ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Graphics Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SummitHR

Senior Graphics Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Working closely with Project Managers, Office Engineers, Field Engineers, Construction Managers ... Bachelor's Degree in Graphics Designs, Art, or related field preferred. Job Posted by ApplicantPro

Parallelz

Principal Graphics Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

Operate as a senior independent contributor: scope your own work, drive it to completion, and ... graphics stacks: OpenGL ES, WebGL, WebGPU, Vulkan, Metal, or DirectX, including shader programming ...

Parallelz

Principal Graphics Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

Operate as a senior independent contributor: scope your own work, drive it to completion, and ... graphics stacks: OpenGL ES, WebGL, WebGPU, Vulkan, Metal, or DirectX, including shader programming ...

Parallelz

Principal Graphics Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$164K - $203K/yr

Operate as a senior independent contributor: scope your own work, drive it to completion, and ... graphics stacks: OpenGL ES, WebGL, WebGPU, Vulkan, Metal, or DirectX, including shader programming ...

Figure

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

San Jose, CA

$150K - $275K/yr

We are looking for a Senior/Staff Graphics Software Engineer to join the Platform Software team and own the graphics stack powering our robot's displays. You will build the rendering engine and UI ...

Figure

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

We are looking for a Senior/Staff Graphics Software Engineer to join the Platform Software team and own the graphics stack powering our robot's displays. You will build the rendering engine and UI ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsGraphics Programmer JobsSenior Graphics Programmer JobsSenior Graphics Programmer Jobs in California

Senior Graphics Programmer information

See California salary details

$13

$51

$70

How much do senior graphics programmer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior graphics programmer in California is $51.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.41 and $61.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior graphics programmer do?

A Senior Graphics Programmer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing graphics systems and visual effects in video games, simulations, or other interactive applications. They work with rendering pipelines, shaders, and hardware APIs to ensure high visual quality and performance. Their role often involves collaborating with artists and other engineers to implement advanced visual features, troubleshoot graphical issues, and stay updated with the latest graphics technologies. Senior Graphics Programmers also mentor junior team members and help set technical direction for graphics development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior graphics programmer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Graphics Programmer, you need advanced knowledge of computer graphics theory, C++ programming, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with graphics APIs such as DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan, and experience using shader languages (HLSL/GLSL) are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and effective communication help you work across teams and innovate in complex technical environments. These skills ensure the creation of efficient, visually impressive graphics systems that meet the demands of modern games or applications.

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

A Senior Graphics Programmer works closely with artists, designers, and technical directors to ensure that visual features are both cutting-edge and feasible within the project's constraints. They often translate artistic visions into optimized, real-time rendering solutions and provide technical feedback on asset creation. Regular meetings and code reviews help align the graphics team's work with the broader development goals, while cross-discipline problem-solving is common to address performance or visual fidelity challenges. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as graphics programming decisions can significantly impact the gameplay experience and production timeline.

What is the difference between Senior Graphics Programmer vs Graphics Engineer?

AspectSenior Graphics ProgrammerGraphics Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or related field; extensive experience in graphics programmingSimilar educational background; may have less experience or focus on implementation
Work EnvironmentDevelops advanced graphics features, shaders, rendering techniques in game engines or visualization toolsSupports graphics development, optimizes rendering pipelines, and implements graphics solutions
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in gaming, simulation, and visual effects industries; common in companies developing real-time graphicsFound in similar industries, often collaborating with graphics teams to improve rendering performance

The main difference is that Senior Graphics Programmers typically lead complex graphics development projects, focusing on advanced rendering techniques, while Graphics Engineers support and optimize existing graphics systems. Both roles require strong technical skills, but Senior Graphics Programmers usually have more experience and responsibility in designing innovative graphics solutions.

What are the most commonly searched types of Graphics Programmer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Graphics Programmer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Graphics Programmer jobs in California?

For Senior Graphics Programmer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Graphics Programmer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Graphics Programmer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Graphics Programmer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Graphics Programmer job openings:

Senior Graphics Programmer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Graphics Programmer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,312 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Senior Graphics Programmer, Mobile (iOS/Android)

PlayStation Global

San Diego, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Senior Graphics Programmer, Mobile (iOS/Android)

PlayStation Studios / San Diego Studio

Why PlayStation? Why San Diego Studio?

Come join San Diego Studio in bringing MLB The Show to mobile platforms. Our focus is on delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences, and we are seeking a Senior Mobile Graphics Programmer to help advance the visual and technical quality of our mobile title on iOS and Android.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing and optimizing real-time graphics systems specifically for mobile devices, ensuring strong performance, scalability, and visual fidelity across a wide range of hardware configurations and device capabilities.

You will focus on writing and optimizing our mobile rendering engine, debugging graphics and performance issues, implementing new visual features, and ensuring the game takes full advantage of platform-specific capabilities across Apple and Android ecosystems.

The ideal candidate possesses strong problem-solving abilities, sharp attention to detail, and thrives both independently and in collaborative, cross-functional teams. They are passionate about GPU architecture and real-time rendering innovation, skilled in profiling and optimizing complex graphics systems, and experienced in shipping high-quality graphics features on constrained mobile hardware.

Responsibilities:

  • Develop, optimize, and maintain real-time rendering systems and graphics features specifically for mobile platforms (iOS and Android)

  • Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks related to rendering, memory usage, thermal constraints, battery usage, and device-specific hardware limitations

  • Ensure compatibility, stability, and performance across a broad range of mobile devices, from high-end flagship phones/tablets to lower-spec hardware

  • Implement scalable graphics systems that support varying performance tiers, screen resolutions, refresh rates, and GPU capabilities

  • Work with platform-specific graphics APIs and technologies such as Metal and Vulkan

  • Optimize shaders, rendering pipelines, texture usage, and asset memory footprint for mobile GPU architectures

  • Implement requested graphics features and enhancements in collaboration with the broader engineering, art, and rendering teams

  • Debug graphics issues across different chipsets and vendors

  • Stay current with emerging rendering techniques, mobile GPU technologies, and platform advancements to drive visual improvements and technical innovation

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related technical field

  • 5+ years of experience programming in C++ with a focus on performance-critical applications

  • Strong experience with graphics programming on mobile platforms, including low-level graphics APIs such as Metal or Vulkan

  • Proficiency in GPU shader programming and optimization for mobile platforms

  • Strong foundational math skills, especially linear algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

  • Hands-on experience with graphics profiling and debugging tools for mobile development

  • Proven ability to debug and optimize rendering performance across a wide range of mobile hardware and operating system versions

  • Strong understanding of the constraints and tradeoffs involved in mobile rendering, including memory bandwidth, battery usage, thermal throttling, frame pacing, and device fragmentation

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience shipping one or more mobile games or interactive applications on iOS and/or Android

  • Familiarity with platform-specific development environments and tools such as Xcode, Microsoft Visual Studio, GPU frame debuggers, and mobile performance analyzers

  • Experience optimizing rendering systems for a variety of mobile GPU architectures

  • Understanding of scalable rendering techniques for mobile, including dynamic resolution, LOD systems, texture streaming, and efficient post-processing

  • Familiarity with scripting languages such as Python is a plus

  • Experience working on cross-platform rendering systems is highly desirable

  • Passion for sports games and delivering visually compelling real-time experiences on mobile devices

.

Apply