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Unreal Engine Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Eliassen Group

Unreal Engine Developer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in‑engine panels in C++ to support animation and live action production workflows. * Build tools that integrate with existing pipelines and are ...

Big Shot Pictures

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$114K - $130K/yr

About The Role We are seeking a Senior Animator to help shape and execute high-quality animation within an Unreal Engine-first, real-time pipeline for episodic content. This is a hands-on, creative ...

Big Shot Pictures

Previs Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

Animate directly in Unreal Engine, utilizing Sequencer, Control Rig, and MetaHuman Animator workflows * Troubleshoot and problem-solve pipeline issues independently * Collaborate closely with ...

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How much do unreal engine jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for unreal engine in California is $21.79, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $24.18 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does an Unreal Engine developer typically collaborate with artists and designers during game development?

Unreal Engine developers work closely with artists and designers throughout the development process to ensure that gameplay mechanics, visuals, and user experiences align seamlessly. They often participate in regular team meetings, review asset integrations, and provide technical guidance on implementing design concepts within the engine. Clear communication and iterative feedback are key, as developers may need to optimize assets or adjust blueprints to achieve the desired look and feel while maintaining performance. This collaborative approach helps bridge the gap between creative vision and technical execution.

What Are Unreal Engine Jobs?

Unreal Engine jobs focus on using Unreal Engine to create new video games and game-related software. Your duties and responsibilities as an Unreal Engine developer vary depending on their area of specialization. A developer may build prototypes of games or work with artists and engineers to bring a new game from prototype to testing to commercial production. As a technical artist or video game animator, you create the media and imagery and ensure that it functions within the Unreal Engine game framework. Unreal engineer architects and engineers build blueprints and ensure that the game works on the platform for which it is intended.

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

To thrive as an Unreal Engine Developer, you need a solid understanding of C++ programming, 3D graphics, and game development fundamentals, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with Unreal Engine's Blueprint system, version control tools like Git, and rendering pipelines is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective teamwork are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities ensure efficient development, high-quality interactive experiences, and successful collaboration on complex projects.

What is an Unreal Engine developer?

An Unreal Engine developer is a software professional who specializes in using Unreal Engine, a powerful game development platform created by Epic Games, to create interactive experiences, video games, simulations, and virtual reality applications. These developers use programming languages like C++ and Unreal's Blueprint visual scripting system to design, build, and optimize real-time 3D environments. Unreal Engine developers often work on gameplay mechanics, graphics, animation, and user interfaces to deliver high-quality digital projects.
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What job categories do people searching Unreal Engine jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Unreal Engine jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Unreal Engine jobs? Cities in California with the most Unreal Engine job openings:
Unreal Engine jobs near you
Infographic showing various Unreal Engine job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,324 per year, or $21.8 per hour.
Unreal Engine Developer

Unreal Engine Developer

Eliassen Group

San Diego, CA • On-site

$65 - $75/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Description:

Hybrid 3 days preferred, flex in San Diego, CA

Our client seeks a seasoned Unreal Engine Developer to build developer tooling and panels that run inside Unreal Engine to support animation and live action workflows. The role emphasizes C++ development for Unreal plugins, thoughtful tool design for artists, and an ability to understand production sequences and pipelines. You will collaborate with a tight, cohesive team and contribute to a multi‑year initiative related to studio work in Los Angeles. The engagement starts as a one‑year contract with potential for extension. Conversion may be considered based on performance and mutual interest.

We can facilitate w2 and corp-to-corp consultants. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $65.00 to $75.00/hr. w2

Responsibilities:
  • Design and develop Unreal Engine plugins and in‑engine panels in C++ to support animation and live action production workflows.
  • Build tools that integrate with existing pipelines and are intuitive for artists and technical users.
  • Leverage AI‑enabled development practices and call external libraries and services where appropriate, including Python integrations when needed.
  • Collaborate with engineers and artists to define requirements and iterate on tool usability and performance.
  • Ensure code quality, testability, and maintainability across plugins and tooling.
  • Troubleshoot performance and sequencing issues within Unreal projects.
Experience Requirements:
  • Strong C++ experience with shipped tools or plugins inside Unreal Engine.
  • Hands‑on experience creating in‑engine UI panels or editor extensions for production use.
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, sequencing concepts, and how artists work within Unreal.
  • Background using or integrating AI‑powered libraries and services. Ability to call models and APIs without building new models.
  • Ability to integrate Python or other scripting where appropriate.
  • Creative problem solver with solid mathematics foundation and demonstrated depth of thinking.
  • Senior‑level experience preferred. Able to communicate tradeoffs and mentor junior contributors.
Recruitment Transparency Notice
 
Eliassen Group values transparency in our recruitment practices. Please be advised that Eliassen Group utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) tools as part of its initial application screening and hiring process. You may receive email and SMS notifications from the Eliassen Virtual Recruiting Team (noreply@eliassen.com, 781-808-2924) inviting you to complete a brief voice screening as part of your application process. These tools assist our hiring teams in different ways, including but not limited to, assistance in reviewing application materials to help identify candidates whose qualifications most closely match the requirements of the position. All AI-assisted evaluations and responses are reviewed by human recruiters before any hiring decisions are made. The use of AI in our process is intended to support fairness, efficiency, and consistency, and Eliassen Group takes measures to prevent bias or discrimination in connection with its hiring practices. By proceeding, you acknowledge, agree, and consent to Eliassen Group’s use of these tools, including AI tools, as part of the application and hiring process.
 

Skills, experience, and other compensable factors will be considered when determining pay rate. The pay range provided in this posting reflects a W2 hourly rate; other employment options may be available that may result in pay outside of the provided range.W2 employees of Eliassen Group who are regularly scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week are eligible for the following benefits: medical (choice of 3 plans), dental, vision, pre-tax accounts, other voluntary benefits including life and disability insurance, 401(k) with match, and sick time if required by law in the worked-in state/locality.If anyone reaches out to you about an open position connected with Eliassen Group, please ensure that you are working directly with us by confirming the following:

· When you work with Eliassen Group, all email communication will come from an Eliassen.com address, never Gmail, Yahoo, etc.

· Eliassen Group will never ask you for personal information (home address, bank account, or check routing number) until you have worked with someone clearly associated with Eliassen Group.

If you have any indication of fraudulent activity, please contact fraud@eliassen.com.

 
About Eliassen Group:
 
Eliassen Group is a strategic consulting firm that helps organizations reach further and achieve more through our technology, business advisory, and life sciences solutions. For nearly 40 years, we have combined exceptional people, deep domain expertise, and intelligent capabilities to expand our clients’ capacity and accelerate meaningful outcomes. We are driven by a purpose to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities we serve.
 
Eliassen is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and all employment decisions are based on merit, performance, and business needs. Eliassen does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual preference or orientation, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), marital status, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, prohibited criminal record inquiries of applicants and employees, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws.
 
Don’t miss out on our referral program! If we hire a candidate that you refer us to then you can be eligible for a $1,000 referral check!
 
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About Eliassen Group

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eliassen Group provides strategic consulting and talent solutions to drive our clients' innovation and business results. Our purpose is to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities in which we operate. Leveraging over 30 years of success, our expertise in talent solutions, life sciences consulting, Agile consulting, cloud services, risk management, business optimization, and managed services enables us to partner with our clients to execute their business strategy and scale effectively. Headquartered in Reading, MA, and with offices from coast to coast, Eliassen Group offers local community presence and deep networks, as well as national reach.

Industry

It services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Reading, MA, US

Year founded

1989

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