Riot Games Hiring Staff Software Engineer For VALORANT Build Platforms

Riot Games: A World Leader in Gaming and Entertainment

Riot Games, the powerhouse behind global phenomena like League of Legends, VALORANT, and Teamfight Tactics, is actively seeking a highly skilled and passionate Staff Software Engineer to join their Foundations team, focusing on Build Platforms for VALORANT. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the backbone of one of the most popular and innovative gaming companies in the world. If you're a seasoned engineer with a knack for building robust, scalable, and efficient build systems, this role could be your perfect match. Riot Games isn't just a game developer; it's a global entertainment company committed to delivering the best possible experiences to players worldwide. With a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and player-centricity, Riot offers a dynamic and rewarding environment for talented individuals to thrive. The company's diverse portfolio includes not only blockbuster games but also esports events, multimedia projects, and ongoing research and development into new gaming technologies. Joining Riot means becoming part of a team that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the gaming industry. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of software engineering principles, a proven track record of building and maintaining complex systems, and a passion for gaming. You'll be working alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry, contributing to the tools and infrastructure that empower Riot's developers to create world-class games. This role offers the chance to make a significant impact on the development process, ensuring that Riot's games are built efficiently and reliably. Whether you're optimizing build times, improving testing infrastructure, or developing new tools to support the development pipeline, you'll play a crucial role in delivering exceptional gaming experiences to millions of players worldwide.

The Role: Staff Software Engineer, Foundations, Build Platforms

The Staff Software Engineer role within the Foundations team at Riot Games is pivotal for ensuring the smooth and efficient development of VALORANT. This role is centered around building and maintaining the core infrastructure that supports the entire game development lifecycle. You'll be at the forefront of designing, developing, and scaling build platforms that empower Riot's development teams to create and iterate on VALORANT quickly and effectively. The Foundations team is responsible for the underlying systems and tools that all other development teams rely on. This includes everything from the build systems and continuous integration pipelines to the testing frameworks and deployment infrastructure. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll be a key contributor to this critical infrastructure, ensuring that it is robust, reliable, and scalable. This position demands a deep understanding of software engineering best practices, a passion for automation, and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams. You will be expected to lead technical initiatives, mentor junior engineers, and drive improvements to the development process. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in build systems, distributed systems, and cloud technologies. Experience with game development workflows is a plus, but not essential. More importantly, you should be a problem-solver, a critical thinker, and a proactive communicator. The challenges in this role are complex and varied, requiring a combination of technical expertise, creative thinking, and a commitment to excellence. You'll be working in a fast-paced environment, where innovation and continuous improvement are highly valued. The work you do will have a direct impact on the quality and speed of game development, ultimately contributing to the success of VALORANT and other Riot Games titles.

Responsibilities of the Staff Software Engineer

The responsibilities of a Staff Software Engineer at Riot Games, particularly within the Foundations, Build Platforms team for VALORANT, are multifaceted and crucial for the efficient development and deployment of the game. A core responsibility involves designing, developing, and maintaining Riot Games' build and release systems. This entails creating robust, scalable, and automated pipelines that enable developers to compile, test, and package the game efficiently. You will be tasked with optimizing build times, improving the reliability of the build process, and ensuring that the build infrastructure can handle the demands of a large and complex game like VALORANT. Another key aspect of the role is collaborating with cross-functional teams, including game developers, QA engineers, and operations teams, to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet their requirements. This requires strong communication skills and the ability to translate technical concepts into clear and concise language. You'll be working closely with these teams to identify pain points in the development process and to implement solutions that streamline workflows and improve productivity. In addition to building and maintaining the build systems, you'll also be responsible for driving technical innovation and best practices within the team. This includes researching new technologies and tools, experimenting with different approaches, and advocating for improvements to the development process. As a Staff Engineer, you'll be expected to be a technical leader, mentoring junior engineers and providing guidance on complex technical challenges. You'll also be responsible for ensuring that the team adheres to coding standards and best practices, and that the codebase is well-maintained and easily extensible. Furthermore, monitoring and troubleshooting build and release issues are critical responsibilities. You'll need to be able to identify and resolve problems quickly, often under pressure, to minimize disruption to the development process. This requires a deep understanding of the build systems and the ability to diagnose issues across a complex infrastructure. This role requires a strong understanding of software engineering principles, a passion for automation, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The work you do will have a direct impact on the quality and speed of game development, making this a highly rewarding and impactful position.

Qualifications for the Role

To excel as a Staff Software Engineer in the Foundations, Build Platforms team at Riot Games, a strong foundation in software engineering principles and practical experience are essential. A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field is typically required, providing the theoretical knowledge necessary to tackle complex engineering challenges. Beyond academic qualifications, several years of professional experience in software development, particularly in areas related to build systems, continuous integration, and deployment pipelines, are highly valued. This experience demonstrates your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems and to contribute effectively to a team. A deep understanding of build systems and dependency management tools is crucial for this role. You should be familiar with tools such as Jenkins, TeamCity, or similar CI/CD platforms, and have experience configuring and maintaining build pipelines. Proficiency in scripting languages like Python or Groovy is also important, as these languages are commonly used for automating build and deployment tasks. In addition to build systems, experience with cloud technologies and infrastructure is increasingly important. Riot Games leverages cloud platforms like AWS or Azure, so familiarity with these platforms and their services, such as compute, storage, and networking, is highly beneficial. You should be comfortable working in a cloud environment and have experience deploying and managing applications in the cloud. Strong programming skills in languages like C++, C#, or Java are also essential. These languages are commonly used in game development and the development of build tools and infrastructure. You should be able to write clean, efficient, and well-documented code, and be comfortable working with large codebases. Beyond technical skills, strong problem-solving and debugging abilities are critical. You'll need to be able to diagnose and resolve complex issues in the build and deployment pipelines, often under pressure. This requires a systematic approach to problem-solving and the ability to think critically and creatively. Excellent communication and collaboration skills are also essential. You'll be working closely with cross-functional teams, including game developers, QA engineers, and operations teams, so you need to be able to communicate effectively and collaborate with others to achieve common goals. This includes being able to explain technical concepts clearly and concisely, and to listen effectively to the needs of others.

Riot Games Culture and Benefits

Riot Games is renowned not only for its blockbuster games but also for its vibrant and employee-centric culture. Joining Riot Games means becoming part of a community that values innovation, collaboration, and a deep passion for gaming. The company fosters an environment where employees are encouraged to take risks, experiment with new ideas, and challenge the status quo. This culture of innovation is a key driver of Riot's success and is reflected in its commitment to developing cutting-edge games and technologies. Riot Games places a strong emphasis on collaboration, recognizing that the best ideas often come from diverse perspectives. Teams are structured to encourage open communication and knowledge sharing, and employees are empowered to contribute their unique skills and experiences. This collaborative environment fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose, making Riot a rewarding place to work. The company is also deeply committed to its players, and this player-centricity is a core value that permeates the entire organization. Rioters are passionate about creating games that players love, and they are constantly striving to improve the player experience. This commitment to players is a key motivator for many Rioters and contributes to the company's strong sense of mission. In addition to its vibrant culture, Riot Games offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees' well-being and professional growth. This includes competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance, generous paid time off, and a range of perks and amenities. Riot also invests heavily in employee development, providing opportunities for training, mentorship, and career advancement. The company recognizes that its employees are its greatest asset, and it is committed to providing them with the resources and support they need to thrive. One of the unique benefits of working at Riot is the opportunity to work on some of the most popular and influential games in the world. Rioters have the chance to make a real impact on the gaming industry and to contribute to the entertainment of millions of players worldwide. This sense of purpose and impact is a key draw for many talented individuals who choose to join Riot.

Why Apply for This Staff Software Engineer Role at Riot Games?

Applying for the Staff Software Engineer role at Riot Games offers a unique opportunity to become part of a world-class team, contribute to the development of globally renowned games like VALORANT, and advance your career in a dynamic and innovative environment. This role is not just about writing code; it's about shaping the future of game development and delivering exceptional experiences to millions of players worldwide. You'll be working on critical infrastructure that supports the entire game development lifecycle, ensuring that Riot's developers have the tools and resources they need to create and iterate on games efficiently. This is a high-impact role that will allow you to make a significant contribution to the success of VALORANT and other Riot Games titles. The opportunity to work on complex and challenging technical problems is another compelling reason to apply. As a Staff Software Engineer in the Foundations, Build Platforms team, you'll be tackling some of the most difficult challenges in the industry, such as optimizing build times, improving the reliability of build systems, and scaling infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing player base. These challenges will push you to grow and develop your skills, and you'll have the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry. Riot Games' commitment to employee growth and development is another major draw. The company invests heavily in training, mentorship, and career advancement opportunities, ensuring that its employees have the resources they need to succeed. You'll have the chance to expand your technical expertise, develop your leadership skills, and advance your career within a supportive and collaborative environment. The company's vibrant culture and strong sense of community are also compelling reasons to consider this role. Rioters are passionate about gaming and committed to creating a positive and inclusive workplace. You'll be surrounded by talented and motivated colleagues who share your passion for technology and gaming, and you'll have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. Furthermore, the comprehensive benefits package offered by Riot Games provides employees with the support and resources they need to thrive both personally and professionally. This includes competitive salaries, comprehensive health insurance, generous paid time off, and a range of perks and amenities designed to enhance the employee experience. If you're a skilled and passionate software engineer looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, the Staff Software Engineer role at Riot Games is an excellent choice. This is a chance to make a real impact on the gaming industry, work with a world-class team, and advance your career in a dynamic and innovative environment. Do not hesitate to apply if you think this is for you!