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Shader Programming Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Figure

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$164K - $202K/yr

They are seeking a Senior/Staff Graphics Software Engineer to join the Platform Software team and ... shader authoring (GLSL/SPIR-V) and render pipeline design. • Strong experience with vector ...

Naughty Dog

Core Tech Programmer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

... shader editor, dcc plug-ins, build tools, data messaging tools, lighting tools or equivalent software * Experience with PC application programming Bonus Skills: * Experience with console programming

Neuralink

UI Design Engineer

South San Francisco, CA

$125K - $167K/yr

We're looking for an experienced UI Design Engineer to conceptualize, prototype, and ship novel ... shader or a custom property animator, while maintaining an extremely high bar for fluidity and ...

Arch Motorcycle

Junior Designer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Every ARCH motorcycle is built from an obsession for innovative design, engineering excellence and ... Material & Shader Creation: Experience with custom shader creation, material building, and lighting ...

Figure

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure ... Deep hands-on experience with Vulkan and OpenGL ES - including shader authoring (GLSL/SPIR-V) and ...

Apple

GPU Performance Modeling Engineer

San Diego, CA

$142K - $263K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Areas could include core/shader micro-architecture, texture pipeline, caching, or memory subsystem ... Excellent C/C++ programming skills. Experience in hardware performance modeling, analysis, and ...

Figure

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

San Jose, CA

$150K - $275K/yr

Its robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the home and commercial markets. Figure ... Deep hands-on experience with Vulkan and OpenGL ES - including shader authoring (GLSL/SPIR-V) and ...

Apple

Systems Performance Architect

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$206K/yr

This position is a multi-disciplinary engineering role encompassing computer system design ... Areas could include core/shader micro-architecture, texture pipeline, caching, or memory subsystem ...

Figma

Software Engineer - Graphics & Media

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$164K - $203K/yr

The Pixel Engine team is looking for engineers with domain expertise in Media processing and ... animation primitives, shader-based effects, and video and image import/export support. This ...

Apple

GPU Performance Modeling Engineer

San Diego, CA

$142K - $263K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Areas could include core/shader micro-architecture, texture pipeline, caching, or memory subsystem ... Excellent C/C++ programming skills. Experience in hardware performance modeling, analysis, and ...

Naughty Dog

Core Tech Programmer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$141K - $176K/yr

... shader editor, dcc plug-ins, build tools, data messaging tools, lighting tools or equivalent software * Experience with PC application programming Bonus Skills: * Experience with console programming

Adobe, Inc.

Director of Engineering, Graph

San Jose, CA · On-site

$296K/yr

Experience with node-based systems (visual programming, shader graphs, NLE timelines, etc.) * Background in creative tools, imaging, design, video, audio, or 3D * Experience building extensible ...

Adobe Systems

Director of Engineering, Graph

San Jose, CA · On-site

$296K/yr

Experience with node-based systems (visual programming, shader graphs, NLE timelines, etc.) * Background in creative tools, imaging, design, video, audio, or 3D * Experience building extensible ...

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All JobsShader Programming JobsShader Programming Jobs in California

Shader Programming information

What is shader programming?

Shader programming involves writing specialized code that runs on a computer's graphics processing unit (GPU) to control how images, lighting, and colors are rendered in computer graphics. Shaders are essential for creating realistic visual effects in video games, movies, and virtual reality. Programmers use languages like GLSL, HLSL, or Cg to write vertex, fragment, or compute shaders, which manipulate geometry, textures, and lighting in real time. This field requires strong mathematical and programming skills, especially in linear algebra and computer graphics concepts.

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

To thrive as a Shader Programmer, you need strong proficiency in computer graphics principles, mathematics (especially linear algebra), and experience with shading languages like GLSL or HLSL, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with graphics APIs (such as OpenGL or DirectX), real-time rendering engines, and version control systems is typically required. Creative problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective collaboration with artists and developers are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are vital to create visually stunning and efficient visual effects that enhance real-time applications and games.

What are some common challenges shader programmers face when optimizing graphics performance?

Shader programmers often encounter challenges related to balancing visual quality with real-time performance. Optimizing shaders requires a strong understanding of hardware limitations, such as processing power and memory bandwidth, as well as efficient use of GPU resources. Debugging and profiling shader code can be complex, especially when dealing with platform-specific differences. Collaboration with artists and other developers is essential to ensure that the visuals meet creative goals without exceeding performance budgets.

What is the difference between Shader Programming vs Graphics Programmer?

AspectShader ProgrammingGraphics Programmer
Required credentialsKnowledge of GLSL/HLSL, graphics APIsKnowledge of graphics APIs, C++, shader languages
Work environmentFocus on writing shaders for rendering pipelinesDeveloping graphics engines, rendering techniques
Industry usageUsed in game development, real-time renderingUsed in game studios, visual effects, simulation
Common search intentUnderstanding shader coding differencesUnderstanding graphics pipeline development

Shader Programming primarily involves writing small programs that run on the GPU to control rendering effects, while Graphics Programming encompasses broader development of rendering engines and graphics systems. Both roles require knowledge of graphics APIs and shader languages, but Shader Programmers focus more on creating visual effects at the shader level, whereas Graphics Programmers develop the overall graphics architecture.

What are popular job titles related to Shader Programming jobs in California?

For Shader Programming jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Shader Programming jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Shader Programming jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Shader Programming jobs?

Cities in California with the most Shader Programming job openings:

Shader Programming jobs near you
Infographic showing various Shader Programming job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 69% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 83% In-person, and 17% Remote job distribution.

Sr/Staff Graphics Engineer

Figure

San Jose, CA • On-site

$164K - $202K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. They are seeking a Senior/Staff Graphics Software Engineer to join the Platform Software team and own the graphics stack powering their robot’s displays, building the rendering engine and UI framework for engaging human-robot interactions.
Responsibilities:
• Design, implement, and optimize the graphics rendering stack for robot head displays, from low-level GPU pipeline to high-level UI components.
• Build and maintain Qt/QML-based applications targeting embedded Linux systems with strict CPU, GPU, and memory constraints.
• Develop and tune shaders for real-time vector graphics, animations, and visual effects.
• Implement and optimize Vulkan and OpenGL ES rendering pipelines to achieve smooth, high-framerate output.
• Collaborate closely with the Design team and Head of HMI to implement and iterate on UI/UX designs, ensuring fidelity and responsiveness.
• Profile and optimize rendering performance on resource-constrained embedded hardware, targeting consistent frame rates with minimal power draw.
• Integrate graphics components into the broader Robot Platform software stack, working with middleware and embedded systems engineers.
• Establish best practices for graphics development, testing, and CI integration within the platform team.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Graphics, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of industry experience in graphics or UI engineering.
• Expert-level proficiency in Qt and QML, including custom rendering and performance optimization.
• Deep hands-on experience with Vulkan and OpenGL ES — including shader authoring (GLSL/SPIR-V) and render pipeline design.
• Strong experience with vector graphics rendering and animation.
• Proven track record developing on embedded or resource-constrained systems (limited RAM, GPU, thermal envelope).
• Solid C++ skills and familiarity with Linux userspace development.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills — comfortable working directly with designers and translating visual specs into technical implementations.
Preferred:
• Hands-on experience with game engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Experience with scene graph architectures or retained-mode rendering frameworks.
• Experience with SVG or other vector graphics formats and their GPU-accelerated rendering.
• Knowledge of display hardware interfaces (MIPI DSI, HDMI) and display driver integration on embedded Linux.
• Experience with EGLFS/DRM/KMS display backends.
• Background in HMI or human-robot interaction design.
Company:
Figure is an AI robotics company that develops autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. Founded in 2022, the company is headquartered in San Jose, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.

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