1

Senior Gameplay Programmer Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Senior Research Scientist-Field Day

Madison, WI ยท On-site +1

$99K - $126K/yr

... game developers that creates research-based learning games and related infrastructure. Its work ... The Senior Research Scientist will provide scientific and strategic leadership for Field Day ...

$305K/yr

About the role Unity builds the real-time 3D platform that powers games and interactive experiences ... We are seeking a Senior Application Security Engineer with profound expertise in application ...

Senior Electrical Engineer - Power

Menasha, WI ยท On-site

$110K - $143K/yr

The Senior Electrical Engineer - Power will be responsible for all aspects of the electrical design ... Benefits are the Game-Changer We provide industry-leading benefits as an investment in the lives of ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Milwaukee, WI

$102K - $135K/yr

Be our next Senior Mechanical Engineer! Your work environment at EXP In this role, you will be a ... Experience in designing HVAC systems for Gaming, Hospitality, Entertainment, Healthcare or ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Milwaukee, WI ยท On-site

$102K - $135K/yr

Be our next Senior Mechanical Engineer! Your work environment at EXP In this role, you will be a ... Experience in designing HVAC systems for Gaming, Hospitality, Entertainment, Healthcare or ...

WI ยท On-site

$130.40 - $195.60/hr

Experience building or fundamentally extending game engine cores, middleware, or foundational ... programming, Unity DOTS, or other data-oriented runtime architectures.**Additional information*

next page

Showing results 1-20

Senior Gameplay Programmer information

See Wisconsin salary details

$13

$52

$72

How much do senior gameplay programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior gameplay programmer in Wisconsin is $52.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44.42 and $63.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.

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 most commonly searched types of Gameplay Programmer jobs in Wisconsin?

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Senior Gameplay Programmer job openings in Wisconsin as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 60% In-person, 20% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,753 per year, or $52.8 per hour.

Senior Research Scientist-Field Day

Wisconsin

Madison, WI โ€ข On-site, Remote

$99K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:Academic StaffEmployment Type:RegularJob Profile:Scientist IIIJob Summary:

The Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER), housed in the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, is one of the world's first and most productive education research centers. WCER supports innovative, collaborative research and development that advances education policy and practice.
Field Day is an interdisciplinary team of artists, engineers, designers, researchers, writers, and game developers that creates research-based learning games and related infrastructure. Its work bridges educational research, learning-game development, data science, and engagement with educators and other communities. Field Day's freely available games are designed with researchers, subject-matter experts, teachers, and learners and are used to investigate how people learn.
The Senior Research Scientist will provide scientific and strategic leadership for Field Day's research infrastructure and community. The primary responsibility of this position will be to architect and fundraise for Open Game Data research infrastructure. The position will independently identify research opportunities, design studies and methodologies, analyze and interpret data, develop grant proposals, author scholarly and technical publications, and direct complex research operations. The role will also guide the development and sustainability of research infrastructure, cultivate partnerships and user communities, coordinate interdisciplinary collaborators, and supervise or direct project personnel. The successful candidate will connect rigorous research practice with durable systems and communities that support learning-game research at scale.
This is a 75% FTE remote position. Remote work is subject to UW-Madison remote-work policies and approval.

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • Provides strategic and operational leadership for Field Day research infrastructure, including planning, implementation, governance, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
  • Attends and assists with the facilitation of scholarly events and presentations in support of continued professional development and the dissemination of research information
  • Conducts literature reviews, prepares reports and materials and, disseminates information to appropriate entities
  • Monitors program budget and approves unit expenditures
  • Collects and analyzes highly complex research data, conducts experiments and interviews, and documents results according to established policies and procedures
  • Serves as an institutional subject matter expert and liaison with key internal and external stakeholders providing expert level information and representing the interests of a specialized research area
  • Identifies research problems and develops highly complex research methodologies and procedures. Publishes and presents results to help advance research
  • May supervise the day-to-day activities of a research unit and staff and resolve routine personnel issues
  • Identifies, writes, or assists in developing grant opportunities, grant applications, and proposals to secure research funding
  • Builds and sustains communities of researchers, educators, developers, and partners who use or contribute to Field Day research infrastructure.
Department:

School of Education / Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) / Field Day

Compensation:

Minimum: $100,000

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

Required Qualifications:

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading research infrastructure, research operations, or complex interdisciplinary research programs.
Demonstrated ability to independently identify research problems and design rigorous research methodologies, protocols, and studies.
Experience analyzing and interpreting quantitative and/or qualitative research data.
Demonstrated success developing competitive grant proposals and managing sponsored research activities.
Record of authoring scholarly, technical, or research publications and communicating results to varied audiences.
Experience directing staff, project teams, contractors, or cross-functional collaborators.
Demonstrated ability to build and sustain research communities and partnerships across disciplines and organizations.
Excellent written, oral, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with educational research, learning sciences, educational technology, digital learning games, or game-based assessment.
Experience developing or operating open, shared, or community-facing research infrastructure.
Experience with research data governance, reproducible research practices, and responsible data use.
Experience leading distributed or remote interdisciplinary teams.
Familiarity with research administration and sponsored-project requirements in a university environment.

Education:

Terminal degree (PhD or equivalent) in education or science.

How to Apply:

To begin the application process, click on the "I am a current employee" button or "I am not a current employee" button underApply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only oneattachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined fileor as multiple filesin the same upload area.

Upload a copy of:

  • current resume

  • Cover letter describing your relevant experience in research leadership, research infrastructure, grant development, and community engagement.

Note: References will be requested fromfinalcandidates. All applicants will be notified once the searchconcludesand a candidate is selected. Incomplete application packages that do not include all of the requested documentation will not be considered

Contact Information:

David Gagnon

djgagnon@wisc.edu

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.


The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.


To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.


Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.