Staff Software Engineer, Engine & Tools - Unpublished R&D Product

About the Role

We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer specialized in Engine & Tools for an unpublished R&D project to lead the design and development of AI and machine learning powered tools that enhance developer workflows. Collaborating closely with designers, producers, and engineers, this role focuses on conceptualizing, building, and maintaining innovative AI-driven applications that boost productivity and support the creation of exceptional player experiences.

Our engineering team values both deep expertise in specific areas and flexibility to work across multiple technical domains. As a Staff Software Engineer, you will guide key feature development and set standards of engineering excellence. Your work will involve integrating cutting-edge technologies to solve complex challenges in game development, particularly within an R&D context. You will be part of the Tech Foundations team and report to an Engineering Manager. This is a full-time position based in Sydney, Australia. The internal job title for this role is Software Engineer III.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to identify opportunities for AI-augmented workflow improvements.
• Work closely with engineering leadership to shape the vision for AI-based tools and developer workflows.
• Lead deployment of AI/ML systems addressing challenges faced by developers and players.
• Architect and contribute to foundational components of the game tools ecosystem.
• Partner with cross-disciplinary teams—artists, designers, QA, engineers—to define, build, and test AI/ML-powered solutions.
• Stay up-to-date with AI/ML industry trends and implement practical applications to solve development challenges.
• Collaborate with central teams to disseminate AI solutions across Riot's portfolio.
• Model best practices in tools architecture and coding for the team.
• Mentor engineers at various levels, delivering feedback to support their growth as the team expands.
• Drive adoption of AI/ML tools in game development through mentoring, documentation, and advocacy.
• Create documentation and training materials for new tools and workflows for internal teams.

Required Qualifications

• At least eight years of professional software engineering experience, including delivering live or shipped products at scale.
• A minimum of three years working on game development tools with proficiency in C++.
• Experience with Unreal Engine and awareness of emerging game development tools.
• Hands-on experience working with AI/ML systems in production environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong communication skills enabling effective collaboration and influence across technical and non-technical stakeholders, especially in ambiguous situations.

Desired Qualifications

• Applied expertise in reinforcement learning, imitation learning, decision-making under uncertainty, large language models, AI planning, or multi-agent systems.
• Familiarity with modern machine learning and data science frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and pandas.
• In-depth understanding of tooling used in AAA game development and integration with client and backend systems.
• Experience developing AI/ML-driven content creation tools interfacing with art software like Maya or Blender.
• History of mentoring technical leaders and positively contributing to engineering culture across distributed teams.

Benefits and Company Culture

We prioritize work-life balance through an open paid time off policy, paid parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers, and flexible work schedules tailored to your needs. Our workplace is designed to be enjoyable, featuring cooperative gaming areas, a dedicated budget for expanding knowledge about players and communities, and a variety of snacks including healthy options.

• Comprehensive medical insurance covering employees and their dependents.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellness fund support.
• Matching donations of time and money directed to registered charities.
• Opportunities for learning and professional development.

Our culture centers on teamwork aligned with the Summoner's Code and Community Code. We embrace diversity as a core strength and commit to cultivating an inclusive, respectful workplace. We strive to create a fair and collaborative environment that upholds dignity for all team members and actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the gaming industry.