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Senior Game Programmer Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

Xsolla

AI-First Engineering Intern

Raleigh, NC

$16.25 - $21.25/hr

You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns across our global regions. Who You'll Work ...

Epic Games

Senior Data Scientist

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Senior Data Scientist to support the meta-progression ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

Epic Games

Senior Environment Concept Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

What You'll Do Epic Games is searching for an experienced Senior Environment Concept Artist to ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

Epic Games

Senior Counsel (Regulatory)

Cary, NC · On-site

$129K - $175K/yr

Advise Epic senior management, Product Counsel, the Compliance Team and Legal leadership on key ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

Epic Games

Senior Environment Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

Our Senior Environment Artists are highly talented, creative, and versatile individuals who build ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

Epic Games

Senior Concept Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Senior Concept Artist to join the Rocket League team. This is ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

Epic Games

Senior Technical Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

... game art pipeline. You'll work closely with artists, engineers, and other tech artists to create scalable solutions that support Fortnite's visual style across many platforms. In this role, you will

Epic Games

Senior Global Stock Plan Administrator

Cary, NC · On-site

$46 - $63.50/hr

Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being ...

Epic Games

Director, Product Management (Discovery)

Cary, NC · On-site

$215K - $226K/yr

... to senior leadership * Experience managing or mentoring other PMs is a plus EPIC JOB + EPIC ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

AGBO

Senior Technical Designer, Events

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$99K - $106K/yr

... working hand in hand with engineers, animators, VFX, and sound. • Support collaborative ... Required : • 5-8 years of professional game design experience with multiple shipped titles. • ...

AGBO

Senior Level Designer

Raleigh, NC

$99K - $106K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer, you will play a key role in bringing game worlds to life through both ... Working closely with Design, Art, and Engineering, you'll help shape player-facing gameplay spaces ...

AGBO Films LLC

Senior Level Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$99K - $106K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer, you will play a key role in bringing game worlds to life through both ... Working closely with Design, Art, and Engineering, you'll help shape player-facing gameplay spaces ...

AGBO

Senior Level Designer

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$99K - $106K/yr

As a Senior Level Designer, you will play a key role in bringing game worlds to life through both ... Working closely with Design, Art, and Engineering, you'll help shape player-facing gameplay spaces ...

Epic Games

Design Director, Battle Pass

Cary, NC · On-site

... as a senior leader overseeing pass-type engagement systems; subscription experience is a plus ... Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to ...

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Senior Game Programmer information

See Raleigh, NC salary details

$13

$50

$69

How much do senior game programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior game programmer in Raleigh, NC is $50.81, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42.74 and $60.77 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.
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC? The most popular types of Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Senior Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Game Programmer jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
Senior Game Programmer jobs near you
AI-First Engineering Intern

AI-First Engineering Intern

Xsolla

Raleigh, NC

$16.25 - $21.25/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

ABOUT US
Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with Xsolla to help them fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games. Grounded in the belief in the future of video games, Xsolla is resolute in the mission to bring opportunities together, and continually make new resources available to creators. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record and has helped over 1,500+ game developers to reach more players and grow their businesses around the world. With more paths to profits and ways to win, developers have all the things needed to enjoy the game.
For more information, visit xsolla.com.

Why This Role Exists

Xsolla is going all-in on becoming an AI-first company, and we're not waiting for a slow rollout to get there. We're offering AI Engineer Internships in regions across the globe to help drive that shift directly, not by sitting in the back office, but by building.

You'll work on two things:

  1. Internal AI initiatives - helping unlock AI tooling and integrations across Xsolla faster than our existing teams can alone.

  2. Proof-of-concept builds on our own APIs - showing our product and engineering teams what's possible when you build with AI as a core part of your workflow, not an afterthought.

This isn't a shadow-and-observe internship. You'll ship code that goes to customers - internal teams or external players and game developers - working closely with senior engineers and fellow interns across our global regions.

Who You'll Work With

You won't be isolated on an intern-only project island. You'll work closely with senior engineers who are actively rebuilding how we write software, and you'll be part of a global cohort of interns building in parallel across our regions. That combination is the point: senior engineers give you a bar for what production-grade, customer-facing code looks like, and your fellow interns give you a peer group to trade ideas, code, and AI workflows every week.

What You'll Do

  • Partner and collaborate with senior engineers to identify where AI tooling and integrations can remove friction, and build the fix.

  • Build applications and integrations on top of Xsolla's APIs and SDKs that show internal teams how to move faster using AI-assisted development.

  • Ship work that matters. What you build is expected to reach real users - whether that's an internal tool an engineering team adopts or a customer-facing integration - not a throwaway exercise that gets shelved after your internship ends.

  • Use agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, or similar) as your default way of working - not a novelty you reach for occasionally.

  • Share what you build. We run weekly 30-second lightning-talk demos where everyone shows how they used AI to solve something that week - you'll be expected to bring something real.

  • Work with minimal process. You'll get context, a problem, and a mentor - the rest is on you to figure out and build.

  • Learn from and collaborate with both directions: senior engineers who'll mentor you on production-grade practices, and fellow interns across markets you'll trade ideas and code with at the weekly demos.

What We're Looking For

You build things because you want to, and that you already use AI to do it faster.

  • Genuine passion for building. You have side projects, hackathon entries, open-source contributions, or something you shipped just because you were curious. You didn't need an assignment to make it happen.

  • Real AI fluency. You've actually used tools like Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, or similar agentic coding tools to build something - not just asked ChatGPT to explain a concept. You should be able to explain how you used AI to get there and how you confirmed it actually worked - not someone who fires off a prompt and hopes for the best.

  • Bias toward action. Given an ambiguous problem, you start building before you ask for a spec.

  • Comfort with developing modern full-stack solutions - we care more about how fast you learn than what you already know cold.

  • Open to current undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates of a Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related program. If you're pursuing a graduate degree and don't mind taking on an internship-level role to get hands-on with AI, we want to hear from you.

How to Apply

No take-home assignments, no formal problem sets. We're evaluating proof of work, not your ability to complete an assigned exercise. Please include:

  1. A link to a GitHub profile, deployed project, or anything else you've built - the more recent and self-directed, the better.

  2. A short answer (2-3 sentences, or a 2-minute video/Loom if you'd rather show than tell) to: "What's something hard you built recently, and why did you build it?"

We're not grading for correctness or polish. We're looking for whether you have a real answer, and whether it's clear you actually did the work yourself (with AI as your tool, not your ghostwriter).

$20 - $25 an hour
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Xsolla is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the Fair Chance Act.
 
Criminal History Consideration:
For the AI-First Engineering Intern, we will conduct a background check that may include the following:
Criminal history check
Employment verification
Education verification
 
Relevance to Job Responsibilities:
The background check is relevant to this position because of the following role responsibilities:
Accessing confidential company data
Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
 
Rights Under the Fair Chance Act:
Applicants are encouraged to inquire about their rights under the Fair Chance Act. If you have questions regarding our hiring practices, please contact [email protected].
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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