Jobs / United States / Riot Games INC
Principal Software Engineer, AI Enablement - Central Product
Riot Games INC · 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, USA
Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two — worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
- Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 64 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 33 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
- No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Riot Games INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles21 certified filings for “Software Engineer II” (Software Developers) in CA: $158k–$185k, median $185k. Most were filed at wage level IV (58%) — 4 lottery entries, ≈61% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
- Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
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Sponsor Radar — Riot Games INC
The US Department of Labor certified 64 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. USCIS also records 33 H-1B approvals in FY2023. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
Past sponsorship or register membership never guarantees sponsorship for this vacancy or for you. Full Sponsor Radar for Riot Games INC →
About the role
Riot engineers bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas but also value the opportunity to work in a variety of broader domains. We work with both new and current technology, creating innovative solutions to solve complex, large-scale challenges and deliver player value. As a Principal Software Engineer, you’ll lead the development of key features and model high standards of engineering excellence. As a Principal Software Engineer on Riot’s AI Enablement team, you are a technical force multiplier. You will embed directly with any team at Riot to accelerate their adoption of modern AI development (e.g., generative AI, LLMs, reinforcement learning). Operating as part of an elite, highly mobile strike team, you will build production-ready AI integrations, develop robust developer tools, and level up partner engineers through side-by-side collaboration. Once a team is empowered and systems are successfully handed off, you will deploy to the next challenge. You will be at the forefront of cutting-edge AI in the game industry, bridging the gap between new technologies and live environments to shape how Riot develops products and games. You will be accountable to Riot’s Head of AI Product. Responsibilities: • Implement and Integrate: Lead the technical execution of integrating modern AI practices into existing engines, tools, and pipelines. • Embed and Accelerate: Deploy onto partner teams across Riot to break down complex AI implementation problems, establish technical direction, and deliver scalable, highly performant solutions. • Mentorship and Handoff: Train and coach embedded team engineers through pair programming, technical reviews, and hands-on collaboration. Ensure a seamless transition of code ownership before deploying to your next assignment. • Evangelize Best Practices: Share engineering best practices, security guardrails, and performance standards for AI usage across Riot’s development ecosystem. • Build Foundations: Identify when industry-standard tools are insufficient and develop new foundations, middleware, or APIs to connect AI research with practical development. • Manage Ambiguity: Actively navigate highly complex, uncharted technical spaces, communicating trade-offs and building consensus among engineering and product leadership. Required Qualifications: • BS in Computer Science (or equivalent experience) with 8-12 years of software engineering experience. • Extensive experience with systems integration, technical leadership, and early-stage software development. • Deep programming proficiency in C++ and at least one other language (e.g., Python, C#). • Shipped at least one AAA game or large-scale, high-concurrency live service product. • Proven track record of managing high ambiguity, setting technical strategy, and leading multi-month/year initiatives. • Practical experience utilizing, integrating, or building modern AI tools, APIs, or infrastructure. Desired Qualifications: • Experience extending or developing within Unreal Engine (C++). • Familiarity with ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) or LLM orchestration. • Background working on shared engine technology, central tools, or platform engineering teams. • Familiarity with the Runeterra and VALORANT IPs. 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! 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 fo