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Lead Gameplay Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

ARRISE

Game Art Lead

Game artists, developers, mathematicians, sound technicians, product marketers, regulatory experts ... In this hands-on role, you'll collaborate with a small multidisciplinary team to lead the visual ...

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Seattle, WA · Remote

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Austin, TX · Remote

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

ARRISE

Game Art Lead

Game artists, developers, mathematicians, sound technicians, product marketers, regulatory experts ... In this hands-on role, you'll collaborate with a small multidisciplinary team to lead the visual ...

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Austin, TX · On-site +1

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

Skydance

Audio Lead (Games)

Santa Monica, CA · Remote

$125K - $165K/yr

We are searching for an Audio Lead to join our core team developing a high-quality AAA single ... into gameplay systems and production workflows. * Partner with engineering to establish best ...

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All JobsLead Gameplay Programmer Jobs

Lead Gameplay Programmer information

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$10

$54

$83

How much do lead gameplay programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead gameplay programmer in the United States is $54.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.27 and $68.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Lead Gameplay Programmer collaborate with designers and artists during game development?

A Lead Gameplay Programmer works closely with designers and artists to translate creative concepts into functional gameplay features. This often involves regular meetings to discuss design intentions, technical feasibility, and implementation plans. The Lead ensures that the programming team builds systems that align with the artistic vision and gameplay goals, often serving as a bridge between creative and technical departments. Effective communication and problem-solving are key, as the Lead must balance design desires with performance and production constraints.

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

To thrive as a Lead Gameplay Programmer, you need advanced proficiency in programming languages (such as C++ or C#), a solid understanding of game design principles, and experience with game development frameworks, typically supported by a computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with industry-standard game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, version control systems, and debugging tools is essential, and certifications in these tools are advantageous. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help you effectively guide a team and collaborate with designers, artists, and other engineers. These competencies enable the delivery of high-quality, engaging gameplay experiences while ensuring technical excellence and team cohesion.

What does a Lead Gameplay Programmer do?

A Lead Gameplay Programmer is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of gameplay features in a video game. They work closely with designers and other programmers to ensure that game mechanics are fun, functional, and meet the project's vision. In addition to writing code, they often lead a team of gameplay programmers, providing guidance, setting technical standards, and reviewing code. Their role is crucial in bridging the gap between creative ideas and technical execution, ensuring a smooth and engaging player experience.

What is the difference between Lead Gameplay Programmer vs Gameplay Programmer?

AspectLead Gameplay ProgrammerGameplay Programmer
ResponsibilitiesOversees gameplay development, mentors team, designs core systemsDevelops gameplay features, implements mechanics, collaborates with designers
Required SkillsAdvanced programming, leadership, system designStrong coding skills, gameplay scripting, collaboration
ExperienceTypically 5+ years, leadership experience2-4 years, focused on gameplay coding
Work EnvironmentTeam leadership, project planningHands-on coding, feature implementation

The main difference between a Lead Gameplay Programmer and a Gameplay Programmer lies in scope and responsibility. The Lead oversees the entire gameplay development process, mentors team members, and makes high-level design decisions. In contrast, the Gameplay Programmer focuses on implementing specific gameplay features and mechanics under guidance. Both roles require strong programming skills, but the Lead also needs leadership and system design expertise.

More about Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs
What states have the most Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs are:
Lead Gameplay Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Gameplay Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 43% As Needed, 9% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Contract, 40% Nights, and 2% Summer. Highlights an 91% Physical, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,323 per year, or $55 per hour.

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)

Seismic Squirrel

Issaquah, WA • On-site, Remote

$62 - $75/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)
Seismic Squirrel LLC
Job Title: Senior Unity Game Engineer
Our Games: Narrative-centric RPG videogames set in an alternate history 1930s New York.
Role: Unity programming and game architecture, Engineering leadership.
Experience: Senior Level, 8+ years of professional Unity videogame engineering experience
developing for PC / console. Must have successfully shipped game titles in the senior
engineering role.
Location: USA or Canada (Remote) - Must reside within the UTC-4 to UTC-8 timezones.
Company Size: 24
Pay: $62 - $75 USD per hour - Depends on skills and experience.
Job Type: Contract-to-Hire (see below)
Overview
We are looking for a creative and resourceful Senior Gameplay Engineer with effective leadership skills, a clear understanding of Unity programming, experience developing combat AI systems, a logical and systemic thinker, with an iterative approach to development, a collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and an enthusiasm for RPG and turn-based videogames. The ideal candidate enjoys working with talented engineers, designers, writers, artists, and management, with a drive to create a fun and cohesive gameplay experience, able to empathize with both new players and with experts of the genre.
The ideal candidate communicates effectively in a small cross-functional remote team environment, clearly presenting their ideas to stakeholders for signoff. They bring a passion for working within an iterative development environment, having a collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for videogames.
This is a remote position which requires regular team collaboration online during our company's core work hours (9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Pacific), attending relevant meetings (e.g. daily scrum, retrospective, sprint planning, and design meetings). Occasional evening calls should be expected for collaboration with overseas vendors. The option to convert to full-time employee may be available to ideal candidates, depending on their location, skills, fit, project needs and schedule, and timing. H-1B transfers and sponsorships are not available at this time.
Quests
  • Design, implement, and improve...
    • Narrative: Integration with authoring, dialog, localization, and voiceover tools and content.
    • Combat: Vehicle physics, damage states, targeting, firing arcs, line of sight, area of effect.
    • Maps and Scenes: Travel, POI availability and interactions, encounters.
    • Backend: Save file system, achievements, DLC support.
    • Tools: Level design, unit and stats configuration, map editor, narrative editor.
  • Lead assigned engineering efforts, mentoring, effectively coordinating and delegating engineering duties.
  • Prototype new gameplay ideas and mechanics.
  • Creatively apply engineering best practices to implement architecture and programming for our games.
  • Own and support our DevOps and CI / CD pipelines utilizing Unity Cloud Build and Bitbucket.
  • Identify and modify existing frameworks according to our project needs, building game frameworks and subsystems from scratch as needed.
  • Engage in all aspects of game programming: Front-end and back-end, systems, UI / UX, APIs, internationalization and localization, validation, optimization, and analytics instrumentation.
  • Expand games from PC to console platforms.
  • Troubleshoot code and fix bugs.
  • Utilize unit testing and mocking, data validation, story walker, and other tools and techniques to ensure high product quality.
  • Mentor junior programmers.
  • Educate and explain programming concerns to the rest of the Development Team.
  • Work with the Design Team to maintain UX quality throughout the development process.
  • Actively collaborate with the rest of the Development Team, openly communicating progress and problems, helping us set realistic project timelines and expectations.
  • Participate in internal game testing and feedback.
  • Help to create and maintain core technical documentation.
  • Balance and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, working within agreed timeframes and budgets.

Character Stats
  • 8+ years of experience as a Unity software engineer through the full lifecycle of game development from start to finish:
    concept, design, prototyping, programming, content creation, testing, optimization, launch, support.
  • Strong Unity programming experience, specifically with turn-based combat games for PC / console.
  • Experienced creating and balancing combat AI.
  • Deep understanding of Unity and the performance impact of game architecture.
  • Adept at object-oriented programming and design principles using C# and the .NET platform.
  • Experienced managing Windows and Linux servers powering pipelines automation.
  • Familiar with software engineering best practices, design patterns, and unit testing.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, resourceful, able to find solutions when needed.
  • Enthusiastic for quality gameplay and a familiarity with many games and genres, past and present.
  • Strong self-discipline, motivated, a self-starter with a drive for excellence.
  • Organized, detail-oriented, able to work fast and loose or carefully with quality when each is needed.
  • Courteous and patient, able to give and receive constructive and inspirational feedback gracefully.
  • Able to work effectively with people having a variety of personalities and backgrounds.
  • Wise leadership skills with high emotional intelligence, a respected mentor across disciplines.
  • Adaptable: The job can change according to the needs at hand and requires wearing various hats.
  • Able to work remotely using various collaboration tools.
  • Strong written, visual, and verbal English language communication and presentation skills.
  • Familiar with design diagramming techniques using UML.
  • Experienced working with professional narrative authoring tools (e.g. Articy, Arcweave, Pixel Crushers).
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Visio.
  • Passionate to learn new tools and technologies.

Bonus Points
  • Familiar with Pixel Crushers' Dialogue System for Unity.
  • Familiar with Dark Tonic's Master Audio.
  • Experienced using creative tools (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Blender, 3ds Max, Figma).
  • Experienced with XML processing, DOM, SAX, XSD, XPath, and XSLT.
  • Located in one of our hub metros: Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, or Edmonton.

The Company
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.
If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you, and if you're located and authorized to work in the USA or Canada, please submit both your cover letter and résumé to Seismic Squirrel.
For more information about Seismic Squirrel, go to https://www.SeismicSquirrel.com/

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