Principal Software Engineer, Foundations Developer Experience & Workflows

Riot Games - Los Angeles, CA

Full-time - Senior

Los Angeles, CA

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

About the position

As a Principal Software Engineer on VALORANT Foundations, you will play a crucial role in transitioning VALORANT from hypergrowth to a scaled operating business. Your primary focus will be on designing developer workflows for multi-platform, continuous delivery development, ensuring a seamless player experience across all platforms. You will lead the technical direction and execution of major technology investments that empower developers globally, enhancing the gaming experience for millions of players.

Responsibilities

• Be hands-on in development, writing excellent code that sets a high standard for other engineers.
• Identify and champion the most impactful technology investments for studio leadership to prioritize, ensuring maximum business value.
• Lead the technical execution of multi-month to year-plus work efforts across the business unit, holding teams to established standards.
• Help teams navigate ambiguity and complexity by breaking down problems, identifying risks, and clearly communicating trade-offs.
• Establish systems, tools, and best practices for multi-platform game development that improve developer experience and efficiency for all disciplines, including engineering, game design, art, QA, and audio.
• Be a standard-bearer and role model of Riot values for your team and others.
• Be a force multiplier for your team. Mentor senior engineers on your team and enable them to deliver complex projects.
• Represent VALORANT in collaboration with central Riot teams and other Riot studios on co-development and technology sharing.

Requirements

• 10+ years experience in professional software development, including shipping multiple games.
• 2+ years of experience as a technical lead.
• Have been responsible for driving the design and execution of organization-sized efforts (1-year+ scope), including requirements gathering, planning, testing, and release or deployment.
• 5+ years professional experience with C++.
• Experience shipping an Unreal Engine game that targets PC and at least one of Console and Mobile.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams at scale.

Nice-to-haves

• Professional experience designing and building developer workflows for a AAA game title.
• Experience shipping a Gen 9 Console game.
• Experience with the design and maintenance of multi-platform build pipelines.
• 2+ years professional experience with C#.

Benefits

• Open paid time off policy
• Flexible work schedules
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children
• 401k with company match