About the role
As a Staff Software Engineer , you'll take technical ownership of key areas within our workstreams. You'll contribute across the development lifecycle — designing scalable solutions, mentoring teammates, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure that player and developer experiences meet a high quality bar. As Software Engineers at Riot, we bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas and also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. We work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value. You will report to an Engineering Manager supporting the R&D Game Team. Internal Job Title: Software Engineer III.
Key responsibilities
Lead the design and development of scalable, performant foundational systems around build, release, delivery & the related tooling.
Drive technical discussions and decision-making across services, engine, and/or tooling components.
Collaborate with producers, QA, and fellow engineers to scope, implement, and test game features.
Champion engineering best practices, including code quality, automated testing, and maintainable architecture.
Debug complex issues in development and live environments, with a player-first mindset.
Contribute to team health through mentorship, documentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Proactively identify technical risks and bottlenecks, proposing pragmatic and innovative solutions.
Give feedback to product leaders about product direction and player affinity.
About you
6+ years of professional experience in software engineering, including experience delivering live or shipped products.
Expert proficiency with C++ and deep knowledge of software engineering fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, concurrency).
Experience building systems in a cross-functional team and contributing to cross-team architecture discussions, including contributing to central tech.
Strong debugging and problem-solving skills in both development and live environments.
Ability to write clear, maintainable code and communicate technical concepts effectively across disciplines.
Experience building games.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
Experience working with Unreal Engine.
Familiarity with systems such as scalable services, build & release pipelines, or telemetry.
Experience with version control systems like Perforce or Git.
Benefits
Open paid time off policy
Paid parental leave (for both primary and secondary carers)
Flexible work schedules
Co-op gaming areas
Play fund to broaden and deepen knowledge of players and community
Medical Insurance that covers you and your dependents
Employee Assistance Program
Wellness fund
Donation matching of time and money to registered charities
Learning and Development opportunities
About us
Working closely with Riot teams globally, Riot Sydney is a powerhouse of talent, and experts in global development. Our team works on VALORANT, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics, alongside exciting R&D and Tech projects. 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.