Principal Software Engineer, Graphics - Teamfight Tactics

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work across broader domains. As Software Engineers, we work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and deliver player value.

As a Principal Software Engineer on Teamfight Tactics, you will provide technical leadership, hands-on implementations, and architectural guidance with a strong focus on real-time rendering and graphics systems. You will help push the visual fidelity, clarity, and performance of TFT across multiple platforms, ensuring that every player’s experience feels refined. You will report to a Senior Engineering Manager on the Teamfight Tactics team.

• Lead the design and implementation of advanced real-time rendering features, including lighting, shading, post-processing, VFX, and GPU optimizations.
• Define and maintain rendering architecture and performance standards across multiple platforms, from high-end PCs to mobile devices.
• Profile and optimize GPU/CPU performance to ensure high frame rates and smooth visuals in large-scale, multiplayer scenarios.
• Champion innovation in rendering pipelines, shader development, and GPU optimization, ensuring our tech scales beautifully across platforms and hardware.
• Act as a bridge between gameplay and engine teams, translating creative vision into performant, scalable rendering systems that push the boundaries of what's possible.
• Contribute to a culture of technical excellence, mentorship, and continuous improvement—your work will ripple across multiple titles and inspire the next generation of visual storytelling at Riot.
  
• Participate in planning and execution of engineering work: requirements gathering, technical discovery, design, breakdown, and estimation.
• Ensure exceptional code quality by promoting engineering excellence (maintainability, quality, monitoring, code reviews, documentation).
• Mentor and support engineers, tech artists, and designers in rendering best practices.

• 8+ years of professional experience in game rendering, graphics programming, or engine development.
• Proficiency in C++ and shader languages (HLSL, GLSL, or Metal Shading Language).
• Strong knowledge of real-time rendering pipelines (PBR, lighting models, post-processing, GPU/CPU tradeoffs).
• Hands-on experience with graphics APIs such as DirectX 12, Vulkan, Metal, or OpenGL.
• Proven ability in rendering performance profiling and optimization across multiple platforms.
• Strong understanding of OO programming, data-driven design principles, and game engine architectures.
• Experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams (engineering, art, design).
• Product sense, pragmatism, and player empathy in making technical decisions.
• BS in Computer Science, or equivalent experience with proven understanding of CS fundamentals.

• Experience with Unreal Engine (rendering pipeline, materials/shaders, profiling tools, and engine integration/workflows).
• Experience with GPU debugging and profiling tools (RenderDoc, PIX, NSight, Xcode GPU tools, etc.).
• Shipped rendering features in large-scale multiplayer games.
• Experience optimizing rendering for mobile and multi-platform games.
• Contributions to developer workflows that improve rendering productivity.

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!

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.