Principal Researcher (R&D Publishing) - Central Product Insights

The Insights discipline empowers Rioters to make more informed, data-driven decisions. We’re an interdisciplinary team of user researchers, scientists, advisors, and strategists from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a love of games, a passion for science, and a commitment to helping others succeed. By illuminating the globally diverse experiences, behaviors, and needs of players, we help Riot stay true to its player-focused mission.

As a Principal User Researcher on the R&D Publishing Team, you’ll not only shape Riot’s understanding of players, but also guide strategic and operational decisions across all R&D games at Riot and how we bring those games to market. Your work will drive strategic decisions about the audiences we serve, the opportunities we pursue, and how our games evolve to deliver richer, more player-driven experiences.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute end-to-end studies using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover player motivations, pain points, and emerging opportunity areas.
• Lead complex, high-impact research workstreams across Riot R&D - evolving milestone testing practices, establishing playtesting benchmarks, informing milestone & development decisions, and solving sophisticated research challenges.
• Generate strategic insights that inform high impact publishing decisions ranging from positioning, to regional investment strategies, and GTM planning.
• Work closely with R&D publishing to build early clarity and perspectives on player communities and the role they play in our future players lives.
• Partner with publishing to develop product positioning.
• Work with publishing product leads to establish data informed distribution plans.
• Communicate research findings through compelling narratives that align stakeholders and drive executive decision-making.
• Champion the player perspective by delivering evidence-based guidance on player needs, motivations, and behaviors.
• Collaborate closely with game teams, R&D Publishing, and Insights partners to develop and socialize research-driven frameworks that shape both individual game strategy and broader portfolio direction.
• Advance strategic thinking and research framework development across R&D to support long-term innovation and player-focused development.
• Establish and own research craft standards for R&D Publishing insights - mentoring other researchers and leading the development of a new practice at Riot.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of relevant research experience (advanced degrees may substitute for up to 2 years).
• 4+ years of research experience specifically within the games industry.
• 4+ years working on publishing, marketing, or brand strategy projects.
• 3+ years of experience partnering directly with senior executives or high-level stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research that informs game product and portfolio strategy; proven experience with go to market strategy for new games and particularly in the publishing space.
• Experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research methods - including in-depth-interviews, focus groups, playtests, diary studies, and surveys - with deep specialization in at least one.
• Proficient in core statistical methods - including regression, correlation, and factor analysis - and experienced with a statistical package such as Q, R, or SPSS.
• Strong understanding of game design, direction, and game product strategy.
• Skilled at synthesizing research findings into clear, actionable insights for product leadership.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills; able to influence across all levels of an organization.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects and cross-functional workstreams in collaboration with diverse partners.
• Experience managing external vendors in driving research/insights projects.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring researchers, teaching research best practices, or developing systems and processes that advance the craft and impact of research within an organization.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in a human-focused discipline such as Psychology, Anthropology, or Human-Computer Interaction.
• 4+ years of experience supporting brand and creative strategy development for global and culturally relevant brands
• Experience in creating and validating benchmark metrics to support longitudinal tracking and strategic decision-making.
• Experience supporting game teams across the pre-launch lifecycle (incubation, prototype, preproduction, production).
• Experience partnering with Data Scientists & Analytics to integrate qualitative and quantitative insights.
• Proficiency with Tableau and SQL for data visualization and exploration.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel or Sheets for analysis and reporting.

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 $187,700.00 - $261,700.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.