Principal Software Engineer, Test Automation

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 work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value.

As a Principal Software Engineer on the League of Legends Quality Team, you will define and drive the technical vision for our core automation frameworks, ensuring the highest standards of quality across the League of Legends ecosystem. Your work will empower engineers across multiple initiatives-ranging from gameplay mechanics to skin development-by providing reliable, scalable frameworks that support efficient and robust testing practices.

In this role, you’ll report directly to the Engineering Manager and play a key leadership role in cross-team collaboration. You’ll work closely with engineers and QA across Riot to align on quality frameworks and workflows, elevate the developer experience, and improve the overall quality of our products.

We primarily use C++ for game and tooling logic, and Python to drive our test automation and validation systems., * Collaboration with diverse teams to ensure features accomplish expectations from multiple dimensions (code quality, extensibility, modularity, scalability, security, operational concerns, and industry standards/trends)

• Work and align with different partners that span across multiple teams to ensure we’re delivering awesome features to excite them
• Setting the tone for, contributing to, and defining technical discussions/designs that your team is accountable for
• Mentorship. You help Rioters develop the tools and creative atmosphere to shine, but ultimately hold them accountable for making smart calls and delivering player value
• Participate in the team’s support rotation, 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.

• 8+ years of deep hands-on experiences with compiled programming languages (C/C++, Java, Go, or C#)
• 3+ years building and maintaining automated tests for games, web, mobile, backend services, or desktop applications (scope depending on role level).
• Experience with C/C++ that spans various use-cases and platforms.
• Have been responsible for driving value through leading the development of organization-sized efforts (1-year+ scope), including requirements gathering, planning, testing, and release or deployment
• Championed software development best practices within your organization that includes design/code reviews, coding standards, source control management, testing, delivery performance, scalability, and maintainability
• You have a strong history of mentoring others in both soft and hard skills

Desired Qualifications

• Leveraged machine learning, AI, and/or functional testing techniques to enhance automated testing workflows, enabling smarter test case prioritization, anomaly detection, and adaptive regression coverage across complex game systems.
• 2+ years experience utilizing computer vision in support of automation tests

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!

(Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $229,200.00 - $319,500.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.

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.