Scale Engineer

Software Engineering Manager

Software Engineering ManagerP2High

This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineering Manager (P2 level) position at Riot Games. It evaluates leadership potential, technical acumen, people management skills, and strategic thinking relevant to game development.

Rounds·4

Timeline·~14d

Experience·5 - 10 yrs

Comp band·US$160000 - US$220000

Interview time·225 min

Evaluation

What they measure.

  • Leadership and people management skills (coaching, mentoring, conflict resolution, performance management).
  • Technical depth and breadth (understanding of software architecture, development processes, and relevant technologies).
  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Cultural alignment with Riot Games' values (player focus, collaboration, excellence).

Preparation

How to prepare.

Tips

  1. Deeply understand Riot Games' mission, values, and current projects.
  2. Review your past experiences and prepare specific examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.
  3. Brush up on software engineering best practices, including agile methodologies, CI/CD, testing strategies, and architectural patterns.
  4. Think about your leadership philosophy and how you develop and motivate engineering teams.
  5. Prepare questions to ask the interviewers about the team, the role, and Riot's engineering culture.
  6. Familiarize yourself with common challenges in game development and how you would address them.
  7. Practice articulating complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.

Study plan

Fig · Study plan — 04 phases

01 / 04
01

Phase 01 of 04

Company & Self-Assessment

Weeks 1-2: Riot culture, values, career history, STAR examples.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Riot Games' culture, values, and recent game releases. Understand their approach to game development and player engagement. Review your career history and identify key leadership achievements and challenges. Prepare STAR method examples for common leadership scenarios.

Questions

Commonly asked.

  • Describe your leadership style and how you adapt it to different situations.
  • How do you foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement within your team?
  • Tell me about a time you had to manage a project with significant technical challenges or risks.
  • How do you balance the need for rapid iteration with maintaining code quality and stability?
  • What is your approach to hiring and retaining top engineering talent?
  • Describe a situation where you had to deal with underperformance on your team.
  • How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration between your team and other departments (e.g., design, art, production)?
  • What are your thoughts on technical debt and how do you manage it?
  • How do you stay motivated and engaged when facing difficult projects or setbacks?
  • What are your career aspirations, and how does this role align with them?

Locations

Regional differences.

Fig · Regions — 02 locations

01 / 02

Location

Los Angeles, USA

Interview focus

Understanding of Riot's specific development cycles and challenges in game production.Ability to manage cross-functional teams (art, design, QA) in addition to engineering.Experience with live service games and managing ongoing development and player feedback.Cultural fit with Riot's collaborative and player-focused environment.

Common questions

  • How would you handle a conflict between two senior engineers on your team?
  • Describe a time you had to deliver difficult feedback to a direct report. What was the outcome?
  • How do you foster a culture of innovation and psychological safety within your team?
  • In a fast-paced environment like game development, how do you prioritize competing demands and ensure timely delivery?
  • What are your strategies for mentoring and developing engineers at different career stages?
  • How do you stay current with emerging technologies and assess their potential application in game development?
  • Describe your experience with agile methodologies and how you adapt them to a creative and iterative process.
  • How do you manage technical debt and ensure the long-term health of a codebase?
  • Tell me about a time you had to make a significant technical decision with incomplete information.
  • How do you balance the needs of the business with the technical vision of your team?

Tips

  • Research Riot's current game titles and recent announcements to understand their technical landscape.
  • Be prepared to discuss your experience with game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) or similar complex software development environments.
  • Highlight any experience you have working with creative teams and understanding their workflows.
  • Emphasize your ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
  • Showcase your passion for gaming and understanding of what makes a great player experience.

Rounds

Round-by-round.

Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.

DSA

Coding questions at Riot Games.

Frequently reported on Riot Games loops

View all at Riot Games

Other guides

More at Riot Games.