Senior Software Engineer, Gameplay Systems & AI - Unpublished R&D Product at Riotgames

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. As a Software Engineer, you’ll also dive into projects that focus on team cohesiveness and cross-team objectives. You’ll drive important features and provide other engineers with a clear illustration of extraordinary engineering. As a Senior Software Engineer (Gameplay AI & Systems) on an unpublished R&D product, reporting to the Gameplay Engineering Lead, you will develop and evolve gameplay AI systems that bring our NPC characters to life and define the challenges for players to overcome. Working within an established technical foundation, you’ll design scalable gameplay frameworks that enable designers to create challenging character behaviors. The ideal candidate is passionate about gameplay AI, thrives in cross-disciplinary collaboration, and takes pride in building robust systems that unlock ambitious design at scale. Responsibilities: • Design and implement scalable gameplay AI systems that power enemies and player-facing challenges, ensuring strong performance, multiplayer integrity, and content scalability. • Extend and evolve gameplay AI systems by building features on top of existing frameworks to support combat, coordination, and challenge needs. • Partner closely with designers and technical designers to enable gameplay exploration while maintaining long-term system integrity and performance. • Identify technical risks in AI and gameplay systems and collaborate with technical leaders to implement sustainable architectural solutions. • Contribute to adjacent gameplay domains such as dynamic level systems and other core gameplay systems as needed. • Mentor peers across disciplines by sharing insights on gameplay AI, systemic design, and technical problem-solving. Required Qualifications: • 5+ years of professional experience in game development. • 3+ years of experience developing gameplay AI systems. • Strong C++ programming skills and solid computer science fundamentals. • Experience working with Unreal Engine AI systems • Experience building scalable gameplay systems that empower designers rather than hard-coded behaviors. • Strong debugging, optimization, and performance-tuning skills. • Experience collaborating effectively in cross-disciplinary teams, with strong product sense and player empathy. Desired Qualifications: • Experience shipping a multiplayer or networked game. • Familiarity with physics or middleware integrations. • Experience building encounter systems or dynamic level interaction systems. • Experience working on mid-sized engineering teams in a live or in-development game environment. For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes 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! 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.