Principal Software Engineer, Compute Fleet Management

About the role

As a Principal Software Engineer at Roblox, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the Compute Fleet Management team. This position requires a blend of technical expertise and leadership skills, as you will guide the technical direction for the fleet management layer of Roblox's infrastructure. Your responsibilities will encompass managing compute capacity from provisioning to operational oversight, ensuring that the systems are robust, secure, and efficient. This is a hands-on role that demands deep technical knowledge and the ability to drive innovation across multiple teams.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead three dedicated pods within the Fleet Management team, establishing and aligning the technical vision for provisioning, data management, and control systems.
• Design and implement Kubernetes-style control planes that manage Roblox's compute fleet across both on-premises and cloud environments, ensuring scalability and reliability.
• Develop internal customer contracts and APIs that facilitate automation across the fleet, enabling infrastructure teams to manage compute resources safely and effectively.
• Formulate the strategy for self-service capacity, creating user-friendly interfaces and tools that allow teams to request and manage their compute needs seamlessly.
• Enhance security protocols, maintenance operations, and uptime for all Kubernetes clusters, ensuring that fleet-wide updates occur without disrupting production environments.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders within and outside the infrastructure team to assess compute requirements and foster innovation in backend services, AI, and edge computing.
• Engage in daily coding activities, maintaining a hands-on approach to the systems your organization oversees and setting an example for best practices in design and implementation.
• Conduct regular assessments of compute supply and demand, ensuring that the fleet can scale efficiently to meet the growing needs of Roblox's user base.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in developing and managing large-scale distributed systems and infrastructure.
• Proven track record of being a technical leader that teams rely on, with the ability to set strategic direction across multiple groups.
• Extensive experience with Go programming, particularly in designing and managing production services at scale.
• Hands-on experience in creating declarative control planes similar to Kubernetes and understanding the reconciliation patterns involved.
• Proficiency in gRPC for service-to-service communication and familiarity with SQL and Postgres for managing high-volume state data.
• Experience in managing compute resources across both on-premises data centers and cloud platforms, with an understanding of the complexities involved in operating large fleets.
• Strong collaborative skills, with a history of working cross-functionally to design systems that effectively balance compute supply and demand.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with cloud-native technologies and practices, particularly in relation to Kubernetes and container orchestration.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools that enhance deployment efficiency.
• Knowledge of security best practices in cloud and on-prem environments.
• Previous experience in a gaming or interactive entertainment industry, providing insight into unique technical challenges.
• Understanding of AI and machine learning frameworks that could enhance Roblox's backend services.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Go, Kubernetes, gRPC, SQL, and Postgres.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Experience with monitoring and observability tools to ensure system reliability and performance.
• Strong understanding of security protocols and best practices for infrastructure management.

Practical notes

• The starting base salary for this position ranges from $345,040 to $399,420 USD, depending on various factors such as experience and market demand.
• This role requires onsite presence in San Mateo, CA, three days a week, with flexibility on the remaining days.
• Roblox is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination based on various characteristics. Reasonable accommodations will be made for candidates with disabilities or religious beliefs during the hiring process.
• Please note that candidates requiring specific U.S. work authorization may not be eligible for this role, particularly concerning H-1B sponsorship.

Join Roblox and be part of a team that is shaping the future of digital interaction, creating immersive experiences for millions of users worldwide. Your expertise will help drive the technical vision and operational excellence of our Compute Fleet Management team, ensuring that we can meet the demands of a rapidly growing community of developers and players.

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.