Staff Software Engineer, Gameplay Meta - Unpublished R&D Product

Riot Engineers bring deep technical expertise while embracing cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver meaningful player experiences. As a Software Engineer III focused on Meta Systems, you will build and evolve the systems that shape a player’s journey outside of moment-to-moment gameplay — including progression, social features, quests, customization, and long-term engagement systems.

As a Staff Software Engineer on an unpublished R&D product, you will design and deliver robust metagame systems that connect gameplay, player identity, and progression. You will partner closely with design, UX, production, Services, and Foundations teams to implement scalable, maintainable systems that are performant in-engine and resilient across client-service and engine boundaries. You will independently own features from technical design through production readiness, ensuring high-quality execution in a live service environment.

Responsibilities:

Design and independently drive the implementation of large-scale metagame systems (progression, social features, quests, customization) from technical design through high-quality execution and polish.
Collaborate closely with Services and Foundations teams to integrate Meta systems with core backend and central services capabilities, ensuring scalable architecture and seamless persistence across client-service and engine boundaries.
Develop clean, extensible C++ systems within Unreal Engine, emphasizing maintainability and performance, and translate UX specifications into functional in-game UI implementations.
Build and maintain robust Unreal Editor tooling to empower designers and content creators to author and tune Meta systems efficiently.
Ensure the long-term health and stability of the live service by proactively identifying and addressing technical debt, architectural gaps, and complex issues spanning client, engine, and backend systems.
Elevate engineering quality across the team through active participation in code reviews and design discussions, and by mentoring junior engineers on best practices for C++ development and large-scale system integration.

Required Qualifications:

8+ years of professional software development experience
Professional experience developing gameplay systems in Unreal Engine using C++
Experience building or extending Unreal Editor tooling and workflows
Experience implementing in-game UI systems based on UX or product specifications
Strong understanding of software engineering fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, concurrency)
Experience collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams including design, UX, and production
Experience integrating client gameplay systems with backend or platform services

Desired Qualifications:

Experience building progression, social, or player customization systems
Experience integrating gameplay systems with Player Platform or shared service ecosystems
Familiarity with Unreal systems such as UMG, MVVM/ViewModels, Data Assets, Online Subsystems, or other foundational engine frameworks
Experience working on or shipping a live multiplayer or online game
Experience supporting post-launch feature iteration and live ops updates
Experience building data-driven systems that empower non-engineering content authors

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.