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Unreal Engine Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

You'll partner closely with our engineering team -- the same engineers who build the extraction ... Unreal Engine ecosystem familiarity. UE games are a meaningful chunk of the target list. * Unity ...

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several ... Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine) * Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a ...

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch * Work across several ... Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine) * Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a ...

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Wheaton, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Schaumburg, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Evanston, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Skokie, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Des Plaines, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Oak Lawn, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Chicago, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Naperville, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Video Game Design Tutor

Lake Forest, IL ยท Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... Unreal, basic programming for games, art asset creation, and playtesting methodology. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ...

Unreal Engine Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$17

$54

$84

How much do unreal engine developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for unreal engine developer in Chicago, IL is $54.43, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.59 and $66.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Unreal Engine Developer job?

An Unreal Engine Developer is a software engineer or game developer who specializes in using Unreal Engine to create interactive experiences, games, simulations, and virtual environments. They work with C++ and Blueprints to design gameplay mechanics, optimize performance, and implement visuals and physics. Their role can also involve debugging, collaborating with artists and designers, and integrating third-party tools to enhance the user experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Unreal Engine Developer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Unreal Engine Developer, you need a solid grasp of C++ programming, 3D mathematics, and real-time rendering concepts, often supported by a degree in computer science, game development, or related fields. Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Unreal Engine's Blueprint system, version control software (like Git), and, in some cases, certification from Epic Games or relevant online courses is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and effective communication are essential for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and addressing development challenges. These abilities ensure efficient production of high-quality interactive experiences and smooth integration within fast-paced development environments.

What are the primary responsibilities of an Unreal Engine Developer on a project team?

Unreal Engine Developers are typically responsible for designing, coding, and optimizing gameplay features, user interfaces, or immersive environments within the Unreal Engine platform. Daily tasks may include writing and debugging C++ code, creating or integrating assets using Blueprints, and collaborating with artists, designers, and other programmers to implement core functionalities. They also participate in team meetings to align on project milestones and resolve technical challenges. This collaborative approach ensures that the final product meets both creative vision and technical standards, making Unreal Engine Developers crucial contributors to successful interactive software projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Unreal Engine Developer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Unreal Engine Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
Infographic showing various Unreal Engine Developer job openings in Chicago, IL as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Part Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,218 per year, or $54.4 per hour.
Director of Engineering, Simulation & Rendering

Director of Engineering, Simulation & Rendering

Parallel Domain

Mundelein, IL โ€ข Remote

$200K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 20 hours ago


Job description

About the Role

Before an autonomous vehicle navigates a busy intersection, before a robot learns to pick and place in a warehouse, before any Physical AI system is trusted in the real world, it has to prove itself in ours. Parallel Domain builds the platform that validates the next generation of autonomous systems in high-fidelity virtual environments.

Our simulation core and rendering pipeline are how that platform earns its credibility with customers. The current stack is rooted in real-time game engine technology, and we're evolving it to incorporate scene reconstruction (gaussian splatting, NeRFs), neural rendering, and diffusion-based techniques. Leading this evolution is central to where the team is going.

We're hiring a Director of Engineering to lead our Simulation & Graphics organization. Reporting to the VP of Engineering, you'll own the technical direction for two pods totaling roughly 10โ€“15 people: a simulation and rendering pod focused on the engine and runtime, and a content and technical-art pod focused on world-building, assets, and tooling. You'll set strategy, hire and grow high-performing teams, and partner across engineering, ML, product, and customer-facing functions on cross-cutting initiatives that expand what our customers can do with the platform.

Responsibilities
  • Set technical direction. Own the multi-quarter roadmap for simulation, rendering, and content. Translate company-level objectives into a sequenced plan, and make the prioritization calls when the team can't do everything at once.

  • Guide technical evolution. Lead the team through the next phase of the platformโ€”incorporating scene reconstruction, neural rendering, and ML-powered content techniques alongside the existing real-time engine stackโ€”without losing sight of the production system our customers rely on today.

  • Manage and develop the team. Hire when you need to, level up the team you have, and create the conditions where strong technical contributors do their best work.

  • Drive cross-functional execution. Partner with leaders across ML, platform, SDK, QA, and product to ship coherent, end-to-end capabilities. Own the operating cadence: planning, dependency management, and release readiness.

  • Stay close to the engineering. You won't be writing production code, but you'll review architecture, weigh in on hard tradeoffs, and have informed opinions about the work.

  • Recruit and close. Be the front door for senior candidates and the closer on the highest-priority hires. Top-tier rendering, simulation, and graphics talent is hard to find and expensive to mis-hire.
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Required Qualifications
  • Leadership track record. 10+ years of engineering experience with at least 5 years leading technical teams, including managing senior individual contributors and ideally other managers.

  • Domain expertise. A track record of delivering at the intersection of real-time rendering, simulation, or related graphics-heavy domains: video games, computer animation, VFX, virtual production, autonomous simulation, or similar.

  • Experience leading change. You've taken a team through significant technical changeโ€”an engine upgrade, a re-architecture, a tools migration, a shift in content paradigmโ€”and you understand the human side as well as the technical side.

  • Technical judgment. You can hold your own in a discussion about renderer architecture, asset pipelines, GPU performance, and the tradeoffs between fidelity, performance, and authoring cost.

  • Communication. You can explain a thorny tradeoff to a non-technical executive in five sentences and write a roadmap the team actually uses.

  • Artistic sensibility. A real feel for what makes a scene look right, and the ability to speak that language with the artists and engineers building it.
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Preferred Qualifications
  • Unreal Engine. Hands-on background and an opinionated view on its strengths and limitations.

  • Modern rendering techniques. Familiarity with reconstruction-based methods (gaussian splatting, NeRFs), neural rendering, or diffusion-based content generation.

  • C++ depth. Track record of leading C++-heavy codebases. Our engineering team works primarily in C++.

  • Adjacent fields. Direct exposure to machine learning, computer vision, or autonomous systems.

  • Cloud infrastructure. Experience with cloud-scale infrastructure for rendering and simulation.
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What Makes a Great Candidate
You think like a builder. You're opinionated about the craft of rendering and simulation but undogmatic about the tools. You hire people stronger than you, give them room to operate, and take pride in the team's results. You communicate clearly and manage with respect.
Base pay range of $200,000โ€“$250,000 USD/CAD, depending on skills, qualifications, experience, and location. This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area or Vancouver, BC, with hybrid expectations.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.