---
title: 'Core Tech Programmer at Naughty Dog'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/core-tech-programmer-naughty-dog-united-states-santa-monica-wgpdk26cc797'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-08'
---

# Core Tech Programmer at Naughty Dog

- **Company:** Naughty Dog
- **Location:** United States Santa Monica, CA
- **Compensation:** $141k–$177k
- **Posted:** 2026-04-23
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/naughtydog/jobs/5978835004

## 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.

## #LI-AB1

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. $141,400—$176,700 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our[Candidate Privacy Notice](https://www.playstation.com/legal/careers-privacy-notice/) for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

## About Naughty Dog

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Naughty Dog is an award-winning first-party video game developer for Sony Interactive Entertainment, renowned for critically acclaimed franchises like Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment / PlayStation Studios)
- **Headquarters**: Santa Monica, California, USA
- **Founded**: 1984 (42 years ago)
- **Founders**: Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Video game development (AAA console/PC titles)
- **Target customers**: B2C (gamers and consumers on PlayStation platforms, with recent PC releases)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To create cutting-edge, character-driven, and evocative games that push the boundaries of technology and storytelling, earning the trust of millions of players worldwide.

## Products & Services
- **Crash Bandicoot Series (1996-1999)**: Classic 3D platformer franchise that launched the studio into prominence.
- **Jak and Daxter Series (2001-2005)**: Action-adventure platformer series for the PlayStation 2.
- **Uncharted Series (2007-2022)**: Acclaimed third-person action-adventure series (Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy). The franchise has sold over 41.7 million copies globally (as of 2017).
- **The Last of Us Series (2013-present)**: Critically acclaimed post-apocalyptic action-adventure franchise (The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part II). The series has spawned a successful HBO television adaptation.
- **Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet (forthcoming)**: A new intellectual property (IP) announced for the PlayStation 5, the studio’s first new IP since The Last of Us.
- **ICE Team**: A central technology group within Sony’s Worldwide Studios that creates core graphics technologies, game engine components, and profiling tools for first-party titles.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (Private subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment).
- **Key Metric**: The Uncharted franchise sold over 41.7 million copies by December 2017. The Last of Us Part II was released to massive critical and commercial success in 2020.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company is Sony Interactive Entertainment (acquired in 2001). Key leadership includes Neil Druckmann (Head of Creative, President), Alison Mori (Studio Manager).
- **Growth Signals**: The studio is actively developing a new IP (Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet) for the PS5, expanding its franchise into TV (The Last of Us on HBO), and has recently released games on PC. The studio has over 400 employees (as of July 2023) and has maintained a strong talent pipeline for decades.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Award-Winning Legacy**: Consistently delivers some of the highest-rated and most commercially successful games in the industry (multiple Game of the Year awards).
- **Proprietary Technology**: Home to the ICE Team, which develops cutting-edge graphics and engine technology used across Sony’s first-party lineup.
- **Narrative & Character Mastery**: Renowned for deep, cinematic storytelling and character-driven experiences that set industry standards.
- **Strong Brand & Franchise Power**: Owns some of the most iconic and beloved IPs in gaming (The Last of Us, Uncharted), creating a powerful ecosystem for sequels, remasters, and transmedia adaptations.
- **Stable Parent Company**: As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, the studio enjoys financial stability and access to top-tier resources without the volatility of independent studios.

## Strategic Focus
- **New IP Development**: Actively developing *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*, signaling a commitment to creating new worlds and stories beyond existing franchises.
- **Transmedia Expansion**: Successfully expanding *The Last of Us* into a major TV franchise on HBO, indicating a strategy to grow its IP beyond gaming.
- **Technical Innovation**: Continuing to push the boundaries of graphics, animation, and AI through the ICE Team and internal R&D.
- **PC & Multi-Platform Growth**: Releasing titles on PC (e.g., *The Last of Us Part I*), suggesting a strategy to reach a broader audience beyond PlayStation consoles.
- **Nurturing Talent**: Investing in a strong culture and career development to retain veteran staff while attracting new talent.

## Why Work Here
- **Award-Winning Studio**: Be part of a legendary team with over 35 years of history and multiple Game of the Year awards.
- **Cutting-Edge Technology**: Work on proprietary engine technology (ICE Team) and push the limits of console and PC hardware.
- **Culture & Collaboration**: The studio is known for a collaborative, passionate environment with minimal middle-management and a focus on creative excellence.
- **Comprehensive Benefits**: Offers a 401K plan with company match, comprehensive health/dental/vision insurance, generous PTO, fitness reimbursement, and a referral program.
- **Remote-Friendly**: Some roles (e.g., Associate QA Tester / Language Development Support) are listed as remote, and the studio is based in Santa Monica, CA.
- **Team-Building**: Wide variety of team-building events and a dog-friendly office culture.
- **Diverse Departments**: Opportunities across Programming, Art, Animation, Design, Production, QA, IT, Communications, and Editorial.

## Sources
1. [naughtydog.com](https://www.naughtydog.com/company)
2. [naughtydog.com](https://www.naughtydog.com/careers)
3. [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/naughtydog)
4. [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naughty_Dog)

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