Staff Software Engineer - Unpublished R&D Product (Australia-Based; Relocation Provided)

About the Role

Riot Games is committed to putting players at the core of everything. Our Sydney team collaborates globally to develop innovative features and technology for an exciting unpublished R&D project. This role involves contributions spanning backend architecture, developer tools, and player-centric features, focusing on systems that enhance performance, scalability, and user engagement.

You will work as a Staff Software Engineer responsible for key technical areas, guiding the entire development lifecycle—from designing scalable solutions to mentoring colleagues and collaborating cross-functionally to uphold high-quality standards for both players and developers.

Our engineering environment values deep expertise in specialized technical domains as well as flexibility to engage broadly. You will report to an Engineering Manager within the R&D Game Team. This is a full-time position based in Sydney or remotely anywhere in Australia.

Responsibilities

• Take the lead on designing and implementing scalable, high-performance foundational systems related to build, release, delivery, and associated tooling.
• Facilitate and drive technical discussions and decisions impacting services, game engine, and tooling components.
• Work closely with producers, QA, and engineering teams to define, develop, and validate game features.
• Promote best engineering practices including maintaining code quality, automated testing, and sustainable architecture.
• Resolve complex issues in both development settings and live environments, always prioritizing the player experience.
• Support team health through mentorship, creating documentation, and cross-disciplinary cooperation.
• Identify potential technical risks and bottlenecks early and propose practical, innovative fixes.
• Provide product leadership with feedback regarding direction and player engagement.

Requirements

• Minimum six years of professional software engineering experience, including delivering live or released products.
• Advanced expertise in C++ and thorough grounding in software fundamentals such as data structures, algorithms, and concurrency.
• Experience working within cross-functional teams and contributing to architecture discussions across multiple teams, including central technologies.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving capabilities in both development and production environments.
• Capability to write clean, maintainable code with effective communication of technical concepts across different disciplines.
• Proven experience in game development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
• Familiarity with Unreal Engine development.
• Knowledge of scalable services, build and release pipelines, or telemetry systems.
• Experience with version control systems such as Perforce or Git.
• Background in global-scale game development or online services highly regarded.

Description Continued

Success in this role requires both technical mastery and a collaborative spirit prioritizing player satisfaction. Candidates with a strong personal passion for games and empathy for player experiences will excel. Riot Sydney is a major hub, contributing to titles like VALORANT, League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and other R&D initiatives.

We value diversity and welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds to join us.

Benefits

• Flexible paid time off policy to support work-life balance.
• Paid parental leave for all caregivers.
• Customizable work schedules to fit varied lifestyles.
• Onsite gaming lounges and a play fund for deepening player and community understanding.
• Healthy and diverse snacks provided in the workplace.
• Medical insurance covering employees and their dependents.
• Employee Assistance Program for wellbeing.
• Funds available for wellness-related activities.
• Matching donations of time and money to registered charities.
• Access to learning and professional development opportunities.

Riot Games is dedicated to creating collaborative environments where diverse perspectives thrive and contribute daily to our mission of enriching player experiences.