Principal Software Engineer, Riot Games
Tools & Engine - Teamfight Tactics
$218.3-304.3k
+ Incentive compensation + Equity
Player-focused game development platform
Be an early applicant
Player-focused game development platform
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$218.3-304.3k
+ Incentive compensation + Equity
1001+ employees
Company mission
To be the most player-focused game company in the world.
Role
Who you are
- 6+ years experience in professional software development
- 4+ years of professional experience in C++
- 2+ years game engine experience (ex. Unity, Unreal Engine )
- Experience in game rendering and engine performance profiling
- Strong OO C/C++/C# programming experience and data driven design principles
- Strong knowledge of common game and software design patterns
- Experience collaborating with teammates across multiple disciplines
- Product sense, pragmatism, and player empathy in making tech decisions
- BS in Computer Science, or proven understanding of Computer Science fundamentals
Desirable
- Previously worked with gameplay ability system (GAS) in unreal
- Online SaaS (software as a service) game development experience
- Experience building developer workflows
- Mobile or multi-platform performance profiling
- Familiarity with Teamfight Tactics
What the job involves
- Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. As Software Engineers, we work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value
- As a Principal Software Engineer (Tools & Engine) in the Teamfight Tactics team, you will provide technical leadership, technical designs and hands-on implementations for a wide area of technical areas in a game development environment. You will report to an Engineering manager on the Teamfight Tactics team
- Contribute to technical direction for engine systems, anticipating upcoming opportunities and risks
- Collaborate on technical/architectural discussions and technical design
- Responsible for developing patterns, tooling, and standards for gameplay
- Implementation of foundational systems including, UI foundations, cross-platform support, CI/CD pipelines,performance, art and gameplay tools
- Participate in the planning and execution of engineering work including requirements gathering, technical discovery, technical design, and work breakdown and estimation
- Work closely with gameplay and backend teams to deliver foundational technology for the game product
- Ensure exceptional code quality by adhering to engineering excellence which includes: code maintainability, quality, monitoring, code reviews, and documentation
- Provide mentorship to engineers, tech artists, and tech designers
Our take
Riot Games has grown into one of the world’s most prominent online and mobile game developers, due in large part to the success of its 2009 flagship title League of Legends which hosts just under seventy million users every month.
Riot is riding the wave of online gaming growth, having made a well timed switch from PC-only into mobile-based gaming, as capitalising on the rising popularity of esports, with the League of Legends World Championships one of the most watched events in the space.
However, adding further titles to its resume will be key to building on its success, as League of Legends was its only offering for the best part of a decade. Since being acquired by Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2011, the company has grown significantly in Asian markets, opening its Shanghai Game Studio in 2021 and expanding its China Game Studio Group in 2022. These two hubs will help Riot Games make further inroads in a country where PC gaming is already huge and continues to grow.
Regardless of League of Legends' success both online and in live arenas, the company nevertheless experienced a round of layoffs internationally that amounted to 11% of its workforce. Pair that with legal troubles in 2024 concerning the company’s partnership with now bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, and Riot Games appears to be in a period of transition. Thanks to the strength of its gaming products, however, Riot will no doubt maintain a comfortable position within the gaming world.
Freddie
Company Specialist
Insights
Most candidates hear
back within 2 weeks
24% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Sep 2009
$8m
SERIES C
Jul 2008
$7m
EARLY VC
Total funding: $15m
Company benefits
- We offer medical, dental, and vision plans that cover you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children
- Life insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage are also available
- Riot will support your retirement benefits with a company match, and double down on your donations of time and money to non-profit charitable organizations
- Balance between work and personal life is encouraged with open paid time off, and a play fund so you can broaden and deepen your personal relationship with games
Company values
- Player experience first
- Dare to dream
- Thrive together
- Execute with excellence
- Stay hungry, stay humble
Company HQ
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Articles
Leadership
Brandon Beck
(Co-Chairman)Having studied at the University of Southern California, they worked as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. they left this role in September 2006 to co-found Riot Games, where they served initially as co-CEO.
Marc Merrill
(Co-Chairman)After a degree at the University of Southern California, they worked as a U.S. Bank Analyst and a Manager of Advanstar Communications. They co-founded Riot Games with Brandon in September 2006, alongside being a Principal of NaHCo3 since 2016.
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