Senior Software Engineer - VALORANT, Match Services

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll also dive into projects that focus on team cohesion and cross-team objectives. You’ll lead with authority and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering.

VALORANT is Riot’s take on a character-based tactical shooter (for more info on VALORANT click here !) . As a Senior Software Engineer of the VALORANT Match Services Team, you will work closely with world class designers, producers, and engineers to drive the direction of our players core competitive experience, including how players are matched, ranked, and rewarded on their journey in VALORANT’s most engaging modes. Work closely with technical leaders to design, implement, and deploy scalable solutions globally that align with VALORANT’s goal of exceeding the highest player expectations. You will report to the Engineering Manager of the Match Services team.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and deliver in-game client features that enable a world-class player experience
• Collaborate closely with producers, game designers, and UX specialists to shape high-quality features
• Take end-to-end ownership of features, from in-game implementation through backend service integration
• Architect, build, and maintain large-scale backend services that support millions of players globally
• Take ownership of key components within VALORANT’s architecture, ensuring reliability, scalability, and long-term sustainability
• Build, operate, and support live game services, including participation in an on-call rotation
• Mentor and elevate junior engineers by providing technical guidance, constructive feedback, and best-practice leadership

Required Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience as a software engineer
• 2+ years professional experience building distributed systems at scale
• Experience working in the games industry or on gaming personal projects
• Familiarity working in an agile environment
• Expertise with C++, Golang, or similar language(s)

Desired Qualifications:

• Professional experience working with cloud computing and cloud technologies
• Professional experience building large scale backend systems or game services
• Professional experience building player- or user-facing frontend experiences (e.g. web, mobile, game)
• Experience working on competitive multiplayer features
• Experience with Unreal Engine

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 $161,500.00 - $227,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
• (Mercer Island only) Base salary range between $161,500.00 - $227,000.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.