Senior Game Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology.

Come be a part of what's next. We are seeking a Senior Game Engineer who is passionate about the next frontier of interactive storytelling and player agency. In this role, you won't just be building models; you'll be building experiences.

You will leverage Generative AI to break traditional scripted boundaries, creating dynamic gameplay systems that respond to players in ways previously thought impossible. Key Responsibilities Design-Led Engineering: Work elbow-to-elbow with Game Designers to prototype and ship AI-augmented gameplay. Player-Centric AI: Implement GenAI features that directly enhance the player experience, ensuring that AI-generated content feels intentional, high-quality, and most importantly, fun.

Core Systems Integration: Architect how GenAI hooks into core game systems (AI behavior trees, narrative engines, and world-building tools) to ensure seamless, low-latency performance. Guardrails & UX: Develop the "logic layer" that sits between raw AI outputs and the player, ensuring content remains on-theme, safe, and balanced within the game's mechanics. Rapid Gameplay Iteration: Use GenAI to accelerate the "find the fun" phase of development, building internal tools that allow for faster level blocking, asset variation, and playtesting loops.

Technical Troubleshooting: Debug complex interactions where AI systems meet deterministic game logic, maintaining the stability of the live game environment. Qualifications Gameplay Engineering Core: 5+ years of professional experience in game development. You have a deep understanding of game architecture, player controllers, and real-time systems.

Applied GenAI Skills: Proven experience using LLMs or Diffusion models to solve specific product problems. You know how to prompt, fine-tune, and chain models to get predictable results in an unpredictable game world. Systems Thinker: You understand how a change in an AI's "personality" or "generation parameters" affects game balance and the overall player journey.

Technical Proficiency: Expert-level C++ or C# (Unity/Unreal) and a grasp of Python for tooling and data pipelines. Passion for Innovation: You are excited by "impossible" design challenges and believe GenAI is the key to unlocking new genres of play. Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses.

You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $280,000.00 - $400,000.00

Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off.

Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here. Netflix is a unique culture and environment.

Learn more here. Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.