Staff Software Engineer - Unpublished R&D Product (Sydney-Based; Relocation Provided)

Description

Sydney, Australia At Riot, we believe in putting players first. Our Sydney-based team works closely with teams across the globe to build next-generation features and technology for an exciting Unpublished R&D Title. Whether contributing to backend architecture, developer-facing tools, or player-focused features, we craft the systems that drive performance, scalability, and engagement. As a Staff Software Engineer (P4) , you’ll take technical ownership of key areas within our workstreams. You’ll contribute across the development lifecycle — designing scalable solutions, mentoring teammates, and collaborating cross-functionally to ensure that player and developer experiences meet a high quality bar. As Software Engineers at Riot, we bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas and also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. We work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value. You will report to an Engineering Manager supporting the R&D Game Team. Responsibilities: - Lead the design and development of scalable, performant foundational systems around build, release, delivery & the related tooling. - Drive technical discussions and decision-making across services, engine, and/or tooling components. - Collaborate with producers, QA, and fellow engineers to scope, implement, and test game features. - Champion engineering best practices, including code quality, automated testing, and maintainable architecture. - Debug complex issues in development and live environments, with a player-first mindset. - Contribute to team health through mentorship, documentation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. - Proactively identify technical risks and bottlenecks, proposing pragmatic and innovative solutions. - Give feedback to product leaders about product direction and player affinity Required Qualifications: - 6+ years of professional experience in software engineering, including experience delivering live or shipped products. - Expert proficiency with C++ and deep knowledge of software engineering fundamentals (data structures, algorithms, concurrency). - Experience building systems in a cross-functional team and contributing to cross-team architecture discussions, including contributing to central tech. - Strong debugging and problem-solving skills in both development and live environments. - Ability to write clear, maintainable code and communicate technical concepts effectively across disciplines. - Experience building games Desired Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience. - Experience working with Unreal Engine. - Familiarity with systems such as scalable services, build & release pipelines, or telemetry. - Experience with version control systems like Perforce or Git. - Prior experience working on global-scale game development or online services. For this role, you'll succeed through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritises the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this is the role for you! <p&gt