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Senior Game Tools Programmer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Game Tools & Modding Engineer

Game Tools & Modding Engineer Role Type: Contractor Location: Remote We are looking for a Game Tools & Modding Engineer with strong expertise in graphics programming, rendering systems, and engine ...

Valicy

Senior Game Developer

Greenville, NC

Senior Game Developer Location: Greenville, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game ... tools, workflows, or reusable systems when they create clear value for current or future ...

Valicy

Senior Game Developer

Wilmington, NC

Senior Game Developer Location: Wilmington, NC Department: NC Game Development Reports To: Game ... tools, workflows, or reusable systems when they create clear value for current or future ...

Stardock Corporation

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 ...

teamLFG

OR

As a Senior Game Engineer - Graphics on teamLFG, you will work closely with artists, designers and ... RESPONSIBILITIES Build and maintain production-quality gameplay systems, workflows, and tools in C ...

Proxima

Senior Game Designer

San Francisco, CA · Remote

We're looking for a Senior Game Designer to play a leadership role on the project. We are a remote ... You can partner with engineers to build custom tools that accelerate your workflow. * 5+ years game ...

Stardock Corporation

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI

$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 ...

Epic Games

Senior Game Designer

Cary, NC · On-site

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 ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Dallas, TX · Remote

... animators, and developers. * Responsibilities include creating and reviewing game concepts ... tools like JIRA to assign tasks and track progress. * Continuously tests in-development games to ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Reno, NV · Remote

... animators, and developers. * Responsibilities include creating and reviewing game concepts ... tools like JIRA to assign tasks and track progress. * Continuously tests in-development games to ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Austin, TX · Remote

... animators, and developers. * Responsibilities include creating and reviewing game concepts ... tools like JIRA to assign tasks and track progress. * Continuously tests in-development games to ...

Aperio Talent Solutions

Sr. Game Designer

Houston, TX · Remote

... animators, and developers. * Responsibilities include creating and reviewing game concepts ... tools like JIRA to assign tasks and track progress. * Continuously tests in-development games to ...

teamLFG

OR

And are you excited to build the systems and tools to help others create a rich, innovative game? As a Senior Gameplay Engineer - Gameplay Tools on teamLFG, you'll help build the bridge between the ...

Relevate Health

$100K - $125K/yr

Join a team of top artists, engineers, designers, and others who've joined us from prominent gaming ... Own tracking tools and reports like Jira and Confluence. Lead sprints, evaluate burn downs, and ...

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How much do senior game tools programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior game tools 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.
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Infographic showing various Senior Game Tools Programmer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 63% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,736 per year, or $52.3 per hour.

Senior Game Systems Programmer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel, MD • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

1st of 72 rated research

Job description

Description
Are you a senior or staff-level systems programmer, engine programmer, or low-level C++ engineer who has built core technology for complex real-time software?
Do you enjoy shaping runtime architecture, improving performance, mentoring engineers, and turning difficult technical problems into reliable systems?
If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
We are seeking a senior game systems programmer to help us advance interactive 3D training and simulation capabilities for vital national security challenges. You'll join a multidisciplinary team moving ambitious ideas from early designs to robust game-engine-based capabilities. This is an opportunity to bring game-industry systems programming, engine architecture, and system performance into an environment focused on public service and long-term mission impact.
As a Senior Game Systems Programmer...
  • Your primary responsibility will be to architect, develop, test, and improve real-time software systems that support simulation, interactive 3D visualization, scenario execution, and training.
  • You will provide technical leadership for performance-sensitive C++ software involving engine systems, physics models, runtime architecture, distributed simulation, data flow, networking, interaction, or visualization.
  • You will define and evolve foundational systems such as state management, resource loading, streaming, serialization, platform abstraction, scenario control, synchronization, messaging, simulation execution, or data pipelines.
  • You will integrate game engines, custom software frameworks, physics models, simulation components, rendering systems, data sources, hardware interfaces, and external tools into reliable interactive capabilities.
  • You will profile, debug, and improve complex software systems across CPU, GPU, memory, networking, storage, latency, throughput, load time, and real-time frame-budget constraints.
  • You will mentor engineers, guide architecture and code reviews, communicate technical tradeoffs, and help the team build software that is performant, maintainable, testable, and usable.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, game development, physics, mathematics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Have 8+ years of professional software development experience in game-engine systems, real-time simulation, visualization, interactive tools, engine development, graphics, distributed systems, robotics, extended reality, or related performance-sensitive software.
  • Have significant experience developing clear and maintainable, high-performance C++ software for real-time, interactive, simulation, engine, or other performance-sensitive applications.
  • Have experience designing software architectures for complex technical systems such as game engines, simulation systems, distributed applications, visualization platforms, interactive tools, robotics systems, or other real-time software platforms.
  • Have deep experience in one or more systems programming areas such as memory management, multithreading, job systems, streaming, serialization, networking, platform abstraction, resource management, rendering integration, physics integration, tools, build systems, data pipelines, or large-scale C++ architecture.
  • Have experience leading technical efforts, mentoring engineers, reviewing designs, communicating technical tradeoffs, and helping teams converge on practical, maintainable solutions.
  • Are willing and able to travel occasionally for meetings, demonstrations, integration events, or partner engagements.
  • Are able to obtai Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Have senior or staff-level experience as a systems programmer, engine programmer, platform programmer, rendering programmer, tools programmer, physics programmer, networking programmer, or core technology programmer in the game industry.
  • Have experience with Unity, Unreal Engine, or proprietary, in-house, open-source, or custom real-time 3D engine technology.
  • Have experience with physics modeling, distributed simulation, multiplayer networking, state synchronization, deterministic simulation, scenario systems, terrain systems, geospatial visualization, or simulation-based training systems.
  • Have experience modernizing, refactoring, stabilizing, or extending large C++ systems while supporting active users, prototypes, interactive systems, or mission operations.
  • Have experience building tools, asset pipelines, debugging utilities, automated tests, build systems, or workflows used by engineers, analysts, designers, artists, or other technical users.
  • Hold an active Secret.

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$105,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$290,000 Annually

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