Staff Data Scientist – VALORANT, Deep Learning

Riot Data Scientists combine their broad technical expertise across data processing, automation, machine learning ("ML"), artificial intelligence ("AI"), and experimental design to
inform decisions and develop data-powered products. As a Senior Data Scientist, you’ll dive into projects across all areas of game development and will directly impact Riot’s live games. You’ll
work at a cross team scope, contribute to product vision, inform technical designs, and design datasets & models for our most important data applications.

As a Data Scientist on the Valorant Data Ops team, you will answer the question “How can data help us deliver the best possible player experience,?” You will use
pre-production datasets and simulations to help designers answer their most nuanced game questions. You will build production quality ML models for skill estimation, game
understanding, matchmaking, personalization, and more. You will collaborate with producers, game designers, analysts, and engineers – on game teams directly and in partnership with
shared platform teams. You will report directly to the Data Science Manager within Valorant Studio.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the modeling strategy for deep learning production quality for ML models
• Develop predictive features and signals from gameplay telemetry, unstructured game data, and simulation outputs, ensuring quality, interpretability, and reliability
• Design and implement ML systems using methods including reinforcement learning and imitation learning
• Define evaluation frameworks for game AI that balance generalizable approaches with genre-specific metrics
• Mentor senior and staff-level ML engineers in advanced ML for game AI and architectural decision-making
• Collaborate with game and platform engineers, along with UX teams, to integrate models into production systems in ways that enhance player experience and maintain operational reliability
• Represent the deep learning team and and contribute to shared frameworks

Required Qualifications: 

• Extensive experience (4+ years) delivering ML systems in production, including reinforcement learning, imitation learning, or simulation-based training in rich, interactive environments
• Proven ability to design modeling strategies and architectures
• Expertise in developing predictive features and signals from gameplay telemetry, simulation data, or other complex interactive environments
• Strong track record building deep learning systems for dynamic, player-facing environments
• Hands-on experience with relevant ML methods including reinforcement learning and imitation learning 
• Mastery of experiment design, model evaluation, and optimization for deep learning
• Track record of incorporating human considerations into AI applications, such as responsible AI practices and human-computer interaction or UX best practices.
• Experience mentoring engineers and collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with integrating deep learning models in live game environments with game and platform engineers

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!

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.

At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you’re working directly on a new player-facing experience or you’re supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we’re better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we’re looking forward to your application.

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.