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Remote Game Developer Jobs in Santa Clara, CA (NOW HIRING)

Senior Gameplay Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$108K - $161K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who we are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... The position is for an existing vacancy. #LI-Remote #LI-Onsite #LI-Hybrid

Senior Gameplay Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$108K - $161K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who we are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... The position is for an existing vacancy. #LI-Remote #LI-Onsite #LI-Hybrid

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... This includes dynamic screen layouts, remote control reordering, friction reduction, and real-time ...

Lead UI Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$133K - $198K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who We Are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... This includes dynamic screen layouts, remote control reordering, friction reduction, and real-time ...

... professional game developers to AI-native hobbyists. * Collaborate across Unity's ecosystem ... Mountain View, SF/Bay: $200,400 - $260,500 Bellevue, Seattle, NYC, Remote CA: $178,300 - $231,800 ...

Senior Director, Online Services

San Mateo, CA · On-site +1

$227K - $337K/yr

WE ARE GAME MAKERS Who we are: We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art ... The position is for an existing vacancy. #LI-Remote #LI-Onsite #LI-Hybrid

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Showing results 1-20

Remote Game Developer information

See Santa Clara, CA salary details

$37.9K

$126.4K

$209.8K

How much do remote game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote game developer in Santa Clara, CA is $126,403.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,000.00 and $144,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a remote game developer do?

As a remote developer, your duties and responsibilities involve programming the algorithms and code that control mobile, online, and computer video games. You work from home to develop action sequences in games, graphical user interfaces, and other basic tools that allow for seamless user gameplay. You must ensure that the software is compatible with console or computer requirements, such as memory usage and graphics chip limitations, and be able to identify and fix glitches in the game quickly. In this role, you virtually collaborate with other programmers and QA testers to ensure that these issues are dealt with systematically.

What does a remote game developer do?

A Remote Game Developer is a professional who designs, builds, and maintains video games while working from a location outside of a traditional office environment. Their responsibilities often include coding, testing, debugging, and collaborating with other team members such as designers and artists through online tools. Remote Game Developers may work on creating new games, updating existing ones, or developing specific features. They rely heavily on communication platforms, version control systems, and project management software to coordinate with their teams. This role allows for flexibility in location but requires strong self-management and technical skills.

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

To thrive as a Remote Game Developer, you need strong programming skills (such as C++, C#, or Unity), a solid understanding of game design principles, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines (like Unity or Unreal Engine), version control systems (e.g., Git), and sometimes specialized certifications are important technical assets. Effective communication, time management, and collaborative problem-solving are crucial soft skills for remote teamwork and project success. These skills and qualities enable developers to create high-quality games, meet deadlines, and work efficiently within distributed teams.

How do remote game developers typically collaborate with team members across different time zones?

Remote game developers often work closely with artists, designers, and other programmers who may be in various locations around the world. To ensure smooth collaboration, teams usually rely on project management tools, version control systems, and regular virtual meetings scheduled at overlapping hours. Clear communication, documentation, and flexible work hours can help overcome challenges related to time zone differences, ensuring everyone stays aligned on project goals and deadlines. Building strong asynchronous communication habits is key to maintaining productivity and team cohesion.

What are the most commonly searched types of Game Developer jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

The most popular types of Game Developer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Game Developer jobs in Santa Clara, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Game Developer jobs in Santa Clara, CA are:

What cities near Santa Clara, CA are hiring for Remote Game Developer jobs?

Cities near Santa Clara, CA with the most Remote Game Developer job openings:

Infographic showing various Remote Game Developer job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,403 per year, or $60.8 per hour.

Senior Gameplay Engineer

San Mateo, CA • On-site, Remote

2K
PC Games • 1 - 5K employees

$108K - $161K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

WE ARE GAME MAKERS

Who we are:

We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and inspired by a culture of inclusivity to build amazing games that thrill players everywhere. We pursue growth and innovation in an environment of safety and trust. Our culture is built on the belief that the more varied voices in our collective will strengthen our team and our games. We are looking for our next teammate who will raise our bar and make us better.  

What we need:

31st Union is looking for a Senior Gameplay Engineer to develop our Player Bots - AI agents that stand in for human players in our AAA free-to-play, cross-platform action game. Using C++, Unreal Engine 5, and our in-house utility AI framework, you will make bots that fight, traverse, loot, and team up convincingly enough that players second-guess whether they're facing a human. The same bots power mode backfill and automated testing at scale. 

Responsibilities:

  • Develop combat behavior: target prioritization, hero-appropriate weapon and ability use, movement, and disengagement

  • Develop humanization: tunable aim, reaction time, and error models across difficulty levels

  • Develop macro behavior: team cohesion, traversal, pacing, events, looting, and progression

  • Extend our utility AI framework: new behaviors, scoring, and tuning

  • Keep bot populations performant: throttling, suspension, and LOD

  • Extend bots as automated test clients, from feature tests to match-scale load tests

  • Build bot evaluation tooling: debug visualization and playtest metrics

  • Partner with design to tune behavior through playtests

Who you are:

  • 5+ years of gameplay or game AI engineering on shipped action games

  • Strong C++ and Unreal Engine fluency, including AI controllers, navigation, and EQS

  • Utility AI or comparable decision-making architectures

  • AI in networked multiplayer: client/server authority, prediction, dedicated servers

  • Humanlike combat AI: aim and error models, reaction time, believable movement

  • Optimizing many concurrent agents: LOD and tick throttling

Nice-to-Haves:

  • Player bots in a competitive shooter

  • Unreal Engine 5, StateTree, and the Gameplay Ability System

  • Control systems (e.g., PID controllers) and input simulation

  • Automated test clients and load testing


The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $108,900 and $161,160 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.

Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. Ontario only: The use of Artificial Intelligence is not being used to screen candidates. The position is for an existing vacancy.

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