Riot Games - Principal Game Designer, Gameplay (MMO)

Job Overview

Details

Principal Game Designer, Gameplay (R&D / MMO)

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA (Headquarters)

$185,200 – $258,000 USD (Base)

Incentive Compensation + Equity + 401(k) Match + Medical/Dental/Life Insurance

Player Combat, Traversal, 3Cs (Camera, Controls, Character)

7+ Years Game Design Experience

4+ Years Combat Mechanics (Real-Time AAA+)

Design Director

Open PTO, Flexible Schedules, Player-Focused R&D

The Opportunity: Shape the Future of Runeterra

Riot Games is seeking a Principal Game Designer to define the core combat and moment-to-moment gameplay for our upcoming, unpublished MMO. This isn’t just a role about tuning numbers; it’s about architecting the foundational “feel” of a world that millions of players will inhabit for decades.

As a leader on the R&D team, you will own the 3Cs (Camera, Controls, Character) and the combat systems that serve as the heartbeat of the player experience. You will thrive in an ambiguous, highly iterative environment, turning high-level vision into tactile, satisfying gameplay.

The Role: Craft & Leadership

• Combat Architect: Design and implement deep, satisfying combat systems that scale across solo and large-scale cooperative play.

• Systemic Ownership: Lead the development of traversal, player actions, and enemy AI systems that create a varied and balanced ecosystem.

• Vision & Strategy: Create comprehensive gameplay roadmaps that define goals, values, and technical solutions for the engineering and art teams.

• Mentorship: Act as a force multiplier for the design team, fostering craft excellence and a sustainable, healthy creative culture.

• Iterative Excellence: Champion a rigorous playtesting culture to validate mechanics and drive continuous improvement through launch and beyond.

The Profile: Expertise & Passion

• The Veteran: 7+ years in professional Game Design with at least one AAA+ title shipped or in live operations.

• The Specialist: 4+ years of deep expertise in Real-Time Combat Mechanics . You understand the nuance of frame-data, input latency, and hit-stop.

• The Communicator: Proven ability to distill complex, systemic designs into simple, actionable goals for cross-disciplinary teams.

• The Player-Advocate: You possess a deep personal relationship with games and a high degree of player empathy. Familiarity with the League of Legends IP is a significant plus.

Core Responsibilities & Qualifications

Key Requirements

Define high-level goals for small and large-scale player encounters.

Deep iteration on low-level input details, feel, and strategic depth.

Mentor junior designers and champion a healthy team culture.

Build scalable enemy AI and player action ecosystems for long-term play.

Communicate complex designs simply to Art, Engineering, and Audio.

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. 

Apply Now

Riot Games is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability status.