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Principal Gameplay Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary : 2K is a global video game company known for publishing popular titles across various ... Coach Principal Engineers and Tech Leads to foster a culture of technical rigor and continuous ...

As a Principal Game Designer at RBKS AI (Ring, Blink, Key, Sidewalk), you will own the design ... Working alongside a focused team of product managers, engineers, and scientists, you will conceive ...

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$113K - $129K/yr

The game that connected you with friends, and made you feel like you belonged? If a game has ever ... Bonfire is a group of experienced and ambitious developers, proud to be creating our first original ...

Senior Engine Programmer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

At least 1 shipped AAA game as a senior or principal systems programmer. * Previous experience developing for games; preferably action, FPS, or 3PS titles. * Knowledge and understanding of ...

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$163K - $240K/yr

Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of ... Coach Principal Engineers and Tech Leads to foster a culture of technical rigor and continuous ...

Principal Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$163K - $240K/yr

Founded in 2005, 2K Games is a global video game company, publishing titles developed by some of ... Coach Principal Engineers and Tech Leads to foster a culture of technical rigor and continuous ...

Senior Engine Programmer

Novato, CA · On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

At least 1 shipped AAA game as a senior or principal systems programmer. * Previous experience developing for games; preferably action, FPS, or 3PS titles. * Knowledge and understanding of ...

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Principal Gameplay Programmer information

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$110K

$122.6K

$133K

How much do principal gameplay programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal gameplay programmer in the United States is $122,589.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $117,500.00 and $127,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.
More about Principal Gameplay Programmer jobs
What cities are hiring for Principal Gameplay Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Principal Gameplay Programmer job openings:
What states have the most Principal Gameplay Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Principal Gameplay Programmer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Principal Gameplay Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 14% As Needed, 44% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 14% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,589 per year, or $58.9 per hour.
Principal Engineer

Principal Engineer

2K

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Job Summary:
2K is a global video game company known for publishing popular titles across various gaming genres. They are seeking a visionary technical authority to lead their core technology group, defining scalable technical strategies and driving engineering excellence across multiple teams.
Responsibilities:
• Define Architectural Strategy: Set the long-term technical roadmap, engineering standards, and core technology adoption (engine, backend, rendering).
• Drive Technical Governance: Act as the final authority on critical design decisions, establish quality gates, and manage performance budgets.
• Lead Hands-On Innovation: Prototype foundational systems, perform high-level code reviews, and solve high-risk architectural challenges.
• Mentor Senior Talent: Coach Principal Engineers and Tech Leads to foster a culture of technical rigor and continuous improvement.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and architectural risks across the development lifecycle.
• Cross-Disciplinary Partnership: Align technical architecture with creative, production, and business objectives.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 10+ years in software engineering
• 5+ years in a Principal or Architect role (AAA gaming or high-scale systems preferred)
• Expert-level C++
• Unreal Engine architecture
• High-performance computing
• Success in shipping multiple complex products with stable, maintainable architectures
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts for both engineers and executive leadership
• Balanced approach to solving immediate production needs while maintaining long-term architectural health
• A passion for replacing legacy workflows with scalable, R&D-driven solutions
Company:
2K is a development studio that develops and publishes sports-based video games. It is a sub-organization of Take-Two Interactive Software. Founded in 2005, the company is headquartered in Novato, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.