Staff Software Engineer, Riot Games
Rendering, League of Legends
$183.3-256.6k
+ Incentive Compensation + Equity
Player-focused game development platform
Job no longer available
Player-focused game development platform
1001+ employees
Job no longer available
$183.3-256.6k
+ Incentive Compensation + Equity
1001+ employees
Company mission
To be the most player-focused game company in the world.
Role
Who you are
- 6+ years of professional programming experience
- A degree in a relevant field or comparable professional experience
- Expert knowledge of modern rendering techniques, workflows and asset pipelines
- Ability to collaborate and build trust with artists
- Experience writing and optimizing shaders with HLSL or GLSL
- Strong understanding of 3D math and graphics pipelines
- Expertise in low-level optimization with C++
- Background in the gaming industry and familiarity with different game engines
Desirable
- Interest in Stylized Rendering
- Experience working with Environment, Character and VFX artists
- Proficiency with Unreal Engine or Unity
- Proficiency with Substance, Maya, Houdini or other art content creation tools
What the job involves
- At Riot Games, innovation in gaming is at the heart of what we do
- As a Software Engineer for League of Legends on PC, focusing on graphics, you will have a vital role in bringing our games to life
- Your work will directly influence the player experience, making every frame count
- Projects will vary, combining both individual expertise and team collaboration
- As a Staff Software Engineer in the Gameplay team, you will be at the forefront bringing modern rendering techniques to the rich universe of League of Legends
- This role is not just about coding; it's about creating innovative solutions that resonate with millions of players worldwide
- In this role, you will report directly to an engineering manager in the Gameplay team
- Lead as the rendering authority within the team
- Empower Art to turn their vision into a visually stunning reality
- Build effective and efficient art tools and pipelines for various platforms
- Collaborate with other teams to improve rendering within the studio
- Enhance and monitor the game client's performance
Our take
Riot Games has grown into one of the world’s most prominent online and mobile game developers, due in large part to the success of its 2009 flagship title League of Legends which hosts just under seventy million users every month.
Riot is riding the wave of online gaming growth, having made a well timed switch from PC-only into mobile-based gaming, as capitalising on the rising popularity of esports, with the League of Legends World Championships one of the most watched events in the space.
However, adding further titles to its resume will be key to building on its success, as League of Legends was its only offering for the best part of a decade. Since being acquired by Chinese tech giant Tencent in 2011, the company has grown significantly in Asian markets, opening its Shanghai Game Studio in 2021 and expanding its China Game Studio Group in 2022. These two hubs will help Riot Games make further inroads in a country where PC gaming is already huge and continues to grow.
Regardless of League of Legends' success both online and in live arenas, the company nevertheless experienced a round of layoffs internationally that amounted to 11% of its workforce. Pair that with legal troubles in 2024 concerning the company’s partnership with now bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, and Riot Games appears to be in a period of transition. Thanks to the strength of its gaming products, however, Riot will no doubt maintain a comfortable position within the gaming world.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
24% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Sep 2009
$8m
SERIES C
Jul 2008
$7m
EARLY VC
Total funding: $15m
Company benefits
- We offer medical, dental, and vision plans that cover you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children
- Life insurance, parental leave, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage are also available
- Riot will support your retirement benefits with a company match, and double down on your donations of time and money to non-profit charitable organizations
- Balance between work and personal life is encouraged with open paid time off, and a play fund so you can broaden and deepen your personal relationship with games
Company HQ
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Leadership
Brandon Beck
(Co-Chairman)Having studied at the University of Southern California, they worked as a Management Consultant at Bain & Company. they left this role in September 2006 to co-found Riot Games, where they served initially as co-CEO.
Marc Merrill
(Co-Chairman)After a degree at the University of Southern California, they worked as a U.S. Bank Analyst and a Manager of Advanstar Communications. They co-founded Riot Games with Brandon in September 2006, alongside being a Principal of NaHCo3 since 2016.
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