss technical feasibility, optimize rendering pipelines, and troubleshoot graphical issues. This collaboration helps translate creative vision into efficient, real-time graphics while balancing performance and quality. Establishing clear communication and understanding both artistic goals and technical constraints are key to successful teamwork in this role.

What is a graphics engineer?

Graphics Engineers are specialized software engineers who design, develop, and optimize computer graphics systems and applications. They work on rendering engines, visual effects, shaders, and graphics APIs to create realistic and efficient visual experiences in video games, simulations, movies, and other multimedia platforms. Graphics Engineers need strong programming skills, particularly in languages like C++ and knowledge of graphics libraries such as DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan. Their work bridges the gap between hardware capabilities and artistic vision, ensuring smooth and visually appealing graphics performance.
What are popular job titles related to Graphics Engineer jobs in Washington? For Graphics Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Graphics Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Graphics Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Graphics Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Graphics Engineer job openings:
Graphics Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graphics Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $161,359 per year, or $77.6 per hour.

Graphics Software Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel, MD • On-site

$138K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 72 rated research

Job description

Description
Are you looking for a unique opportunity to impact significant advances to the nation's groundbreaking integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) systems?
Are you an engineer driven to expand your skills in order to solve both current and emerging needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC)?
Would you like to join a team of skilled engineers and scientists to develop Electro-Optical (EO)/Infrared (IR) simulation capabilities?
If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!
We are seeking a creative, driven, and motivated software engineer to help invent, build, and sustain engineering rendering software for producing complex scenes, objects, and simulation-derived data. You will join a hardworking, multidisciplinary team that develops high-impact engineering capabilities for programs of national importance. As a member of our team, you will collaborate with engineers, scientists, and analysts to advance rendering methods that support analysis, simulation, and assessment of complex operational systems.
As a Graphics Software Engineer, you will:
  • Develop multispectral rendering methodologies for Electro-Optical/Infrared, and related applications grounded by physical phenomenology.
  • Contribute to a broad variety of tasks across the codebase, such as user interface, continuous integration, and non-graphics features.
  • Optimize at the application and shader level to achieve peak performance in both latency and throughput.
  • Diagnose and debug graphics, performance, memory, numerical, and integration issues in Linux and/or Windows development environments.
  • Provide technical leadership for graphics techniques, implementation planning, code quality, testing strategy, and long-term maintainability.
  • Mentor other developers and help establish effective graphics and scientific software development practices.
  • Work on a small team to create high-impact software capabilities for challenging national security problems.
  • Communicate technical approaches, trade-offs, progress, and results to project teams, technical leadership, and sponsors.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Possess a BS with 8+ years, an MS with 6+ years, or a PhD with 3+ years of experience in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field, developing graphics, rendering, simulation, game-engine, or other GPU rendering software.
  • Have experience working effectively in large codebases.
  • Have direct experience with Vulkan, OpenGL, DirectX, or comparable modern graphics APIs, with demonstrated ability to design, implement, and debug rendering pipelines.
  • Are proficient in C++ and comfortable developing performance-sensitive software.
  • Have experience with graphics concepts such as rendering pipelines, shaders, buffers, textures, camera models, coordinate transforms, lighting, materials, or scene management.
  • Are comfortable solving problems in 3D geometry using linear algebra.
  • Can work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative technical team.
  • Have demonstrated experience in GPU programming, shader optimization, real-time rendering performance analysis, or graphics pipeline profiling.
  • Can communicate technical ideas clearly through documentation, presentations, and technical discussions.
  • Are able to obtain a Secret security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$290,000 Annually

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