Staff Software Engineer

Riot Engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the chance to work in many broader domains. As a Staff Software Engineer, you’ll also dive into projects that focus on team cohesiveness and cross-team objectives. You’ll lead without authority and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering.

As a Staff Software Engineer on Developer Connections you’ll dive into projects that focus on team cohesiveness and cross-team objectives. Developer Connections (DevCon) connects developers around the globe allowing them to create and ship games reliably and efficiently. We sit at the intersection of Game Studios, R&D, and Central Tech, allowing us to keep our fingers on the pulse of development across Riot. Our aim is to unblock teams so they can hit essential milestones for launching features and future games. On DevCon, you’ll lead without authority and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering. As an expert in error and crash reporting, you’ll set standards for debugging and system reliability, establishing best practices that influence the engineering culture across all game teams at Riot. Your impact will extend beyond DevCon, shaping the tools and platforms relied upon by engineers across multiple teams. If you’re passionate about crafting solutions that enable scalable game development, have a product mindset grounded in understanding customer needs, and are driven to lead and mentor engineers at all levels, this role will be an exciting next step.

Responsibilities:

• Drive company-wide standards for error and crash reporting, enabling proactive debugging and incident resolution
• Maintain a strong connection to our customers, consistently translating their feedback and needs into technical solutions
• Architect, develop, and maintain scalable tools and services that elevate game and customer team operations
• Lead large-scale projects, from concept through delivery, ensuring they align with the needs of game teams and maximize cross-team impact
• Mentor and coach engineers, fostering technical growth and a customer-focused mindset within the team
• Collaborate with engineers across DevCon and other departments, building solutions that integrate seamlessly across multiple systems and teams
• Balance innovation with operational improvements, enhancing existing products and creating new solutions for emerging challenges

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 6+ years of experience in software engineering, with proficiency in languages like Go, Java, or Python
• Proven experience in setting engineering standards and influencing technical direction across multiple teams
• Strong skills in mentoring, collaboration, and project management, with a track record of leading high-impact projects

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of distributed systems, cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, GCP), and containerization tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• A deep understanding of game development workflows or an ability to quickly develop empathy for internal game teams’ unique needs
• Expertise in error and crash reporting, debugging techniques, and building reliable, maintainable systems
• Experience designing and implementing products that respond directly to customer’s needs, driving projects from ideation through to execution with a strong sense of product direction and technical excellence.

For this role, you’ll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes your fellow Rioters, who are the customers of your work. Being a dedicated fan of games is not necessary for this position!

Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

Riot Games fosters a player and workplace experience that values teamwork embodied by the Summoner’s Code and Community Code. Our culture embraces differences as a strength, and our values are the guiding principles for how we approach work. We are committed to putting diversity and inclusion (D&I) at the center of everything we do, and promoting a fair and collaborative culture where Rioters treat one another with dignity and respect. We encourage you to read more about our value of thriving together and our ongoing work to build the most inclusive company in Gaming.

It’s our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:

• Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
• Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
• Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
• Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.