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Video Game Developer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Judge Group, Inc.

Principal Engineer - C++

Reston, VA · On-site

$155K - $255K/yr

Build and maintain distributed systems supporting video advertising and ad-serving platforms ... Gaming platforms * Cloud platform engineering * Search and recommendation systems What Makes ...

AEG

Capitals Radio Host & Reporter

Arlington, VA · On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

... game highlights, goal calls, interviews, and other audio and video assets. * Record and produce player liners and other broadcast elements for network programming. * Support sponsorship integrations ...

Scott Logic

Senior Test Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

Senior Test Engineer This is a hands‑on, client‑facing role, offering the opportunity to be ... Social clubs and groups including but not limited to, Video/Board games, Cycling/Running clubs ...

Scott Logic

Lead Test Engineer

Bristol, VA · On-site

Lead Test Engineer Welcome to the fascinating world of Scott Logic, where original thinking meets ... Social clubs and groups including but not limited to, Video/Board games, Cycling/Running clubs ...

Level99 Entertainment

Venue Technician

Tysons, VA · On-site

$22 - $25/hr

Each game lasts about 1-4 minutes and is built for 2-6 people to play together. One ticket to ... Click here for a video on the Day in the Life of a Venue Tech at Level99! RESPONSIBILITIES

Level99 Entertainment

Venue Technician

Mclean, VA · On-site

$22 - $25/hr

Each game lasts about 1-4 minutes and is built for 2-6 people to play together. One ticket to ... Click here for a video on the Day in the Life of a Venue Tech at Level99! RESPONSIBILITIES

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Video Game Developer information

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How much do video game developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game developer in Virginia is $18.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.68 and $20.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a video game developer?

Video game developers are professionals who design, create, and program video games for computers, consoles, or mobile devices. They work as part of a team to develop the gameplay, graphics, user interface, and storylines that make up a video game. Developers can specialize in various areas such as game design, programming, art, animation, or sound. Their responsibilities often include coding, testing, debugging, and collaborating with other team members to ensure the game runs smoothly and meets creative vision. Video game developers may work for large studios or as independent creators.

What does a video game developer do?

A video game developer has several responsibilities, including creating efficient and clean code, producing gameplay feature and game idea prototypes, and helping to create the engine or base of games. You can choose to specialize in a specific platform, such as creating games for a console system, smartphones, or a computer system. Your duties may require you to develop game concepts, write code, work with sprints or Agile methodology, or assist with the game’s audio and design features. You may also collaborate with other video game creators to polish the game once you finish it.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a video game developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Video Game Developer, you need strong programming skills (often in C++, C#, or Java), a solid understanding of game design principles, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine and version control systems like Git is essential. Creativity, problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams are important soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are vital for creating engaging, technically sound games that meet both artistic and functional requirements in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges video game developers face when working on large-scale projects?

Video Game Developers often encounter challenges such as coordinating with large, multidisciplinary teams, managing shifting project requirements, and adhering to tight deadlines. Communication and collaboration are essential, as developers must work closely with artists, designers, and quality assurance testers to ensure a cohesive final product. Balancing creative vision with technical limitations and resource constraints can also be demanding, but it provides valuable experience in problem-solving and adaptability.

What is the difference between Video Game Developer vs Game Designer?

AspectVideo Game DeveloperGame Designer
Primary RoleProgram and build the game, focusing on coding, mechanics, and technical implementation.Design game concepts, storylines, characters, and gameplay mechanics.
Required SkillsProgramming languages (C++, C#), software development, problem-solving.Creativity, storytelling, game design principles, user experience.
Work EnvironmentTypically in development teams, working closely with artists and designers.Often collaborates with developers, artists, and writers to shape game concepts.

While both roles are essential in game development, Video Game Developers focus on coding and technical implementation, whereas Game Designers concentrate on creating the game's concept and gameplay experience. They work together to produce engaging and functional games.

Is a video game developer a good career?

A career as a video game developer involves designing, coding, and testing video games, often requiring skills in programming languages like C++ or Unity. It can be a rewarding field for those passionate about gaming and technology, but it may also involve long hours and competitive job markets. Success often depends on technical skills, creativity, and staying current with industry tools and trends.
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What are the most commonly searched types of Video Game Developer jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Video Game Developer jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Video Game Developer jobs in Virginia?

For Video Game Developer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for Video Game Developer jobs in Virginia are:

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Cities in Virginia with the most Video Game Developer job openings:

Video Game Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Developer job openings in Virginia as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 76% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,268 per year, or $18.4 per hour.

Principal Engineer - C++

Reston, VA • On-site

Judge Group, Inc.
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 5 - 10K employees
Learn more about Judge Group, Inc.external

$155K - $255K/yr

Other

Re-posted 21 days ago

Job description

Location: Reston, VA Salary: $155,000.00 USD Annually - $255,000.00 USD Annually Description:
Senior Software Engineer / Lead Engineer / Principal Engineer (C++)
Location: Hybrid - Reston, VA
Level: Senior Engineer (L4), Lead Engineer (L5), Principal Engineer (L6), Senior Principal/Architect (L7)
Employment Type: Full-Time
About the Opportunity
Seeking experienced C++ engineers to help build and evolve the distributed systems powering the future of video advertising.
This team develops highly scalable backend platforms responsible for real-time decisioning, ad serving, marketplace transactions, forecasting, optimization, streaming, and video advertising delivery. Engineers in this organization solve challenging problems involving latency, concurrency, scale, reliability, and performance while supporting critical systems that process large volumes of real-time transactions.
We are hiring across multiple levels, from Senior Engineer through Architect, and are looking for engineers who enjoy building production-grade systems that operate at scale.
What You'll Do
  • Design, develop, and support high-performance backend services in C++
  • Build and maintain distributed systems supporting video advertising and ad-serving platforms
  • Design scalable, reliable, and fault-tolerant architectures
  • Optimize system latency, throughput, availability, and performance
  • Participate throughout the full software development lifecycle, from design through production support
  • Troubleshoot production issues, perform root-cause analysis, and implement durable solutions
  • Collaborate with Product, QA, Operations, and Engineering teams to deliver business-critical capabilities
  • Develop technical designs, architecture documentation, test strategies, and implementation plans
  • Conduct code reviews and promote engineering best practices
  • Mentor and guide engineers across the organization
  • Influence technical direction, architecture, and platform strategy based on level and experience
Required Qualifications
  • Strong professional experience developing software with C++ and/or C
  • Experience building backend systems in production environments
  • Hands-on experience designing, implementing, and supporting distributed systems
  • Experience with large-scale, highly available, and performance-sensitive platforms
  • Strong understanding of network programming concepts
  • Experience with database-backed applications and data modeling
  • Strong knowledge of data structures and algorithms
  • Experience working within Linux or Unix environments
  • Experience with debugging, troubleshooting, testing, and performance optimization
  • Understanding of software engineering best practices, SDLC, and Agile methodologies
  • Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with high-concurrency or low-latency systems
  • Cloud-native development experience
  • AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform experience
  • Kubernetes, Docker, or container orchestration technologies
  • Experience with distributed caching, databases, and messaging systems
  • Familiarity with technologies such as Nginx, Aerospike, Redis, Kafka, Snowflake, or similar platforms
  • Experience with Go/Golang
  • Experience reviewing code, mentoring engineers, and leading technical design discussions
Highly Desired Industry Experience
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:
  • Ad Tech platforms
  • DSPs, SSPs, ad servers, exchanges, and marketplace systems
  • OpenRTB and real-time bidding platforms
  • Video advertising and streaming technologies
  • OTT and Connected TV (CTV) platforms
  • Forecasting, optimization, recommendation, and decisioning systems

We also welcome candidates from other highly scalable and mission-critical environments, including:
  • FinTech
  • Electronic trading systems
  • Telecommunications
  • Networking infrastructure
  • Gaming platforms
  • Cloud platform engineering
  • Search and recommendation systems
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
Successful engineers on this team have experience:
  • Building and operating distributed backend systems
  • Writing production-grade C++ code for high-scale environments
  • Solving performance, reliability, scalability, and availability challenges
  • Supporting systems in production and responding to operational issues
  • Balancing technical quality, business priorities, and delivery timelines
  • Communicating effectively across technical and non-technical stakeholders
Leveling
Level 4: Senior Engineer
  • 4+ years of experience
  • Owns complex services, features, or subsystems
  • Strong hands-on contributor with distributed systems experience
Level 5: Lead Engineer
  • 5+ years of experience
  • Leads major technical initiatives and mentors engineers
  • Drives engineering quality and execution across projects
Level 6: Principal Engineer
  • 7+ years of experience
  • Influences architecture across multiple systems and teams
  • Solves highly complex platform and scaling challenges
Level 7: Senior Principal / Architect
  • 10+ years of experience
  • Defines technical direction and long-term platform strategy
  • Serves as a trusted technical authority across the organization

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This job and many more are available through The Judge Group. Please apply with us today!

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