TL;DR

What this career is

Technology domain, and the highest-paying desk track in EA. Melino's tech firms run from an indie game studio to a web shop to an enterprise. Programming carries it; Graphic Design and Art open the design-leaning roles.

At a glance

Is Software development right for your Para?

Beginner friendly

3/5

Earning power

4/5

Time pressure

3/5

Key skills: Programming Graphic Design
Story fit: Fits work-from-home and rags-to-riches stories — steady pay with schedule control.

Editorial ratings from our own EA playthroughs — not official data.

Getting hired

How to land a Software development job

Application Points here come mostly from the Programming skill, with Graphic Design and prior tech-sector experience topping you up; the Serious Vibe and Charisma add a little. A Rank 1 Gameplay Programmer at Parallel Studios needs nothing, but the Rank 29 Cybersecurity Engineer at ClickWork Industries needs 29 points — so level Programming well before you aim high.

1
Open the job board. Click your Para, choose Use Phone then Find a job — or use any computer (the Town Hall and Library have public ones) or a Hiring poster around Melino.
2
Check the Application Points. Rank 1 listings need 0 points; every higher rank needs Application Points equal to its rank number — a Rank 12 job needs 12. Points come from leveled skills, sector work experience, the Charisma stat and certain Vibes.
3
Accept and set a schedule. Listings refresh every in-game day, you can hold multiple jobs if shifts don't overlap, and you tweak hours at the bottom of the Occupations tab. Applying internally adds +3 points; a Jester Vibe can roll a random +5.

Rank & pay

The rank ladder, entry to capstone

Pay scales with rank. Figures below are daily salaries cross-checked from the EA job tables — treat them as representative, not guaranteed, since patch 0.1.x can rebalance.

Entry · Rank 1
Gameplay Programmer (Parallel Studios) — Rank 1, about $250/day, no Application Points. The standard way in: Parallel Studios is the indie game studio, and its roles cap around $450/day.
Mid ranks
Full-Stack Developer (Mapple Web Inc.) — Rank 11, about $450/day, needs Programming. The Front-End Developer (Rank 12) also wants Graphic Design and Art, so it doubles as an Art-domain role.
Senior / capstone
Cybersecurity Engineer (ClickWork Industries) — Rank 29, about $910/day. Technical Director (Rank 25, ~$830) pairs Programming with Management. ClickWork is the enterprise tier, with company pay reaching into four figures.

Skills that feed it

What raises your Application Points

These are the player-leveled skills that count toward this domain's Application Points. Level them, or use a cheat to test a higher-rank listing.

Programming Graphic Design

Level Programming first — it's the single biggest Application-Point source for every tech role. Graphic Design unlocks the design-crossover jobs and the Art domain. Use LEVELUPSKILL Programming to test a high-rank listing without grinding.

Perks & cheats

Upgrade points, perks and the console

Work is a rabbit-hole: your Para leaves, the shift resolves off-screen, and you bank salary plus an upgrade point if performance held. Spend upgrade points on Expertise and Extra upgrades — faster promotions, remote days, or a bigger paycheck.

Career console commands

PRINTALLPOSSIBLEEXTRASFOROCCUPATION — lists every Occupation Perk for the current job.
ENDWORKDAY — resolves the shift, pays salary and grants an upgrade point if performance held.
CLEARSTRIKES — wipes disciplinary strikes before they get the Para fired.

Need the full command list? Open the cheats index for all 100+ Paralives cheats, categorised.

Common mistakes

Three pitfalls on this track

Pitfall 1

Aiming above your point total

A Rank 11 job needs 11 Application Points. If a listing is locked, you're short — level Programming or take a lower rank first to bank sector experience.

Pitfall 2