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Junior Game Programming Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Game Designer (Combat)

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$145K - $181K/yr

Work with AI programmers to develop foundational NPC technology and implementing and tuning enemy ... Mentor junior designers and contribute to the overall growth of the design team What skills you ...

Discord

Solutions Architect, SF Bay Area

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$220K - $247K/yr

... junior team members. What you'll be doing * Technical Ownership * Own end-to-end solution architecture for AAA game developer accounts * Lead technical discovery sessions and architectural reviews ...

American Golf

Junior Golf Instructor

Long Beach, CA · On-site

$50/hr

... game and the communities around it. We bring deep expertise in golf operations and club culture ... Job Purpose The Junior Golf Instructor supports the delivery of the junior golf program by ...

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Junior Game Programming information

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

To thrive as a Junior Game Programmer, you need a solid grasp of programming fundamentals, mathematics, and computer science concepts, usually supported by a relevant degree or coursework. Familiarity with game development engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, version control systems like Git, and knowledge of languages such as C# or C++ are commonly required. Creativity, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for building efficient, engaging games and collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.

What are some common challenges faced by junior game programmers when working on a development team?

Junior game programmers often encounter challenges such as adapting to large, complex codebases and learning to work within established development pipelines. They may also find it demanding to balance feature requests with debugging and optimization tasks, all while meeting project deadlines. Collaboration is key, as junior programmers frequently interact with artists, designers, and senior developers to implement gameplay features and resolve technical issues. Proactively seeking feedback and being open to learning from teammates can help overcome these initial hurdles and lead to professional growth.

What is a Junior Game Programmer?

A Junior Game Programmer is an entry-level developer who assists in creating and maintaining the code that makes video games run. They typically work under the supervision of more experienced programmers, contributing to tasks such as gameplay mechanics, bug fixes, and tool development. Junior Game Programmers often use languages like C++ or C#, and collaborate closely with designers, artists, and other team members to bring game features to life. This role is ideal for those new to the game industry and looking to gain hands-on experience.

What is the difference between Junior Game Programming vs Game Programmer?

AspectJunior Game ProgrammingGame Programmer
Required CredentialsTypically a relevant degree or coursework, some experienceSame as Junior, but often with more professional experience
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, team-based game development projectsMore complex projects, possibly leading small teams
Employer & Industry UsageIndie studios, AAA companies, mobile game developersSame as Junior, but with higher expectations for skill and responsibility

Junior Game Programming roles are designed for entry-level developers with foundational skills, working under supervision. Game Programmers typically have more experience, handling complex coding tasks independently. The main difference lies in experience level and project complexity, with Junior roles serving as stepping stones to full Game Programmer positions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Programming jobs in California? The most popular types of Game Programming jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Junior Game Programming jobs in California? For Junior Game Programming jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Junior Game Programming jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Junior Game Programming jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Junior Game Programming jobs? Cities in California with the most Junior Game Programming job openings:
Junior Game Programming jobs near you
Infographic showing various Junior Game Programming job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution.

Senior Gameplay Engineer, Game Studio

Netflix

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Netflix rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

68th of 75 rated media

Job description

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with 278 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
The Role
Senior Gameplay Engineer, Game Studio
ABOUT OUR TEAM
We're a group of developers, artists, and storytellers who make games full of wonder, danger, and humor. Everyone at our studio, whether an industry vet or a new voice, impacts each game through collaborative feedback, mutual respect, and creative empowerment. If you want to make games that leave a meaningful impact on players, we want to hear from you.
We're looking for new teammates who deeply care about the work they do, the stories they tell, and the people they create with. As part of the Netflix team, we strive to hire the best and value integrity, excellence, respect, inclusion, and collaboration.
Learn how our story-loving game people came to join Netflix's team of game-loving story people.
ENGINEERING AT NIGHT SCHOOL
Software development is just as creative as other roles at Night School. Our engineering team highly values cross-disciplinary thinking. Creating great gameplay experiences requires engineers to not only imagine elegant, extensible, and optimized systems, but also to appreciate, communicate, and integrate with art, design, and narrative. Here, you'll flex your ingenuity and skill in multiple areas as needs arise, whether directly in our games, as part of a development support system, or as part of our in-house storytelling toolset, NightTools.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We're looking for a talented, driven, and passionate gameplay engineer to help us build the best experiences possible for our existing and upcoming games. As a Senior Gameplay Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the design and development of gameplay mechanics that will define the player experience in our upcoming titles. We're seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual with proven experience in gameplay development, a keen eye for game design, and a passion for creating memorable gameplay experiences.
Responsibilities:
  • Collaborate closely with the design team to understand gameplay objectives and translate them into technical solutions.
  • Iterate with design to ensure those technical solutions "feel" right.
  • Optimize and maintain existing gameplay systems to ensure fluid and engaging player experiences.
  • Mentor and provide guidance to junior engineers, sharing your expertise in gameplay development.
  • Identify technical challenges and propose innovative solutions to overcome them.
  • Debug and resolve gameplay-related issues, ensuring high-quality and bug-free gameplay experiences.
  • Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies to continually enhance our gameplay capabilities.

Skills & Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent work experience).
  • 7+ years of professional experience in gameplay development.
  • High proficiency with Unity.
  • Two or more published games for mobile, consoles, or desktop platforms.
  • Significant experience with C#.

About you:
  • Driven to maintain the highest-quality experiences for players.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently as well as in a team.
  • Skilled at writing code that is elegant, extensible, and optimized.
  • A keen eye for design and the "feel" of a game.
  • Proficient at giving and receiving quality feedback.
  • Self-starter willing to seek out solutions and ask questions when necessary.
  • Mindful of the needs of a team as individuals and as a whole.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity of thought and background builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

What Netflix employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Netflix logo

About Netflix

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Gatos, CA, US

Year founded

1997

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