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Physics Engine Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Roblox

Senior Software Engineer Engine Harmony

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

Your work will touch every part of the engine, from threading and memory management to physics and ... passionate engineers, you will be right at home on our growing Game Engine team. You Will:

Tencent

Lead Engine System Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$116K - $343K/yr

Work with design and production and engineering leadership to manage schedules and backlog ... Deep knowledge of engine systems involving physics, streaming, audio and other engine systems

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How much do physics engine developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for physics engine developer in the United States is $20.06, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.50 and $25.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Physics Engine Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Physics Engine Developer, you need strong programming skills (C++ or similar), a solid understanding of physics and mathematics, and often a computer science or engineering degree. Familiarity with physics simulation libraries (like Bullet or PhysX), game engines (such as Unity or Unreal), and profiling/debugging tools is typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills for optimizing performance and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are crucial to building accurate, efficient, and robust physics systems that enhance the realism and playability of interactive applications.

What are some common challenges faced by Physics Engine Developers when optimizing real-time simulations?

Physics Engine Developers often encounter challenges balancing simulation accuracy with real-time performance. Ensuring that the engine runs smoothly on various hardware, especially for games or interactive applications, requires clever optimization techniques such as approximations and multi-threading. Additionally, developers need to address issues like collision detection precision, numerical instability, and scalability when handling complex scenes. Collaborating closely with graphics programmers and gameplay engineers is essential for integrating the physics engine seamlessly into larger projects.

What does a Physics Engine Developer do?

A Physics Engine Developer designs, implements, and maintains the software systems that simulate physical behaviors in digital environments, such as video games or simulations. This involves developing algorithms to model real-world physics phenomena like collision detection, rigid body dynamics, and fluid simulations. Physics Engine Developers work closely with other software engineers and designers to ensure realistic and efficient performance, often optimizing their code for specific platforms or hardware. Their work is essential for creating immersive and believable interactive experiences.
Infographic showing various Physics Engine Developer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 84% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,731 per year, or $20.1 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer Engine Harmony

Senior Software Engineer Engine Harmony

Roblox

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

Other

Posted yesterday

Job description

As a Senior Software Engineer on our Systems team, you will have an immediate impact on the building blocks of Roblox itself. The software you build is a very large application that empowers our global community of 2M+ developers to push the boundaries of interactive gaming. Your work will touch every part of the engine, from threading and memory management to physics and scripting. If you enjoy working on C++ software and have a passion for working on high-performance real-time applications alongside experienced and passionate engineers, you will be right at home on our growing Game Engine team.

You Will:

  • Develop engine code in C++ for sub-systems critical to the Roblox game engine
  • Work on sub-systems to harmonize resource usage to ensure gameplay works on various devices with varying CPU, memory and bandwidth capabilities
  • Work on optimization techniques to improve player engagement
  • Work on every application Roblox develops, from mobile phone clients to cloud-based servers

You have:

  • 4+ years of experience solving complex, system-level problems in large-scale codebases. Strong C++ experience is preferred, but not required.
  • Good understanding of core systems fundamentals and low-level performance considerations.
  • Experience developing and shipping machine learning models is a strong plus.
  • Experience working in the guts of a game engine or passion for learning it.
  • A curiosity to want to learn and stay up-to-date on technology development

Apply