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Senior Lua Developer Jobs in Santa Ana, CA (NOW HIRING)

Inversion

Senior Platform Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$139K - $201K/yr

About the Role As a Senior Platform Engineer at Inversion, you will work as part of the simulation ... Expertise in DevOps best practices * Proficiency in one or more scripting languages (Python, Lua ...

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Senior Lua Developer information

See Santa Ana, CA salary details

$80.6K

$160.3K

$237.8K

How much do senior lua developer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior lua developer in Santa Ana, CA is $160,314.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,800.00 and $183,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior Lua developer?

Senior Lua Developers are experienced software engineers who specialize in using the Lua programming language to build, maintain, and improve software applications. They often work on projects involving game development, embedded systems, or scripting within larger software platforms. In addition to writing efficient Lua code, Senior Lua Developers typically design system architecture, mentor junior developers, and ensure best practices are followed throughout the development process. Their expertise allows them to optimize performance and troubleshoot complex issues in Lua-based environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior Lua developer?

To thrive as a Senior Lua Developer, you need advanced proficiency in Lua programming, experience with software engineering principles, and a strong understanding of game or application development. Familiarity with development environments such as Roblox Studio, Corona SDK, or integration with C/C++ libraries, as well as version control systems like Git, is typically required. Excellent problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to mentor junior developers are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are crucial for delivering robust, high-quality code, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and leading technical projects to success.

What are some common challenges senior Lua developers face when working on large-scale projects?

Senior Lua Developers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges related to code maintainability and performance optimization, especially when integrating Lua with other technologies or legacy systems. Debugging complex scripts and ensuring efficient memory management can also be demanding, given Lua’s lightweight nature. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams—such as game designers, backend engineers, or embedded systems developers—requires clear communication and a strong understanding of both Lua and the broader project architecture.

What is the difference between Senior Lua Developer vs Lua Programmer?

AspectSenior Lua DeveloperLua Programmer
ExperienceTypically 5+ years, leadership responsibilitiesEntry to mid-level, focused on coding tasks
ResponsibilitiesDesigning architecture, mentoring, project managementWriting and testing Lua scripts, debugging
SkillsAdvanced Lua, problem-solving, teamworkLua syntax, basic scripting, debugging
Work EnvironmentGame development, embedded systems, industry projectsGame mods, embedded devices, automation scripts

The main difference between a Senior Lua Developer and a Lua Programmer lies in experience, responsibilities, and scope. Senior Lua Developers often lead projects and mentor others, while Lua Programmers focus on scripting tasks. Both roles require Lua knowledge, but the senior role demands broader skills and leadership experience.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Lua Developer jobs in Santa Ana, CA?

For Senior Lua Developer jobs in Santa Ana, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Lua Developer jobs in Santa Ana, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Lua Developer jobs in Santa Ana, CA are:

What cities near Santa Ana, CA are hiring for Senior Lua Developer jobs?

Cities near Santa Ana, CA with the most Senior Lua Developer job openings:

Senior Lua Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Lua Developer job openings in Santa Ana, CA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $160,314 per year, or $77.1 per hour.

Sr. Physics Programmer

ALR Partners, LLC

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Company Description

Based in Dallas area of TX, Nerd Kingdom is a well-funded, video game technology and research group, that cross pollinates disciplines in areas of technology, behavioral science, economics, and traditional game development. We hold forward thinking and collaboration as the foundation of everything we do, as it defines our culture. Community is more than just a clump of users to us, it's an extension of who we are, and what we portray through what we build.

Nerd Kingdom is developing an engine and platform for creation and collaboration that leverages ambitious technology, in order to empower everyone from early modders, to sophisticated engineers. We aren't just creating tools, we are focusing on how data flows through that engine in order to help us and the community create better experiences, as players and creators.

Job Description

We are currently looking for a Senior Physics Programmer (Physics) to add to our team. Our ideal candidate would have experience in a lead position and has delivered a successful game or software title. If you are an Physics Programmer with experience and the desire to lay your imprint on the gaming industry, we encourage you to apply!

Must Haves:

Bachelor's degree related to Computer Science or equivalent experience

At least 5 years in real-time development using C/C++

Utilizing common programming practices such as OOP, Inheritance hierarchies, templates, and other common programming techniques

At least 3 years developing physics systems for video games or simulations with experience in the following areas:

          o Collision Detection for static and animated models

          o Player, AI and object movement

          o Multiplayer physics and client-side prediction techniques

          o Trigger Volumes

          o Ray-Tracing

Experience Scripting (Lua or JavaScript)


Nice To Haves:

Experience programming with the Bullet Physics Library in at least one fully developed product

Experience building brand new systems from the ground up and seeing them through all phases of development (design, scheduling, prototyping, integration, delivery, etc)

Experience working in a team environment with excellent communication skills between technical and non-technical members of team

Able to precisely estimate time needed to complete tasks

Able to write clean and clear technical documentation

Knowledgeable in using development tools such as IDEs, bug tracking software, documentation services, code repositories, etc.

Havok Physics a plus

AmmoJS (JS port of Bullet) a big plus

Data Oriented and Data Driven Design a big plus

Procedural terrain generation and voxel manipulation

Game modding via scripting APIs

Delivered game or software title




Apply