Staff Software Engineer, Gameplay - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. We work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value. As a Staff Software Engineer, you’ll drive important features and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering.

As a Staff Software Engineer on our unpublished MMO, you will build and enhance online multiplayer gameplay systems and other related systems. You will work in a team alongside producers, designers, artists, and other engineers to build experiences that will fulfill our players’ imaginative dreams. The ideal candidate is passionate, pragmatic, and wants to deliver high-quality gameplay experiences.

Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and iterate on gameplay features, tools, and workflows to fulfill product requirements and delight players.
• Collaborate across disciplines to define architecture, identify focus areas, and deliver robust, scalable, and performant solutions.
• Partner with technical leaders to identify risks, create mitigation strategies, and ensure alignment on technical direction and standards.
• Contribute to improving development pipelines, workflows, and engine extensions to support efficient production.
• Champion player empathy and product sense in technical decision-making.

Required Qualifications:

• 6+ years of development experience in the game industry as a software engineer.
• Experience shipping an online multiplayer game built with Unreal Engine.
• Familiar with Unreal Engine internals and modifying them as needed.
• Excellent skills debugging and optimizing online games.
• Experience collaborating with distributed teammates across multiple disciplines.
• Product sense, pragmatism, and player empathy in making tech decisions.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience developing gameplay systems in Unreal Engine 5.
• Experience building or extending tools, workflows, or pipelines in Unreal 5.
• Familiarity with visual scripting systems.
• Experience working with agile development practices.
• Strong product sense and an understanding of what resonates with players in a given genre.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

At Riot Games, we put players first . That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application.

It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

• Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
• Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
• Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
• Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.

• (Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $192,500.00 - $269,400.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.