... and shader programming • Experience bridging engineering and design through deep UI/UX collaboration, design systems development, and tools like Figma--able to influence design decisions with ...
... and shader programming • Experience bridging engineering and design through deep UI/UX collaboration, design systems development, and tools like Figma--able to influence design decisions with ...
Unity Developer
Wheat Ridge, CO · On-site
This role is focused on rendering quality and visual fidelity: building the shader workflows ... overhead - C# for game programming - Plastic - version control, branching, code reviews ...
New
Quick apply
Apply Early
Unity Developer
Wheat Ridge, CO · On-site
This role is focused on rendering quality and visual fidelity: building the shader workflows ... overhead - C# for game programming - Plastic - version control, branching, code reviews ...
New
Apply Early
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, and why are they important?
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 is the difference between Shader Programming vs Graphics Programmer?
| Aspect | Shader Programming | Graphics Programmer |
|---|---|---|
| Required credentials | Knowledge of GLSL/HLSL, graphics APIs | Knowledge of graphics APIs, C++, shader languages |
| Work environment | Focus on writing shaders for rendering pipelines | Developing graphics engines, rendering techniques |
| Industry usage | Used in game development, real-time rendering | Used in game studios, visual effects, simulation |
| Common search intent | Understanding shader coding differences | Understanding 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 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 are popular job titles related to Shader Programming jobs in Colorado? For Shader Programming jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Shader Programming jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Shader Programming jobs in Colorado are:
What cities in Colorado are hiring for Shader Programming jobs? Cities in Colorado with the most Shader Programming job openings:
Job description
Job Summary:
True Anomaly is a company focused on delivering decisive capabilities for space superiority. They are seeking a Staff Front End Software Engineer to lead the technical direction of their spacecraft modeling and simulation software, defining the frontend technical roadmap and driving cross-functional initiatives.
Responsibilities:
• Lead and deliver large-scale, cross-functional frontend initiatives that align with strategic company objectives, from technical vision through production deployment and long-term evolution
• Define and drive the frontend technical roadmap and architectural strategy, establishing patterns, frameworks, and systems that enable the entire engineering organization to move faster
• Serve as the primary technical decision-maker for frontend architecture, evaluating and adopting new technologies, and establishing engineering standards that balance innovation with maintainability
• Proactively identify systemic technical debt, scalability challenges, and architectural limitations—then build business cases, secure buy-in, and lead multi-quarter initiatives to address them
• Elevate the engineering organization through technical mentorship, establishing best practices, leading design reviews, and developing the skills of senior, mid-level, and junior engineers
• Partner with executive leadership, product, design, backend engineering, space operations, and astrodynamics teams as a key technical stakeholder, influencing product strategy and company direction
• Drive engineering efficiency and excellence by establishing metrics, tooling, and processes that improve code quality, deployment velocity, and developer experience
• Build and maintain technical documentation, architectural decision records, and knowledge-sharing systems that scale organizational learning
• Represent the frontend engineering perspective in strategic planning, resource allocation, and cross-company technical decisions
• Identify and develop emerging technical leaders within the team, creating growth pathways and opportunities for engineers to expand their impact
Qualifications:
Required:
• 12-14 years of software development experience (or 8+ years with a Master's degree, or 5+ years with a PhD)
• Expert-level mastery of HTML/CSS and modern TypeScript/JavaScript, including deep understanding of performance optimization, browser internals, memory management, and runtime characteristics
• Deep expertise in modern React and the broader frontend ecosystem, including architectural patterns for large-scale applications, advanced state management, performance profiling and optimization, and emerging frontend technologies
• Proven track record of establishing comprehensive testing strategies across unit, integration, and end-to-end layers, including championing testing culture and tooling adoption
• Extensive experience designing, building, and evolving component libraries, design systems, and frontend infrastructure that serve multiple teams and products
• Expert-level understanding of distributed systems integration patterns including gRPC, REST, WebSockets, and GraphQL, with experience influencing API design and backend architecture decisions
• Demonstrated ability to work full-stack when necessary, with enough backend and infrastructure knowledge to make informed architectural decisions and unblock teams
• History of leading technical initiatives in Git-based workflows, establishing code review standards, and fostering collaborative engineering culture
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance
Preferred:
• Strong engineering background in Software Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, or related technical fields
• Proven experience as a technical lead, staff engineer, or principal engineer on production systems with significant user bases and business-critical requirements
• Track record of leading large-scale migrations, architectural overhauls, or platform rewrites while maintaining product velocity
• Deep expertise building and optimizing complex, data-intensive applications with demanding performance requirements (real-time processing, large-scale datasets, complex visualizations, distributed systems)
• Advanced proficiency with Three.js, React Three Fiber, WebGL, or other web-based 3D rendering technologies, including low-level performance optimization and shader programming
• Experience bridging engineering and design through deep UI/UX collaboration, design systems development, and tools like Figma—able to influence design decisions with technical constraints and possibilities
• Experience in highly regulated industries (aerospace, defense, healthcare, finance) with understanding of compliance, security, and operational constraints
• Practical space industry or aerospace experience
• Published technical writing, open source contributions, or conference speaking that demonstrates thought leadership
• Exceptional communication skills that enable you to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Company:
True Anomaly develops space security technologies, including spacecraft, software platforms, and mission systems for orbital operations. Founded in 2022, the company is headquartered in Centennial, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.
True Anomaly is a company focused on delivering decisive capabilities for space superiority. They are seeking a Staff Front End Software Engineer to lead the technical direction of their spacecraft modeling and simulation software, defining the frontend technical roadmap and driving cross-functional initiatives.
Responsibilities:
• Lead and deliver large-scale, cross-functional frontend initiatives that align with strategic company objectives, from technical vision through production deployment and long-term evolution
• Define and drive the frontend technical roadmap and architectural strategy, establishing patterns, frameworks, and systems that enable the entire engineering organization to move faster
• Serve as the primary technical decision-maker for frontend architecture, evaluating and adopting new technologies, and establishing engineering standards that balance innovation with maintainability
• Proactively identify systemic technical debt, scalability challenges, and architectural limitations—then build business cases, secure buy-in, and lead multi-quarter initiatives to address them
• Elevate the engineering organization through technical mentorship, establishing best practices, leading design reviews, and developing the skills of senior, mid-level, and junior engineers
• Partner with executive leadership, product, design, backend engineering, space operations, and astrodynamics teams as a key technical stakeholder, influencing product strategy and company direction
• Drive engineering efficiency and excellence by establishing metrics, tooling, and processes that improve code quality, deployment velocity, and developer experience
• Build and maintain technical documentation, architectural decision records, and knowledge-sharing systems that scale organizational learning
• Represent the frontend engineering perspective in strategic planning, resource allocation, and cross-company technical decisions
• Identify and develop emerging technical leaders within the team, creating growth pathways and opportunities for engineers to expand their impact
Qualifications:
Required:
• 12-14 years of software development experience (or 8+ years with a Master's degree, or 5+ years with a PhD)
• Expert-level mastery of HTML/CSS and modern TypeScript/JavaScript, including deep understanding of performance optimization, browser internals, memory management, and runtime characteristics
• Deep expertise in modern React and the broader frontend ecosystem, including architectural patterns for large-scale applications, advanced state management, performance profiling and optimization, and emerging frontend technologies
• Proven track record of establishing comprehensive testing strategies across unit, integration, and end-to-end layers, including championing testing culture and tooling adoption
• Extensive experience designing, building, and evolving component libraries, design systems, and frontend infrastructure that serve multiple teams and products
• Expert-level understanding of distributed systems integration patterns including gRPC, REST, WebSockets, and GraphQL, with experience influencing API design and backend architecture decisions
• Demonstrated ability to work full-stack when necessary, with enough backend and infrastructure knowledge to make informed architectural decisions and unblock teams
• History of leading technical initiatives in Git-based workflows, establishing code review standards, and fostering collaborative engineering culture
• U.S. Citizen and eligible for DoD Secret or TS/SCI clearance
Preferred:
• Strong engineering background in Software Engineering, Math, Physics, Computer Science, or related technical fields
• Proven experience as a technical lead, staff engineer, or principal engineer on production systems with significant user bases and business-critical requirements
• Track record of leading large-scale migrations, architectural overhauls, or platform rewrites while maintaining product velocity
• Deep expertise building and optimizing complex, data-intensive applications with demanding performance requirements (real-time processing, large-scale datasets, complex visualizations, distributed systems)
• Advanced proficiency with Three.js, React Three Fiber, WebGL, or other web-based 3D rendering technologies, including low-level performance optimization and shader programming
• Experience bridging engineering and design through deep UI/UX collaboration, design systems development, and tools like Figma—able to influence design decisions with technical constraints and possibilities
• Experience in highly regulated industries (aerospace, defense, healthcare, finance) with understanding of compliance, security, and operational constraints
• Practical space industry or aerospace experience
• Published technical writing, open source contributions, or conference speaking that demonstrates thought leadership
• Exceptional communication skills that enable you to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels of the organization
Company:
True Anomaly develops space security technologies, including spacecraft, software platforms, and mission systems for orbital operations. Founded in 2022, the company is headquartered in Centennial, USA, with a team of 201-500 employees. The company is currently Growth Stage.
About True Anomaly
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Company size
11 - 50 Employees
Headquarters location
Colorado Springs, CO, US
Year founded
2022