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Senior Gameplay Programmer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Application Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Senior Application Developer (NOAA/AWIPS) Company: BLN24 About Us:We find strength in teamwork-a ... BLN24 benefits are game changing.We like our team to play hard and that means they need to be taken ...

Senior Application Developer

Mclean, VA · On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Job Title:  Senior Application Developer (NOAA/AWIPS) Company: BLN24 About Us: We find strength ... BLN24 benefits are game changing. We like our team to play hard and that means they need to be ...

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Senior Gameplay Programmer information

See Virginia salary details

$13

$51

$71

How much do senior gameplay programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior gameplay programmer in Virginia is $51.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.61 and $61.97 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior gameplay programmer?

Senior Gameplay Programmers are experienced software developers who focus on creating and implementing the interactive elements of video games, such as controls, mechanics, and player interactions. They collaborate closely with designers, artists, and other programmers to bring the game's vision to life, ensuring a smooth and engaging player experience. In addition to programming, they often mentor junior staff, participate in code reviews, and help shape the technical direction of the game. Their expertise is crucial in solving complex technical challenges and optimizing gameplay systems for performance and fun.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior gameplay programmer?

To thrive as a Senior Gameplay Programmer, you need advanced programming skills (typically in C++ or C#), a deep understanding of game mechanics, and several years of experience in game development. Familiarity with industry-standard game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, version control systems, and sometimes a degree in computer science or related fields are commonly expected. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with designers and artists. These skills and qualities are essential for delivering high-quality, engaging gameplay experiences and leading technical innovation within a game development team.

How does a senior gameplay programmer typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

As a Senior Gameplay Programmer, you'll frequently work with designers, artists, and QA testers to bring gameplay features to life. Your role involves translating design concepts into functional game mechanics, debugging issues, and ensuring smooth integration with art and audio assets. Regular meetings and agile workflows are common, allowing you to provide technical input early in the feature design process and iterate quickly based on feedback. Strong communication skills are essential, as you'll often act as a bridge between creative and technical teams to ensure the game's vision is realized efficiently.

What are the most commonly searched types of Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia?

For Senior Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Gameplay Programmer jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Gameplay Programmer jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Gameplay Programmer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Gameplay Programmer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 7% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,803 per year, or $51.8 per hour.

Senior Application Developer

BLN24

Mclean, VA • On-site

$97K - $133K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

Job Title:Senior Application Developer (NOAA/AWIPS)
Company: BLN24
About Us:We find strength in teamwork-a better you is a better us
BLN24 is an award-winning Management Consulting Firm thatsupports the U.S. Federal Government in successfully achieving their mission and goals. Our service and solutions delivery start with understanding each client's end-state, and then seamlessly integrating within each Agency's organization to improve and enhance strategic and technical operations and deployments.
Position Overview:
We are seeking Senior Application Developers to support the NOAA National Weather Service AWIPS program, a mission-critical system used nationwide to process and disseminate real-time weather data that protects life and property.
You will contribute to the development and enhancement of a large-scale, high-availability platform supporting 24/7/365 operations.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Design, develop, test, and deploy scalable, secure, and maintainable software applications supporting mission-critical weather systems
  • Support enhancements, modernization, and maintenance of the AWIPS baseline software platform
  • Collaborate with UX, DevSecOps, QA, and product teams in an Agile development environment
  • Develop and maintain scalable microservices, RESTful APIs, and event-driven services
  • Ensure code quality through unit testing, code reviews, and adherence to engineering best practices
  • Support integration with AWS cloud services and cloud-native architecture patterns (EC2, Lambda, S3, EKS)
  • Participate in CI/CD pipeline development and support automated deployment processes
  • Contribute to system performance tuning, monitoring, logging, and operational troubleshooting in a 24/7 environment
  • Utilize AI-assisted development tools to improve productivity, software quality, and testing efficiency
  • Document technical designs, implementations, and operational procedures as needed

Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of professional software development experience
  • Strong experience in system design, architecture, and scalable application development
  • Proven experience leading or mentoring development teams in Agile environments
  • Hands-on experience with AWS services (EC2, Lambda, S3, EKS, or equivalent cloud platforms)
  • Experience building and supporting microservices-based architectures and APIs
  • Strong understanding of software engineering best practices including testing, CI/CD, and version control (e.g., Git)
  • US. Citizenship Required

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Current or recent experience with NOAA/NWS systems or federal weather-related programs
  • Direct experience with AWIPS or similar large-scale environmental data processing systems strongly preferred
  • Experience supporting high-availability, real-time, or mission-critical systems in production environments
  • Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and cloud-native observability tools (logging, metrics, tracing)
  • Experience using AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, automated testing frameworks)
  • Exposure to Kubernetes-based deployments and containerized workloads
  • Experience working in geographically distributed or 24/7 operational support environments

What BLN24 brings to the Game:
BLN24 benefits are game changing.We like our team to play hard and that means they need to be taken care of - physically, financially, and emotionally. We make sure to keep them in the game by giving them access to generous medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • You can join one of the fastest growing companies headquartered in the Washington DC Metro Area. We give you the opportunity to work in different sectors, so you have the chance at variety while maintaining stability.
  • Flexibility at BLN24 allows each individual the opportunity to balance quality work and their personal lives.Depending on projects, we allow remote working opportunities so you can always be in the game no matter where you call home.

BLN24 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We believe people are our strength and understand diverse talents are key to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.