Principal Software Engineer, Riot Games
Services - Teamfight Tactics, Core Tech
$218.3-304.3k
Plus incentive compensation and equity
Player-focused game development platform
Be an early applicant
Player-focused game development platform
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$218.3-304.3k
Plus incentive compensation and equity
1001+ employees
Company mission
To be the most player-focused game company in the world.
Role
Who you are
- 10+ years of backend development experience, with a focus on Java and Spring, including architecture, design patterns, and performance tuning
- 5+ years of experience in building and deploying scalable microservices and distributed systems
- 5+ years of experience with troubleshooting and resolving complex technical issues in production environments
- 3+ years of experience mentoring and coaching other engineers
- Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) is a plus
- Experience collaborating with teammates across multiple disciplines
- Product sense, pragmatism, and player empathy in making tech decisions
- BS in Computer Science, or proven understanding of Computer Science fundamentals
- For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players
- We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games
- If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
Desirable
- Knowledge of game engines and C++
- Familiarity with Teamfight Tactics
What the job involves
- Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains
- As Software Engineers, we work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value
- As a Principal Software Engineer (Core Tech - Services), you will play a crucial role in designing, developing, and maintaining backend services with Java and Spring as the primary technologies
- Your expertise will drive the architecture and implementation of scalable, high-performance services that are essential to supporting the game’s core features and player experience
- Technical Leadership: Explore, define, and lead the development of technological initiatives, pushing the boundaries of innovation for new features
- Technical Architecture: Define and drive the architecture of backend services, ensuring scalability, high availability, and efficient performance for millions of players
- Java/Spring Expertise: Use your mastery of Java and Spring (including Spring Boot and Spring Cloud) to develop, deploy, and refine backend systems that align with industry best practices
- Performance Optimization & Troubleshooting: Identify performance bottlenecks, troubleshoot complex issues, and implement optimizations to maintain system reliability and responsiveness
- Mentorship & Development: Coach and mentor other engineers, fostering a collaborative team culture with a strong emphasis on engineering best practices and continuous improvement
- Scalability Focus: Design services with a focus on scalability and flexibility, applying knowledge of distributed systems and microservices architectures to support rapid growth and evolution
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
Some candidates hear
back within 2 weeks
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 values
- Player experience first
- Dare to dream
- Thrive together
- Execute with excellence
- Stay hungry, stay humble
Company HQ
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Articles
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.
Salary benchmarks
We don't have enough data yet to provide salary benchmarks for this role.
Submit your salary to help other candidates with crowdsourced salary estimates.
Share this job
View 46 more jobs at Riot Games