Staff Software Engineer

About the role

Staff Software Engineer, R&D Game Team, Sydney

Sydney, Australia

At Riot, we place the player at the center of every decision. Our studio in Sydney collaborates daily with teams around the world to create the next wave of technology for an unannounced project in Research & Development. The work you will do here influences backend infrastructure, developer tools, and player-facing systems that define performance, scale, and engagement. You will craft the foundations that allow our teams to build quickly and confidently.

As a Staff Software Engineer, you will take full ownership of critical areas within our engineering workstreams. You will guide projects from initial concept through final delivery, mentoring colleagues and ensuring that both player and developer experiences meet a high standard. You will work with existing and emerging technologies, designing solutions that overcome demanding constraints and deliver meaningful player value. You will report to an Engineering Manager working with the R&D Game Team.

Responsibilities

You will set the technical direction for foundational systems that drive build, release, and delivery pipelines and their associated tooling.

You will lead technical discussions and make decisions that span services, engine components, and development tools.

You will collaborate with producers, quality assurance, and other engineers to scope, implement, and validate features for an unshipped R&D title.

You will champion engineering best practices, focusing on code quality, automated testing, and sustainable architecture.

You will debug complex issues in development, testing, and live environments, always with a focus on the player experience.

You will contribute to team health through mentorship, clear documentation, and collaboration across disciplines.

You will identify technical risks and bottlenecks early, proposing solutions that are both pragmatic and innovative.

You will communicate product direction and player insights to leaders, aligning strategy with measurable outcomes and player affinity.

Required Qualifications

You must have six or more years of professional software engineering experience, including experience with shipped live products.

You must possess expert proficiency in C++ and deep knowledge of software engineering fundamentals such as data structures, algorithms, and concurrent systems.

You must have a record of building systems within cross-functional teams and contributing to central technology decisions.

You must excel at diagnosing complex issues in both development and production environments.

You must be able to write clear, maintainable code and explain technical concepts to diverse stakeholders without ambiguity.

You must have professional experience shipping games and understand the realities of live operations and player expectations.

Desired Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.

Familiarity with Unreal Engine.

Experience with scalable services, build and release pipelines, or telemetry systems.

Experience with version control systems such as Perforce or Git.

Prior experience working on large-scale global game development or online services.

Compensation Details

Base compensation for this role is $230,000 AUD.

Our Culture and Perks

We believe in sustainable work and healthy boundaries. Our policies include open paid time off, paid parental leave for primary and secondary carers, and flexible schedules to support your lifestyle. Work should be enjoyable, and we provide co-op gaming areas, a play fund, and opportunities to broaden your understanding of players. We support your growth through learning stipends and internal communities of practice.

About Riot and This Role

You will work closely with teams building some of the industry's most successful live games, including VALORANT, League of Legends, and Teamfight Tactics, as well as ambitious R&D and technology initiatives. This role is ideal for someone who lives and breathes game development and cares deeply about the player experience.

If you believe the player experience must come first, we want to hear from you. We evaluate qualifications through your past studies and experience, and we look for dedicated people with a personal relationship to games. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment.

What you'll do

• Meet the bar Practical notes