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Indie Games Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Senior iOS Engineer, Apple Games

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $277K/yr

We have an exciting roadmap supporting games ranging from mobile to indie to AAA, reaching deep into the operating system, with the unique opportunity to help define the face of gaming at Apple. We ...

Spellbrush

3D Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...

Studio Wildcard

Sr. Engine Programmer

Bellevue, WA · Remote

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...

Studio Wildcard

Sr. Engine Programmer

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...

Spellbrush

3D Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · Remote

... and games. Having experience working with LLMs is a plus. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel very much like a small indie studio: close-knit, with high ...

Studio Wildcard

Sr. Engine Programmer

Bellevue, WA · Remote

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Debug and patch complex gameplay and engine-level vulnerabilities to shut down client-side exploits ...

Epic Games

Principal Engineer, AI Platform

Cary, NC · On-site

$125K - $167K/yr

... lets indie developers ship games to every major device on Earth. Our AI Platform team is building the next layer of that infrastructure - an enterprise-grade stack of agentic AI systems that ...

Epic Games

Principal Engineer, AI Platform

Cary, NC · On-site

$137K - $184K/yr

... lets indie developers ship games to every major device on Earth. Our AI Platform team is building the next layer of that infrastructure - an enterprise-grade stack of agentic AI systems that ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Eugene, OR · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Clifton, NJ · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Missouri City, TX · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Mesa, AZ · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Emphasizes understanding the full 3D production pipeline and connects Blender skills to indie game development, motion graphics, and digital art creation. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive ...

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How much do indie games jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for indie games in the United States is $20.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.18 and $23.80 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an indie game?

An Indie Games job typically involves working within a small team or independently to develop and publish video games without the backing of a large publisher. Roles in indie game development can vary widely, including game design, programming, art, sound design, and marketing. Since indie teams are often small, employees may take on multiple responsibilities. These jobs require creativity, adaptability, and a passion for gaming. Funding can come from personal savings, crowdfunding, or small investors, making financial management a key aspect of indie game development.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive in indie games?

To thrive in Indie Games development, you need strong skills in programming, game design, and creative storytelling, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio of completed projects. Proficiency with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, along with familiarity with version control systems such as Git, is frequently required. Adaptability, collaboration, and entrepreneurial spirit are valuable soft skills that help you manage tight deadlines and limited resources. These capabilities are essential for successfully creating, marketing, and delivering engaging indie games in a highly competitive market.

What are common challenges faced by professionals working in indie games development?

Professionals in Indie Games development often encounter challenges such as managing limited budgets, juggling multiple responsibilities, and adapting to rapid changes throughout the game production lifecycle. Team sizes are typically small, so individuals may handle everything from coding and art to marketing and business development. Effective time management and clear communication are crucial, as many teams work remotely or across different time zones. However, these challenges also provide opportunities to learn new skills and take creative ownership over projects, making the role both demanding and highly rewarding.

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indie games jobs near you
Infographic showing various Indie Games job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,561 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Senior Animator, Unannounced Super Fun Video Game (Contract)

Second Dinner Studios, Inc

Remote

$60 - $70/hr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Our Team
We're building a PvE co-op action game with a small, highly autonomous team.
Each discipline is represented by a single owner. There is no large animation department, dedicated technical animation team, or production layer separating disciplines. The people who thrive here are comfortable making decisions, solving problems independently, and moving work forward without extensive process or oversight.
We care more about demonstrated capability than years of experience, previous titles, or studio pedigree. Show us great animation work, shipped games, side projects, game jam projects, mods, tools you've built, pipelines you've improved, or anything else that demonstrates your ability to create and ship great experiences.
Your Role
Animation is the primary focus of this role.
We're looking for someone who can create both expressive character performances and exceptional gameplay animation. Our characters need to feel compelling when viewed up close through facial expressions, acting, personality, and charm, while also feeling responsive, readable, and satisfying during gameplay.
You'll own animation from rigging and implementation through final polish. Most of your time will be spent creating animation, but because of our team's size, you'll also be expected to identify technical challenges, improve workflows, and occasionally step outside traditional discipline boundaries when it helps the project move forward.
This is a fully remote role. Much of the team's coordination happens asynchronously, so success requires clear written communication, proactive updates, and the ability to make progress without waiting for meetings or direction.
The strongest candidates tend to be builders. They make games outside of work, participate in game jams, create mods, experiment with new tools, or otherwise demonstrate a habit of learning and creating beyond their day job.
What You'll Do
  • Create high-quality character, gameplay, and combat animation.
  • Bring personality, appeal, emotion, and charm to characters through performance and facial animation.
  • Create responsive, readable, and satisfying gameplay animation that supports combat and player feedback.
  • Rig, skin, and prepare assets for animation.
  • Implement, iterate on, and polish animation directly in Unreal Engine.
  • Work closely with Design and Engineering to improve gameplay feel, responsiveness, readability, and player experience.
  • Coordinate with Character Art, Environment Art, and VFX to ensure assets integrate smoothly into the game.
  • Identify bottlenecks and improve workflows through tooling, automation, technical solutions, or process improvements.
  • Evaluate and leverage AI-assisted workflows when they meaningfully improve iteration speed, content creation, or production efficiency.
  • Occasionally collaborate with external art partners to review deliverables, communicate feedback, and maintain quality standards.
  • Own animation as a discipline from concept through final implementation.

What You'll Need
  • A portfolio demonstrating exceptional animation work.
  • Demonstrated strength in both character performance animation and gameplay animation.
  • Strong understanding of character acting, facial expression, appeal, timing, and physicality.
  • Strong understanding of gameplay readability, responsiveness, combat feel, and player feedback.
  • Strong rigging skills.
  • Experience implementing animation content in Unreal Engine.
  • Comfort working directly in-engine to solve problems and iterate on content.
  • The ability to independently own a discipline and make forward progress with minimal oversight.
  • Strong written communication skills and comfort working in a fully remote, asynchronous
  • environment.
  • The ability to discuss technical and creative tradeoffs with designers, engineers, artists, and external partners.
  • Comfort learning unfamiliar tools, workflows, or disciplines when doing so benefits the project.
  • Comfort using AI-assisted tools as part of a modern game development workflow.

Nice to Have, But Not Necessary
  • Experience as a Technical Animator, Tech Artist, Art Director, or other cross-disciplinary role.
  • Experience building tools, pipelines, procedural systems, or workflow automation.
  • Experience managing external vendors or outsourcing relationships.
  • Experience shipping an indie game, game jam project, mod, or significant personal project.
  • Experience working on small teams where individuals routinely contribute outside their primary discipline.
  • Experience with cooperative action games, boss-focused encounters, or other highly replayable multiplayer experiences.
  • Affinity for complex competitive games such as League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, or similar titles.
  • Experience with endgame MMO content such as raiding in World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, or similar games.
  • Familiarity with anime-inspired visual styles, character archetypes, and modern anime storytelling conventions.

This position pays a range of $60 - 70 per hour (USD).
Individual pay within this range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education, or training. It also factors in market demands and business needs. The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future. This role is contracted through a third-party that provides health benefits, etc., which your recruiter can discuss more during the hiring process.
We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.
You must be legally authorized to work and reside in the United States. We do not sponsor visas or support employment outside the U.S. for this role.

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