Principal Software Engineer

About the role

In this pivotal position, you will play a key role in shaping the future of data storage systems at Roblox. As a Principal Software Engineer, you will lead initiatives that enhance the platform's capabilities, ensuring that millions of users can enjoy seamless and immersive experiences. Your work will involve tackling complex challenges in distributed systems and collaborating with various teams to deliver innovative solutions that empower creators and enhance user engagement.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Spearhead the design and development of enhancements to existing cloud services while also creating new offerings tailored for our Creator Community.
• Construct advanced data storage systems that encompass infrastructure, serving layers, client interfaces, and web APIs.
• Enhance observability features for internal and customer-facing cloud services by implementing metrics collection, data pipelines, and intelligent analytics for improved data visualization and dashboards.
• Expand the capabilities of the Roblox Extended Services platform, facilitating the onboarding of new customers and enhancing existing services.
• Collaborate with creators to identify product deficiencies and troubleshoot issues, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Provide on-call support for data products, addressing production alerts and system outages promptly.
• Mentor junior engineers, offering both technical and non-technical guidance through design reviews, collaborative projects, and one-on-one sessions.
• Lead cross-functional collaborations that include UX design, product management, project management, developer relations, documentation, customer support, and other engineering teams.
• Establish yourself as a recognized technical authority within the organization, contributing to broader company initiatives and strategies.

Requirements

• Over 10 years of experience in software development, particularly with public cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP, along with expertise in microservices and distributed systems.
• A minimum of 3 years dedicated to building and maintaining data storage systems, including relational databases, key/value stores, and blob storage solutions.
• More than 10 years of experience in designing, implementing, testing, and deploying robust, scalable, and well-documented production-grade software.
• At least 6 years of programming experience in C# and/or C++, with a preference for candidates proficient in both languages.
• Over 6 years of experience working in agile, fast-paced environments focused on impactful software development.
• At least 4 years of experience mentoring junior engineers and guiding new graduates through complex software engineering tasks.

Nice to have

• Experience in building big data pipelines or batch processing systems using technologies like MapReduce, Hadoop, Flink, Spark, or Flume.
• Familiarity with programming computer games, especially in Lua/Luau.
• Knowledge of data science, data analytics, machine learning, or artificial intelligence.
• Experience in developing graphical user interfaces, dashboards, or web application front ends.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in cloud computing technologies and services.
• Strong understanding of distributed systems and data storage architectures.
• Experience with agile methodologies and collaborative software development practices.
• Familiarity with performance monitoring and observability tools.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Practical notes

For positions based at our San Mateo headquarters, the starting base salary for this role ranges from $345,040 to $399,420 USD annually. The actual compensation may vary based on factors such as professional experience, training, and market demand. Additionally, all full-time employees are eligible for equity compensation and a comprehensive benefits package. Employees are expected to work onsite Tuesday through Thursday, with optional attendance on Mondays and Fridays, unless otherwise specified.

Roblox is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. Reasonable accommodations are available for candidates with qualifying disabilities or religious beliefs during the recruitment process.

Please note that for U.S.-based roles, the company may not be able to employ candidates who require specific U.S. work authorization related to certain visa categories or support future H-1B sponsorship at this time.

About the company

An online space lets people build and play games. Founded long ago by two creators, it grew into a shared world opened to everyone in the mid 2000s. Now reaching millions each day, it hosts games made by its users. A large share of young American children under sixteen are monthly players here. High daily activity shows a lasting community where creativity and shared play remain central.