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Tools Programmer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As a Web Tools Programmer, you will have total project ownership, including the development and deployment of the entire technology stack. From integrating with our game's runtime codebase ...

Web Tools Programmer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$141K - $176K/yr

As a Web Tools Programmer, you will have total project ownership, including the development and deployment of the entire technology stack. From integrating with our game's runtime codebase ...

Senior Tools Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$112K - $154K/yr

Our client is looking for a Tools Programmer to join their fully remote team to build next generation MMOs and Multiplayer Games. They currently need a programmer passionate about terrain and ...

Senior Tools Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$112K - $154K/yr

Our client is looking for a Tools Programmer to join their fully remote team to build next generation MMOs and Multiplayer Games. They currently need a programmer passionate about terrain and ...

Requirements Tools Engineer Location: Pleasanton, CA (100% Onsite) Job ID: #46758 Pay Rate: 90 k - 105k/annum Description The Requirements Tools Engineer will be responsible for enabling and ...

Requirements Tools Engineer Location: Pleasanton, CA (100% Onsite) Job ID: #46758 Pay Rate: 90 k - 105k/annum Description The Requirements Tools Engineer will be responsible for enabling and ...

Experience of tools implementation on Unix * At least 4 years of experience in Business Process Consulting, problem definition, Architecture/Design /Detailing of Processes * Analytical and ...

Requirements Tools Engineer Location: 6035 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, CA 94588 Duration: 12 Months Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite Position Overview Abbott's Heart Failure Division is seeking a ...

Sedaa Corp is focused on medical device product development, and they are seeking a Requirements Tools Engineer. This role involves enabling and supporting requirements management infrastructure ...

Java Tools Engineer

Burbank, CA

$55.25 - $76/hr

The Sr. Tools Engineer works as part of this Platform team and is responsible for designing and developing the components and platform solutions that help enable our internal and cloud application ...

The Hardware Tools Engineer role involves developing and evolving the tooling ecosystem that hardware engineers rely on, with responsibilities spanning software engineering, compiler concepts, and ...

Hardware Tools Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$225K - $445K/yr

Work closely with designers and verification engineers to turn real pain points into durable tools. * Dive into RTL when needed: read and reason about Verilog/SystemVerilog to debug issues, validate ...

Senior Developer Tools Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$143K - $189K/yr

Responsibilities : • Design and build developer tools for profiling, debugging, and performance introspection across our compiler stack. • Create client-side tooling that transforms server-side ...

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Tools Programmer information

See California salary details

$10.9K

$123.4K

$141.6K

How much do tools programmer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for tools programmer in California is $123,363.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $114,500.00 and $141,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Tools Programmer?

As a Tools Programmer, you will spend your days designing, implementing, and maintaining software tools that support artists, designers, and other developers in their workflow. This often involves collaborating closely with team members to gather requirements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure tools are intuitive and reliable. You might also work on optimizing existing tools or integrating new technology into the development pipeline. Regular communication with end users of your tools is common to ensure they meet production needs. This role requires balancing independent programming tasks with frequent team interactions to deliver effective solutions.

What does a Tools Programmer do?

A Tools Programmer develops and maintains software tools that help game developers work more efficiently. These tools can include level editors, asset pipelines, debugging utilities, and performance analysis tools. Their goal is to streamline development processes and improve productivity for artists, designers, and other programmers. They typically work closely with multiple departments to understand their needs and create custom solutions. Strong programming skills, particularly in languages like C++, Python, or C#, are essential for this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Tools Programmer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tools Programmer, you need strong proficiency in software development (typically C++ or Python), understanding of computer science fundamentals, and often a degree in computer science or related fields. Familiarity with source control systems (like Git), industry-standard development environments, and experience with game engines or DCC tools is highly valued. Strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication, and a collaborative mindset are essential soft skills for working with multidisciplinary teams. These skills are crucial for building efficient, user-friendly tools that streamline development workflows and enhance productivity across projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Tools Programmer jobs in California? The most popular types of Tools Programmer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Tools Programmer jobs in California? For Tools Programmer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in California are hiring for Tools Programmer jobs? Cities in California with the most Tools Programmer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Tools Programmer jobs in CA? For Tools Programmer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Tools Programmer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 60% Full Time, and 40% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $123,363 per year, or $59.3 per hour.
Web Tools Programmer

Web Tools Programmer

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

This is a hybrid/ onsite position. 

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us. 

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome a diverse pool of candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together. 

At Naughty Dog, the growing web tools infrastructure has greatly enhanced developers' workflows over the years and is only accelerating. We see great potential in this expansion for services like asset management, our build pipeline, and large-scale game data. As a Web Tools Programmer, you will have total project ownership, including the development and deployment of the entire technology stack. From integrating with our game's runtime codebase, architecting a backend infrastructure, and developing functional user interfaces, our game development team will rely on you to innovate and improve our engine's toolset. 

What you will do: 

  • Design, develop, and maintain fullstack web applications and integrations that enhance development workflows and connect with core studio tools and services 
  • Extend and customize Atlassian applications (Jira, Confluence) through plugins, REST APIs, and automation frameworks to meet studiospecific needs 
  • Work across distributed systems, investigating issues, optimizing performance, and ensuring reliability of our internal tools ecosystem 
  • Design and maintain databases (relational, document, and cache stores) that support internal tools and analytics 
  • Collaborate with multiple departments to translate their workflows into maintainable, scalable, and systemic solutions 
  • Manage and prioritize multiple projects and their respective tasks independently while contributing to long-term architectural planning 
  • Share knowledge with teammates in tool development, infrastructure best practices, and debugging complex integrations 
  • Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed or desired 

What Skills you will use: 

  • Minimum of 3 years working in the video game industry 
  • Managing Jira administration, workflows, permissions, and automation 
  • Experience writing plugins, extensions, and integrations for Atlassian products like Jira and Confluence 
  • Ability to prototype and quickly iterate on front-end web tools leveraging modern web frameworks like Vue and Tailwind 
  • Advanced proficiency with serverside development across various interpreted languages (JavaScript/Typescript, Python, or PHP) and practical knowledge of REST API design 
  • Solid understanding of distributed systems, including performance optimization, fault tolerance, and observability 
  • Experience administering, optimizing, and migrating databases (MySQL, MongoDB, Redis) and understanding when it makes sense to use one over another 
  • Familiarity managing and developing both cloud and on-prem infrastructures leveraging containerization, infrastructure as code (Terraform/Ansible), and observability tools 
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills necessary for working across our various departments and disciplines to improve their quality of life 

Bonus Skills: 

  • Previous experience as a JIRA administrator 
  • Experience reading and writing applications written in compiled languages such as C++ 

As part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates should expect to be given a technical interview. 

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