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Locum Backend Game Developer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Company Description Our client is one of the most hip gaming company in Austin. We are looking for an experience Senior Backend Server Engineer, working in an open source database. Help build the ...

Sr Backend Server Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • PTO

Company Description Our client is one of the most hip gaming company in Austin. We are looking for an experience Senior Backend Server Engineer, working in an open source database. Help build the ...

Senior Python Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$100 - $140/hr

... gaming. We are looking for a Senior Python Engineer to own, design, build, and maintain high‑performance distributed backend systems serving millions of users. You will be accountable for ...

Full Stack Developer

Austin, TX

$122K - $227K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a leading global company in gaming content and technology, we are known for delivering ... Develop and sustain backend services and APIs using Node.js and Python. * Integrate with internal ...

Full Stack Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

$98K - $182K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a leading global company in gaming content and technology, we are known for delivering ... Develop and sustain backend services and APIs using Node.js and Python. * Integrate with internal ...

Sr. Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

... back-end systems for their gaming platform, collaborating closely with various teams to ensure ... developer building high-availability applications • Strong proficiency in modern JavaScript ...

Front End Developer

Austin, TX · On-site

$103K - $119K/yr

... game of golf. Our Mission: To create demonstrably superior and pleasingly different products ... Collaborate with UX/design, product, merchandising, and backend teams to translate business ...

Sr. Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain highly available front-end and back-end systems that support our gaming platform. This individual will be a ...

Sr. Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$121K - $160K/yr

JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain highly available front-end and back-end systems that support our gaming platform. This individual will be a ...

Senior Backend Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Today the company has grown to 90+ employees across product & engineering, sales, partnerships ... Our standard is simple: we hire people who consistently perform at the top of their game and raise ...

Lead Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Position Summary We're hiring a Lead Software Engineer for Gold Fish Casino Slots. It's a ... Beyond the game server, you'll also influence our admin tooling stack--a PHP backend with jQuery ...

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Locum Backend Game Developer information

See Austin, TX salary details

$11

$57

$83

How much do locum backend game developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for locum backend game developer in Austin, TX is $57.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.92 and $67.69 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a locum backend game developer?

Locum Backend Game Developers are professionals who temporarily fill backend development roles in game development teams, often to cover for permanent staff on leave or to support short-term projects. They focus on creating and maintaining the server-side infrastructure of games, ensuring reliable networking, data storage, and gameplay logic. Their expertise allows game studios to maintain seamless development and operation of online features, multiplayer systems, and databases. Locum developers are typically experienced and adaptable, able to quickly integrate with teams and contribute to ongoing projects.

What are some typical challenges a locum backend game developer might face when joining a new team on a temporary basis?

As a Locum Backend Game Developer, one of the main challenges is quickly adapting to the existing codebase and understanding the game's architecture within a limited timeframe. You may also encounter varying coding standards and documentation quality, which can impact onboarding. Additionally, effective communication with permanent team members is crucial to ensure seamless integration of your contributions. Proactively asking questions and leveraging onboarding resources can help ease these challenges and allow you to make a positive impact during your assignment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a locum backend game developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Locum Backend Game Developer, you need strong programming skills in languages like Java, C#, or Python, a solid understanding of server architecture, and experience with scalable backend systems. Familiarity with cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), database management, and version control systems (like Git) is typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, adaptability, and strong communication skills help you quickly integrate with new teams and projects. These skills ensure you can efficiently deliver robust backend solutions and maintain seamless game functionality during temporary assignments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX?

The most popular types of Backend Game Developer jobs in Austin, TX are:

Principal Software Developer - Full Stack (Unity, C#)

Zynga

Austin, TX • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 22 hours ago


Job description

Job Summary:
Zynga is a global leader in interactive entertainment, known for its diverse portfolio of games. They are seeking a Principal Software Developer to develop and maintain core client technology and engine-level systems for a new game targeting a casual audience, emphasizing engineering excellence and problem-solving skills.
Responsibilities:
• Define, architect, and develop core systems and client infrastructure in Unity and C#
• Diagnose and resolve complex, game-wide technical issues such as slow load times, low frame rates, memory pressure, and build/runtime stability
• Own the evaluation, upgrade, and maintenance of third-party libraries, SDKs, and engine dependencies
• Design and implement foundational architecture changes that enable future feature roadmaps for feature-focused engineers to build upon
• Produce technical design documentation and implementation plans for infrastructure and systemic initiatives
• Scope and cost work accurately from loosely defined requirements, presenting estimates with clear assumptions and identified risks
• Adapt plans and technical approaches when requirements or platform constraints change
• Review code, technical design documentation, and implementation plans for other team members
• Proactively profile, optimize, and refactor code to meet team performance and stability KPI goals
• Explore, develop, and integrate new technologies and tools that benefit the broader engineering team
• Work closely with other engineers to lead multi-week or month-long infrastructure and tooling efforts
• Give team and divisional tech talks on architectures that you’ve built
• Work to improve and evolve team process and engineering standards
• Help to mentor other engineers
Qualifications:
Required:
• B.Sc. in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent education / work experience
• 6+ Years game industry / mobile app experience as a software developer
• Shipped titles and/or live games experience, especially mobile (iOS / Android)
• Expert knowledge in C#
• 3+ Years Unity experience, including engine-level and low-level systems work
• A solid understanding of client/server architecture in modern mobile games
• Understanding, interest and knowledge of server-side architecture in mobile games
• Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms and software methodologies
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and resolving performance issues such as load times, frame rate, and memory usage
• Experience upgrading, integrating, or maintaining third-party libraries, SDKs, or engine versions
• Experience with the AWS ecosystem, Kubernetes, and back end monitoring technologies such as Datadog
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working in a collaborative environment
• Excellent ability to foresee and proactively resolve blockers, technical risk, and points of failure
• Excellent ability to function in an asynchronous distributed work environment while still tuning in to key team meetings
• Experience with git
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization tools
Preferred:
• Experience with Unity engine source modification or custom engine forks
• Experience with build pipeline, CI/CD, or dev tooling for game teams
• Experience playing and working on games that target a casual audience
• Experience using Claude Code or a similar AI coding tool
Company:
Zynga is a mobile game developer that creates and operates social games as live services played on the Internet. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in San Mateo, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.