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Graphics Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Tencent

Senior Graphics Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$116K - $269K/yr

What the Role Entails LightSpeed LA is seeking for a talented and enthusiastic Senior Graphics Engineer to join our new studio in sunny Irvine California. The ideal candidate will have a strong ...

Nintendo

Graphics Engineer (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$138K - $171K/yr

... class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: * Partner with the Graphics team to elevate the final visual quality of our proprietary engine ...

LightSpeed Studios

Senior Graphics Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$116K - $269K/yr

What the Role Entails LightSpeed LA is seeking for a talented and enthusiastic Senior Graphics Engineer to join our new studio in sunny Irvine California. The ideal candidate will have a strong ...

Nintendo

Graphics Engineer (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$138K - $171K/yr

... class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: * Partner with the Graphics team to elevate the final visual quality of our proprietary engine ...

Nvidia

Manager, Graphics Tools Engineering

Santa Clara, CA

$164K - $203K/yr

Are you passionate about 3D graphics, GPUs, and low-level, close to the hardware programming? Have you ever dreamed of helping bring video games to life? Do you want to work with a fast, agile, and ...

NVIDIA

Manager, Graphics Tools Engineering

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$163K - $201K/yr

Are you passionate about 3D graphics, GPUs, and low-level, close to the hardware programming? Have you ever dreamed of helping bring video games to life? Do you want to work with a fast, agile, and ...

Integral

Graphics Engineer Intermediate

Aberdeen, MD · On-site

$105K - $138K/yr

Overview The Graphics Engineer Intermediate provides graphics and design support to the U.S. Army by developing, documenting, and maintaining acquisition strategies, strategic plans, and formal ...

Visual Concepts

Graphics Engineer - NBA 2K

Novato, CA · On-site +1

$120K - $174K/yr

Our talented NBA 2K team is looking for a Graphics Engineer with a passion for cutting-edge rendering technology. In this role, you'll work on the design, development, and maintenance of high ...

2K

Graphics Engineer - NBA 2K

Novato, CA · On-site

$120K - $174K/yr

Our talented NBA 2K team is looking for a Graphics Engineer with a passion for cutting-edge rendering technology. In this role, you'll work on the design, development, and maintenance of high ...

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Graphics Programmer information

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$110.5K

$135K

$156.5K

How much do graphics programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for graphics programmer in the United States is $135,000.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,000.00 and $145,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Graphics Programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graphics Programmer, you need a solid background in computer science, mathematics, and computer graphics, often supported by a degree in a related field. Expertise in programming languages like C++ and familiarity with graphics APIs such as DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan, as well as shader programming, are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective teamwork help you design and optimize complex visual systems. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing high-performance, visually appealing graphics that meet the demands of modern applications and games.

What are graphics programmers?

Graphics programmers are specialized software developers who focus on creating and optimizing visual elements in video games, simulations, and other computer graphics applications. They write code to render 2D and 3D graphics, work with engines like Unity or Unreal, and utilize APIs like DirectX or OpenGL. Their responsibilities often include developing shaders, improving rendering performance, and collaborating with artists and designers to achieve visually compelling results. Graphics programmers need strong mathematical skills, especially in linear algebra and geometry, to solve complex visual problems. They play a crucial role in ensuring that digital graphics run smoothly and look realistic.

What Does a Graphics Programmer Do?

A graphics programmer creates software and applications for developing images and animation on a computer. Your duties can focus on programs for computer-aided design and rendering, animation, image manipulation, photo editing, or video game design. You use linear math and algorithms as well as computer programming languages. Your responsibilities involve writing code in languages like C++, Java, and High-Level Shading Language (HLSL). After coding, you test your programs to ensure that each article and image is accurate. If you work on video games, you coordinate with other developers and programmers on a video game design platform like Unreal Engine.

What is the difference between Graphics Programmer vs Shader Developer?

AspectGraphics ProgrammerShader Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or related field; knowledge of graphics APIsSimilar educational background; strong understanding of shading languages
Work EnvironmentDevelops and optimizes rendering engines, works on graphics pipelinesCreates and fine-tunes shaders for visual effects and rendering
Industry UsageUsed across game development, simulation, and visualization industriesPrimarily in game development and real-time rendering projects
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared due to overlapping skills in graphics programmingSpecialized focus on shader code and effects

While both roles require knowledge of graphics APIs and programming skills, Graphics Programmers develop the overall rendering systems and pipelines, whereas Shader Developers focus specifically on writing and optimizing shaders for visual effects. The roles often overlap but differ in scope and specialization within the graphics development process.

How do Graphics Programmers typically collaborate with artists and designers during a game development project?

Graphics Programmers work closely with artists and designers to ensure that visual assets are rendered efficiently and accurately within the game engine. They often participate in regular meetings to discuss technical constraints, optimize asset pipelines, and implement new graphical features based on creative requirements. This collaboration requires strong communication skills, as Graphics Programmers must translate artistic visions into technical solutions, troubleshoot rendering issues, and provide feedback to artists to achieve the desired visual quality while maintaining performance. Effective teamwork between these roles is essential to deliver high-quality visuals that run smoothly on target platforms.
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What are popular job titles related to Graphics Programmer jobs? For Graphics Programmer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Graphics Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Graphics Programmer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 94% Full Time, 1% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,000 per year, or $64.9 per hour.

Senior Graphics Engineer

Tencent

Irvine, CA • On-site

$116K - $269K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

About the Hiring TeamWelcome to Lightspeed LA, the first U.S.-based, AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA is focused on building open-world games that emphasize an ambitious living world, sophisticated player-driven gameplay, and mature, thoughtful storytelling. We are developing the first in a series of genre-defining titles.
Why join Lightspeed LA?
For us, it's not only about the exciting, new AAA open world game we're developing but also about team values and studio culture. We foster an open and transparent environment where everyone feels comfortable providing constructive feedback about all aspects of our games.
We encourage the showing of work that's still in progress.
We don't attack or question unfinished work, we celebrate its promise.
We have a No Blame Culture where we blame the problem, not the person.
This is a safe place to fail, and we don't view failure as a negative, but as the natural result of pushing boundaries and trying new things. We create together. We face Challenges Together. We succeed together.What the Role Entails

LightSpeed LA is seeking for a talented and enthusiastic Senior Graphics Engineer to join our new studio in sunny Irvine California. The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for games and enabling content creators to deliver the most polished experience for our players. Join our team of industry veterans and help us build a team and culture of respect that pushes boundaries while having lots of fun.
Responsibilities:

  • Help maintain a culture of fast iteration and practical problem solving
  • Design and program low level graphics engine components
  • Evolve iteratively existing systems into state of the art solutions
  • Mentor others to make the best use of engine systems and hardware capabilities
Who We Look For
  • Passion for games and the technology that makes them come to life
  • Excellent 3D math skills
  • Deep understanding of modern rendering techniques, graphics hardware and rendering APIs
  • Strong understanding of game content pipeline and tools
  • 10+ years of professional experience with C++ programming in the game industry
  • Shipped at least one game title on PC and Consoles as a graphics engineer
  • Expert C++ and HLSL knowledge and debugging skills
  • Excellent understanding of PC and console hardware bottlenecks and optimization strategies
  • Deep understanding of multithreaded programming
  • Value lean, simple, efficient, well-tested code
  • Comfortable maintaining existing large codebase for multiple platforms
  • Team player who works closely with other engineers to make sure our technology provides reliable and fast iteration for our content creators, and a fluid experience for our customers

Preferred:

  • Experience building AAA engine(s)
  • Experience with CUDA or similar
  • Experience with dynamic GI solution and hardware RT
Why Join Us?Perks and Benefits:
Just some of the benefits of working with us here at our newly built studio in Irvine, CA.
Free daily lunch
Beverages, fresh fruit, and snacks
401k with employer match
Monthly Cell phone bill reimbursement
Financial wellness sessions
Flexible spending account
Team building and company outings
Parental leave for new parents
Company paid health insurance
Life and disability insurance
Employee assistance program
Wellness training
Travel insurance
Preventive care
If the above sounds like you, or if you'd like to know more about the role, we'd love to hear from you to see if we might be a good fit for each other! Contact us for more information about this exciting opportunity.

Location State(s)

US-California-IrvineThe expected base pay range for this position in the location(s) listed above is $116,200.00 to $269,100.00 per year. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Employees hired for this position may be eligible for a sign on payment, relocation package, and restricted stock units, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Subject to the terms and conditions of the plans in effect, hired applicants are also eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits, and participation in the Company's 401(k) plan. The Employee is also eligible for up to 15 to 25 days of vacation per year (depending on the employee's tenure), up to 13 days of holidays throughout the calendar year, and up to 10 days of paid sick leave per year. Your benefits may be adjusted to reflect your location, employment status, duration of employment with the company, and position level. Benefits may also be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.Equal Employment Opportunity at Tencent

As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly believe that diverse voices fuel our innovation and allow us to better serve our users and the community. We foster an environment where every employee of Tencent feels supported and inspired to achieve individual and common goals.

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