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Internship Game Developer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

AI-First Engineering Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$18 - $23.50/hr

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns ...

AI-First Engineering Intern

Los Angeles, CA

$18 - $23.50/hr

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns ...

Game Operations Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$24.81 - $42.70/hr

Level Infinite also provides a wide range of services and resources to our network of developers ... Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, full-time interns are ...

Game Operations Intern

Irvine, CA · On-site

$24.81 - $42.70/hr

Level Infinite also provides a wide range of services and resources to our network of developers ... Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, full-time interns are ...

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Internship Game Developer information

See California salary details

$11

$22

$38

How much do internship game developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship game developer in California is $22.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $23.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects or tasks can an Internship Game Developer expect to work on?

As an Internship Game Developer, you may work on a variety of entry-level tasks such as prototyping gameplay features, fixing bugs, assisting with game testing, or creating assets under the supervision of experienced developers. Interns often rotate between tasks to gain exposure to different aspects of the game development process, including programming, design, and quality assurance. You will typically collaborate closely with other interns, full-time developers, artists, and designers, which helps build practical skills and understanding of team dynamics. This hands-on experience is designed to provide a well-rounded introduction to industry workflows and can help you build a strong professional portfolio for future career opportunities.

What is an Internship Game Developer job?

An Internship Game Developer job is a temporary position where aspiring game developers gain hands-on experience in the game development industry. Interns typically work with professional development teams, assisting in coding, game design, testing, or other creative aspects. They may use programming languages like C++ or Unity, contribute to gameplay mechanics, or help debug issues. This role allows interns to build a portfolio, expand their technical skills, and gain industry connections for future opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Internship Game Developer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internship Game Developer, a strong foundation in programming languages (such as C++, C#, or Java), basic game design principles, and a relevant academic background are generally required. Familiarity with popular game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as version control systems (e.g., Git), is highly valuable, although formal certifications are rarely mandatory at the internship level. Creativity, problem-solving, enthusiasm for collaborative teamwork, and a willingness to learn are standout soft skills in this position. These skills and qualities are important because they enable interns to contribute effectively to real development projects while adapting quickly to industry workflows.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in California? The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in California are:
What job categories do people searching Internship Game Developer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Internship Game Developer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Internship Game Developer jobs? Cities in California with the most Internship Game Developer job openings:
Infographic showing various Internship Game Developer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,997 per year, or $22.6 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer, GameTech Cortex, AWS GameTech Cortex

Senior Software Engineer, GameTech Cortex, AWS GameTech Cortex

Amazon

San Diego, CA • On-site

$130K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 7,010 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

AWS GameTech Cortex is seeking an experienced Senior Software Development Engineer to join our team that specializes in full-stack data solutions for games. In this role, you will architect and build scalable, high-performance systems that directly impact how game developers build, operate, and optimize their games on AWS. You will work at the intersection of gaming, software engineering, and cloud infrastructure to solve complex technical challenges in areas such as player behavior analytics, game performance optimization, content recommendation systems, and anti-cheat detection.
As a Senior Software Development Engineer, you will design and implement distributed systems that process billions of gaming events, enable real-time insights, and power machine learning solutions. You'll collaborate closely with Applied Scientists, Product Managers, and Game Developer customers to build the next generation of gaming infrastructure on AWS.
The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in service & systems engineering with a passion for gaming and the ability to deliver production-ready solutions. You will mentor junior engineers, establish best practices for SDE development, and contribute to the technical direction of the team.
Key job responsibilities
Design, build, and maintain large-scale distributed systems for gaming workloads, supporting millions of concurrent players and processing terabytes of gaming data daily
Architect and implement APIs and services that enable game developers to integrate advanced analytics, ML-powered features, and optimization tools into their games
Build real-time streaming systems for live game monitoring, player behavior analysis, and dynamic content delivery
Develop scalable backend services for anti-cheat systems, player segmentation, and game balancing algorithms
Create robust data ingestion pipelines that handle high-velocity gaming telemetry from multiple platforms (PC, mobile, console)
Implement microservices architecture supporting gaming use cases like matchmaking, leaderboards, and social features
Optimize system performance for low-latency gaming applications, ensuring sub-100ms response times for critical game operations
Collaborate with Applied Scientists to productionize ML models for player behavior prediction and game optimization
Mentor junior engineers and establish engineering best practices for gaming-focused cloud services
Drive technical decisions and architectural reviews for new gaming products and features
About the team
AWS GameTech Cortex is an applied science & ML team, that specializes in full stack data solutions for games.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of non-internship professional software development experience
- 5+ years of programming with at least one software programming language experience
- 5+ years of leading design or architecture (design patterns, reliability and scaling) of new and existing systems experience
- Experience as a mentor, tech lead or leading an engineering team
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 5+ years of full software development life cycle, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, build processes, testing, and operations experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company's reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you're applying in isn't listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
USA, CA, San Diego - 168,100.00 - 227,400.00 USD annually

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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US