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Senior Game Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Game Developer Location: Greenville, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game Developer Lead Status: Exempt WHO WE ARE: We are Valicy. We play games. We also make the machines they ...

Senior Game Developer Location: Wilmington, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game Developer Lead Status: Exempt WHO WE ARE: We are Valicy. We play games. We also make the machines they ...

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Stardock is currently seeking a talented Senior Game Developer. The ideal candidate is well versed in C++, has shipped titles in the past and loves strategy games. This is a salaried, full-time ...

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

Stardock is currently seeking a talented Senior Game Developer. The ideal candidate is well versed in C++, has shipped titles in the past and loves strategy games. This is a salaried, full-time ...

As a Senior Game Engineer - Graphics on teamLFG, you will work closely with artists, designers and engineers to build expressive gameplay experiences for a multiplayer game while also driving visual ...

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Senior Game Security Engineer to join our Anti-Cheat team and work with not only our titles but a wide variety of games from around the world. You'll join a ...

What You'll Do Epic Games is seeking an experienced Senior Game Designer to join our Music team ... Partner closely with audio and engineering teams to develop intuitive tools and mechanics that ...

$100K - $125K/yr

Senior Game Producer Level Ex Games (Powered by Relevate Health) is a fast-growing game studio that ... Join a team of top artists, engineers, designers, and others who've joined us from prominent gaming ...

As a Senior Game Engineer - Graphics on teamLFG, you will work closely with artists, designers and engineers to build expressive gameplay experiences for a multiplayer game while also driving visual ...

We are seeking a Senior Game Developer to provide in-depth review and quality control of D&D products produced outside the Game Design team. In this role, you'll ensure that game content is ...

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Senior Game Programmer information

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How much do senior game programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior game programmer in the United States is $52.28, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.99 and $62.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Game Programmer vs Game Developer?

AspectSenior Game ProgrammerGame Developer
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related field, experience in programming languages like C++/C#Bachelor's in Computer Science, Game Design, or related field, programming skills often required
Work EnvironmentFocus on coding, debugging, optimizing game systems, often in a team of programmersBroader role including design, scripting, and sometimes project management, working across departments
Industry UsageCommonly used in game studios for technical rolesUsed broadly for roles involving game creation, including design and development

The main difference is that a Senior Game Programmer specializes in coding and technical development of game systems, while a Game Developer has a broader role that may include design, scripting, and project coordination. Senior Game Programmers focus on technical implementation, whereas Game Developers often handle multiple aspects of game creation.

How does a Senior Game Programmer typically collaborate with other teams during the development cycle?

Senior Game Programmers play a central role in cross-functional collaboration throughout the game development process. They frequently work alongside designers to translate gameplay ideas into functional mechanics, coordinate with artists to ensure asset integration, and partner with QA testers to identify and resolve bugs. Clear communication and problem-solving skills are essential, as the Senior Game Programmer often bridges technical and creative visions, helping to guide less-experienced programmers and align multiple teams towards a shared project goal.

What is the 80 20 rule in game development?

In game development, the 80/20 rule suggests that roughly 80% of the results come from 20% of the efforts, meaning a senior game programmer should focus on the most impactful features and tasks to optimize productivity and project success. Prioritizing core gameplay mechanics and critical systems often yields the greatest progress with less time spent on less significant details.

Is there a demand for game programmers?

The demand for game programmers remains strong due to ongoing growth in the gaming industry, with opportunities in mobile, console, and PC game development. Skills in programming languages like C++ and Unity or Unreal Engine are highly valued, and experience with graphics and AI can enhance job prospects.

What are Senior Game Programmers?

Senior Game Programmers are experienced software developers who design, implement, and optimize code for video games. They typically lead programming teams, mentor junior developers, and collaborate closely with artists, designers, and other departments to bring game concepts to life. Their responsibilities often include solving complex technical challenges, ensuring high performance and stability, and making key decisions about game architecture and technology. Senior Game Programmers usually have several years of industry experience and deep knowledge of programming languages such as C++ or C#. They play a crucial role in shipping polished, high-quality games.

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

To thrive as a Senior Game Programmer, you need deep expertise in programming languages like C++ or C#, solid knowledge of game development frameworks, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as proficiency in debugging, optimization, and version control systems like Git, is typically required. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills help you collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and mentor junior developers. These skills are crucial to delivering high-quality, performant games while ensuring efficient teamwork and project success.

Will AI replace game devs?

As a senior game programmer, AI is a tool that can automate certain tasks like procedural content generation and testing, but it is unlikely to fully replace game developers. Human creativity, design, and problem-solving remain essential in creating engaging and complex games. Developers will continue to adapt by integrating AI tools into their workflows to improve efficiency and innovation.

What do senior game developers do?

Senior game developers design, develop, and implement game features and systems, often leading technical aspects of game projects. They collaborate with designers, artists, and other programmers, and typically have expertise in programming languages like C++ or C# and game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine. They also review code, optimize performance, and mentor junior team members.
More about Senior Game Programmer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Game Programmer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Game Programmer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Programmer jobs? The most popular types of Game Programmer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Game Programmer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Game Programmer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Senior Game Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 26% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,736 per year, or $52.3 per hour.

Senior Game Developer

Valicy

Greenville, NC

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Senior Game Developer
Location: Greenville, NC
Department: NC Game Development
Reports To: Game Developer Lead
Status: Exempt
WHO WE ARE:
We are Valicy.
We play games. We also make the machines they run on. What we're building matters. How we treat people matters more.
OUR MISSION:
We exist to create excellent gaming experiences, treat our customers the way we want to be treated, and positively impact people's lives through a culture of care.
Seven values guide how we work. We call it our FIGHTER mindset:
Fun: Enjoy the journey together
Innovative: Consistently pushing new boundaries through creativity
Growth: Committed to growing personally and professionally
Humble amp; Passionate: It’s important to be both
Teamwork: Built on trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results
Excellence: Pursuing high standards in everything we do
Relational: Building trust and relationships with customers and teammates
If this is the kind of place you've been looking for, let's talk.
SUMMARY:
The Senior Game Developer is responsible for building high-quality casino games in Unity/C# from initial setup through release. This is a hands-on individual contributor role for an experienced developer who can own a game’s implementation, make sound technical decisions, and deliver reliable, maintainable work with minimal oversight.
Senior Game Developers at Valicy are expected to operate with strong ownership, technical judgment, and follow-through. You will work closely with designers, artists, audio, QA, developer leads, and other developers to turn game concepts and design direction into polished, performant, production-ready games.
This role is primarily focused on new casino game development, with support for skill games, conversions, maintenance, and existing product needs as required. Our development model gives individual developers meaningful ownership of their assigned games while still working inside a collaborative team structure. You will be expected to lead the implementation of your game, contribute to code reviews, support other developers when needed, and help raise the overall quality and consistency of the team as we grow.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Understand company Mission, Vision, and Values and be an ambassador of MVV.
- Own the technical implementation of assigned casino games from initial setup through release.
- Develop gameplay features, UI behavior, game flow, supporting systems, asset integrations, implement animations, and set up animators using Unity and C#.
- Translate game design documents, creative direction, and cross-functional feedback into clean, functional, and engaging gameplay.
- Make practical technical decisions that balance quality, speed, maintainability, performance, and project needs.
- Work with leads and other developers to review technical approaches, architecture decisions, and implementation plans.
- Participate actively in pull requests and code reviews, providing clear, constructive feedback to help improve code quality across the team.
- Debug, maintain, and improve existing games, including legacy products, conversions, and post-release support needs.
- Identify technical risks, unclear requirements, and implementation concerns early, then communicate them clearly with leads, managers, and cross-functional partners.
- Collaborate with designers, artists, audio, QA, and other developers to resolve issues and improve game quality.
- Support junior and mid-level developers through technical feedback, debugging assistance, and implementation guidance as needed.
- Contribute to shared standards, reusable patterns, and process improvements that help the team scale effectively.
- Build or improve internal tools, workflows, or reusable systems when they create clear value for current or future development.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 8+ years of Unity and C# Game Development experience
- Strong C# programming skills, including the ability to write clean, maintainable, readable, and reliable production code.
- Experience owning substantial features, systems, or products from implementation through completion.
- Strong Unity implementation skills, including working with scenes, prefabs, UI, animation, assets, and gameplay behavior.
- Solid understanding of gameplay systems, object-oriented programming, and practical software architecture.
- Strong debugging skills and the ability to investigate unfamiliar systems, identify root causes, and resolve issues effectively.
- Practical understanding of Unity performance considerations and common optimization techniques. · Experience using Git or similar source control in a professional development environment.
- Ability to work well in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary team environment.
- Strong ownership mentality with the ability to follow through on commitments and take responsibility for shipped work.
- Resilience when working through changing requirements, unclear design details, legacy code, or unexpected technical challenges.
- Willingness to give and receive feedback through code reviews, technical discussion, and team collaboration.
- Clear communication skills and the ability to explain technical decisions, risks, and tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical teammates.
- Interest in helping junior and mid-level developers grow through technical support, feedback, and example-setting.
Preferred Requirements:
- Experience in the casino gaming industry or other regulated gaming environments.
- Experience building or maintaining the production of casino games, slot-style games, mobile games, or other Unity-based commercial products.
- Experience working on small teams where individual developers own large portions of a game or product.
- Experience with DOTween, Visual Studio, Azure DevOps, SQL, profiling tools, or similar development tools.
- Experience creating reusable systems, templates, tools, or workflows that improve development speed or consistency.
- Experience reviewing code and providing practical technical feedback to other developers. · Interest in AI-assisted workflows, automation, or tooling that improves developer productivity while maintaining code quality.
- Comfort working in a growing team environment where standards, processes, and technical practices continue to mature over time.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment is typical of a traditional office environment.
This Job Description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing Company objectives. The description incorporates the most typical duties performed and covers only the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed.