Staff Software Engineer, Test & Automation - Teamfight Tactics

Riot Games • Los Angeles, CA

4h

About The Position

Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. As Software Engineers, we work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and to deliver player value.
Teamfight Tactics is looking for a Staff Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to help scale quality across a complex, fast-moving live game. In this role, you’ll provide technical leadership for quality, owning test strategy and automation for critical gameplay systems while partnering deeply with engineers to improve testability, reliability, and development velocity.
This is a hands-on, embedded role focused on improving testability, expanding automated coverage, and partnering with feature teams to prevent defects rather than just detect them. You’ll move beyond test execution to define how TFT ensures quality at scale as the game grows and changes. You will report to a Senior Manager, Software Engineering.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, test automation, or SDET roles, with deep hands-on technical ownership.
• Expert-level programming skills in C++ and strong proficiency in at least one additional language (e.g., Python).
• Significant experience shipping and supporting games engines (like Unreal, Unity, etc) on both PC and mobile, including deep familiarity with gameplay systems, data-driven content, and engine workflows.
• Proven track record of designing and owning test frameworks for large, complex codebases.
• Strong experience integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines and scaling test signal without slowing iteration.
• Demonstrated ability to influence architecture and team behavior through partnership, not authority.
• Excellent debugging, communication, and technical leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with live-service or competitive games, especially those with frequent content updates.
• Familiarity with TFT-specific systems such as combat simulation, traits, augments, item systems, or set-based content pipelines.
• Experience with performance testing, soak testing, or long-running stability validation.
• Prior experience acting as a quality owner for a major system or product area.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve TFT’s automated testing strategy for game engine (like Unreal, Unity, etc) based gameplay systems, engine integrations, and live-service features.
• Architect and maintain robust test frameworks and tooling (C++, game engine, automation framework, CI-integrated solutions).
• Partner with gameplay, engine, and online engineers to design testable systems, influencing architecture and technical decisions early.
• Set expectations and best practices for automation coverage, test quality, and quality signals across the TFT team.
• Identify systemic quality risks (performance, stability, data integrity, live operations) and drive cross-team mitigation plans.
• Lead investigation of high-impact or ambiguous issues, providing deep technical analysis and guiding resolution.
• Use metrics, dashboards, and trend analysis to inform release readiness.
• Mentor and raise the bar for other QA automation engineers.
• Represent TFT quality concerns in cross-team and cross-org discussions.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed