Principal Software Engineer, Backend Architecture

Riot Engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the chance to work in many broader domains. As a Software Engineer, you’ll also dive into projects that focus on team cohesiveness and cross-team goals. You’ll lead without authority and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering.

As a Principal Software Engineer on an unpublished R&D Product focused on backend services, you will be responsible for the entire back-end servicing the core gameplay of a new game. This includes defining interactions between client and server that are fundamental to every player’s experience (think: high load, high availability) and varying infrastructure and compliance requirements. Additional responsibilities include ensuring we have robust monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, delivery of tools and processes supporting cadenced updates and live operations, and broad oversight over how these technologies connect to the rest of the player and developer experience. Finally, you are responsible for ensuring that all of this rests on a solid technical foundation so when we get to launch at scale, everything goes smoothly.

Responsibilities:

• Design, build, and deliver internet scale backend services and technology for a genre-defining game we will deliver globally to millions of people
• Collaborate with leadership on planning and long term vision for gameplay related services
• Own building features from in-game all the way down to the backend service implementation
• Build features to improve server reliability and performance
• Implement server infrastructure in support of new gameplay features
• Build and support live services and operational tools
• Work with cloud technologies and services such as AWS
• Mentor more junior engineers on the team
• Collaborate effectively with art, design, and other disciplines within game development
• Review and identify risks and requirements for usage of shared technologies owned by other teams

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience building large scale backend systems or game services
• 3+ years of experience as a technical lead
• Experience developing large systems from scratch, including gathering requirements and designing scalable, production-ready architecture
• BS degree or equivalent experience
• Expertise with C++, Java, Golang, or any other modern language
• Experience with cloud computing and cloud technologies

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working on a global scale online game
• Experience with Unreal Engine
• Experience working on both sides of client/service architecture
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines such as Jenkins
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes

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.