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Indie Developer Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Full-Stack Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

You've worked at high-growth startups, kicked off your own side projects, or maybe indie hacked for ... You're a generalist software engineer who is eager to take ownership, inclined to move quickly and ...

Founding Engineering Lead

New York, NY · On-site

$180K - $220K/yr

Set the engineering bar: * Quality, reliability, security/privacy, and shipping culture. Hire and ... History of building unconventional projects (creative tech, experiments, indie builds). * Interest ...

Set the engineering bar: * Quality, reliability, security/privacy, and shipping culture. Hire and ... History of building unconventional projects (creative tech, experiments, indie builds). * Interest ...

Organized into three pods (Vertical, HoldCo, Indie), we are a concentrated, high-leverage team ... finance, engineering, human resources or related field - Experience influencing multiple ...

Design Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

You've worked at or contributed to places with genuine design craft: design studios, developer tooling companies, creative agencies, or strong indie dev work. * You're comfortable being the only ...

Design Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

You've worked at or contributed to places with genuine design craft: design studios, developer tooling companies, creative agencies, or strong indie dev work. * You're comfortable being the only ...

Club Host

New York, NY · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

ABOUT US Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with ...

Club Host

New York, NY · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

ABOUT US Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with ...

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Indie Developer information

What is an indie developer?

Indie developers are individuals or small teams who create, design, and publish software, most commonly video games, without the financial support of a large company or publisher. They are known for their creative freedom, experimental ideas, and unique approaches to game development. Indie developers often handle multiple aspects of production themselves, including coding, art, marketing, and distribution. This allows them to innovate and take risks that larger studios might avoid, but it can also mean limited resources and smaller budgets. The rise of digital distribution platforms has made it easier for indie developers to reach global audiences.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an indie developer?

To thrive as an Indie Developer, you need strong programming skills, a solid understanding of game or app design principles, and ideally a relevant degree or portfolio showcasing completed projects. Familiarity with game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), version control systems (like Git), and possibly publishing platforms is often required. Creativity, self-motivation, and problem-solving abilities help Indie Developers stand out, as they often work independently or in small teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for independently bringing a project from concept to completion and successfully navigating the challenges of self-publishing.

What are some common challenges indie developers face when working independently and how can they be managed?

Indie developers often encounter challenges such as managing multiple roles (e.g., programming, art, marketing), limited budgets, and maintaining motivation over longer development cycles. Balancing creative freedom with practical business considerations can be difficult, as can building visibility for their games in a crowded market. To manage these challenges, it's helpful to set clear milestones, seek collaboration through online communities, and utilize free or low-cost development tools. Regularly sharing progress and networking with other developers can also provide valuable feedback and support.

What is the difference between Indie Developer vs Game Developer?

AspectIndie DeveloperGame Developer
CredentialsOften self-taught or with informal trainingTypically holds a degree in computer science, game design, or related fields
Work EnvironmentIndependent, small teams or solo projectsLarge studios or companies, collaborative teams
Industry UsageUsed for solo or small-scale game projectsUsed broadly across all game development levels
Search & Comparison IntentFocuses on independent, self-published gamesEncompasses all professional game development roles

Indie Developers are typically independent creators working solo or in small teams, often self-funding and self-publishing their games. Game Developers, on the other hand, usually work within larger studios or companies, following structured development processes. While both roles involve game creation, Indie Developers emphasize independence and smaller projects, whereas Game Developers may work on larger, commercial titles within a team environment.

How much do indie developers make?

Indie developers' earnings vary widely based on experience, project success, and platform, with many earning from a few thousand dollars annually to six-figure incomes for successful titles. Income often depends on skills in game design, programming, marketing, and distribution channels like app stores or digital marketplaces.

Is indie game development a good career?

Indie game development as a career involves creating and publishing games independently, often requiring skills in programming, design, and marketing. It can be rewarding but also competitive and financially uncertain, with success depending on creativity, persistence, and market understanding.
Infographic showing various Indie Developer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 12% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution.

Full-Stack Engineer

New York, NY • On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 21 days ago


Job description

About Big Leap
Big Leap Health is democratizing access to breakthrough mental health treatments. We connect people with vetted clinics who provide treatments such as Spravato, TMS & more covered by insurance.
At Big Leap Health, we believe breakthrough mental health treatments are a pillar in the journey toward achieving our fullest potential but are often too expensive and inaccessible for most. We focus on making cutting-edge treatments like Spravato TMS, and other innovative therapies accessible to all through insurance coverage. These aren't just treatments; they're gateways to resilience, empathy, hope, and strength.
We're building technology and tools to help clinics offer these treatments more easily, while enabling patients to use their insurance benefits to receive these life changing treatments. We've raised from top VCs and angels, are partnering with dozens of clinic operators, and are growing rapidly.
About The Role
We're looking for a Full-Stack Engineer in New York City (3-4 days/week in office) who thrives in a startup environment and knows how to ship.
On a daily basis, you will build end-to-end workflows, take them to production, and solve real world problems across an out-sized scale. As an early technical steward, you will raise the bar for code quality and decision‑making, setting patterns that cement a world‑class engineering culture as we scale. While the company 10x's, your scope and ownership will grow just as fast-building the tools, mental models, and platforms that let both you and Big Leap Health accelerate exponentially.
You'll work across the stack, from database schemas to UI components, and take full ownership of features from design through production deployment. The ideal candidate is someone whose built things end to end. You've worked at high-growth startups, kicked off your own side projects, or maybe indie hacked for a while. You know how to take high level requirements and run with them without getting lost in over-planning or scope creep.
You're a generalist software engineer who is eager to take ownership, inclined to move quickly and hungry to ship high-impact software.
Technologies We Use
Different languages, frameworks, and databases, including React, Vue, Typescript, Node.js, PostgreSQL
Industry-standard infrastructure, including Docker, AWS, Firebase, and Google Cloud
What We Value
  • An infinite learner. Someone who is relentless in their curiosity.
  • Partner-obsessed. Someone who deeply cares about delighting our customers and solving real pain points, not vanity metrics.
  • Ultimate accountability while learning as a team, and both giving and receiving rapid feedback.
  • Extreme empathy. Our customers are not tech companies. They are clinicians and practice managers who live and work in the real world. Empathy is critical to arriving at correct solutions.
  • Unafraid of failure. You take risks. You see failure as an opportunity to learn, grow, and be better the next time. In a weird way, you trick your brain into being excited when you fail, because it means you got a new opportunity to learn more.
What We Require
  • Strong coding skills with demonstrated proficiency in modern programming languages.
  • Strong engineering prowess, developed at start-ups.
  • Familiarity with storage and data processing systems, cloud infrastructure, and other technical tools.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to iterate quickly with teammates, incorporating feedback and holding a high bar for quality.
Don't Work Here
Please don't join if you're not excited about:
  • Building an AI-enabled product for an industry rapidly growing and evolving
  • Constantly talking to and visiting customers in the field
  • Working in person with some of the most ambitious people in NYC
  • Attempting to build a generational company, and the intensity required to do so
What We're Looking For
  • 4-7 years of experience building and shipping modern full-stack web applications.
  • Experience working at a VC-backed digital healthcare startup with the ability to move quickly, adapt priorities, and focus on outcomes over process.
  • Startup experience is preferred.
  • A maker mindset. You've built side projects, indie apps, or internal tools from scratch and seen them through to launch.
  • Excited to work in person with a small, collaborative team in NYC.
Why Join Us
  • Work with an ambitious team building meaningful technology that is transforming mental healthcare in our country
  • Ship quickly, own your work, and see your impact in production.
  • Modern stack, fast feedback loops, and a product-driven culture.
  • Competitive pay, autonomy, and flexibility within a high-trust environment
Interview Process
  • Intro call with Engineering
  • Founder Interview
  • Thought exercise, a two hour session and review with the team
  • Team meeting (in-person)
  • Offer

You'll also enjoy the following benefits:
  • Industry-leading cash compensation for a startup of our stage
  • Generous equity
  • Health, dental, and vision benefits
  • New company Apple laptop
  • $1,000 flexible home office budget

This is a unique opportunity to join an early team of experienced healthcare operators. If you're excited by this, or the prospect of improving patient access to breakthrough mental health treatments, contact us!
$160,000 - $200,000 a year
Compensation range for this position is $160,000 to $200,000, depending on experience; actual compensation will be dependent upon the specific role, location, as well as the individual's qualifications, experience, skills and certifications.
At Big Leap Health, we are an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and candidate experience. We strive to create an environment where everyone has a sense of belonging and purpose, and where we learn from the unique experiences of those around us.
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or caregiver status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.