Core Tech Programmer

Naughty Dog; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 141,400 - 176,700; Full time

Job summary

Naughty Dog is seeking a core tech programmer for a hybrid position in California. You will have total project ownership, collaborating with artists and designers while tackling complex problems in our production pipeline.

The ideal candidate has at least 3 years in the gaming industry and has shipped at least one AAA game. Experience with programming in C++ or C# and excellent 3D math skills are required. This role offers a competitive pay range of $141,400 to $176,700.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years working in the video game industry.
• Minimum of 1 shipped AAA game.
• Excellent 3D math skills, especially linear algebra and vector math.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and support technology in the production pipeline.
• Enable artists and designers to create assets and improve workflows.
• Navigate and improve an extensive code base.

Skills

3+ years in the video game industry

1 shipped AAA game

B.S. in Computer Science or Mathematics

3D math skills (linear algebra, vector math)

C++ or C# application development

Education

B.S. in Computer Science or Mathematics

Tools

DCC tools

PC applications

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. We have a small core tech team, so you will interact with multiple departments, game systems and pipeline technologies. As a core tech programmer at Naughty Dog, you will experience total project ownership: talk directly to the artists and designers, devise and build the technology they use. You will experience varied and challenging responsibilities requiring a high level of adaptability and a taste for discovering cutting‑edge technologies.

What you will do:

• Tackling complex problems: Design, develop, and support technology in our production pipeline from DCC tools, throughout our asset management and conditioning pipeline, down to the supporting runtime game systems
• Work with and enable artists and designers to create incredible assets throughout all stages of production, with an eye on constantly improving creation workflows, user experience, and performance of our tools and technologies
• Navigate and constantly improve an extensive code base
• Responsibilities may evolve based on needs

What skills you will use:

• Minimum of 3 years working in the video game industry
• Minimum of 1 shipped AAA game
• B.S. in Computer Science and/or Mathematics or equivalent work experience
• Excellent 3D math skills (especially linear algebra and vector math)
• Extensive experience in creating one or more of the following PC applications in C++ or C#: level editor, art prototype catalogue/database, animation/cinematic editor, material/shader editor, dcc plug-ins, build tools, data messaging tools, lighting tools or equivalent software
• Experience with PC application programming

Bonus Skills:

• Experience with console programming
• Experience with databases and query optimizations
• Experience with a scripting language
• Experience using DCC applications

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

The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.

Pay: $141,400 — $176,700 USD

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