About the role
Role Overview
Software Engineers at Riot bring deep knowledge of specific technical areas and also value the opportunity to work in many broader domains. Engineers are player-focused and aim to find solutions that make players excited to experience the games. As an intern, you will be exposed to both new and current technology while building innovative solutions to overcome high-volume obstacles and deliver player value. Applying to this role provides eligibility for all software engineering roles open across company products. Team matching is based on product availability, interests, and experience.
Potential Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with other developers to create player-facing features for live games, such as League, TFT, or VALORANT.
- Build back-end services to allow games to take advantage of shared social, client, and platform features.
- Write code to handle processing real-time data of various game teams.
- Learn to operate services on a global scale for millions of players.
- Build and maintain SDKs and APIs used by internal game customers to power their games.
Required Qualifications
- Graduating in the 2028 calendar year.
- Currently enrolled in a Computer Science, Engineering, or Technology-related degree program.
- Coding experience with an object-oriented programming (OOP) language (e.g., Java, C++, C#).
- Knowledge of data structures and algorithms.
- Minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Available to work full-time hours for the 12-week internship duration.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience as a software developer, including internships or part-time roles.
- Experience with software development life cycle (SDLC) and agile development practices.
- Familiarity with software development best practices like unit testing, functional testing, integration testing, and continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).
- Portfolio or website link (e.g., GitHub) with a collection of original work and/or projects.
- Experience working on a video game or related project, particularly in Unity or Unreal Engine.
Work Authorization
- Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of the program.
- This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position or internship conversions.
Additional Requirements and Success Factors
- Success is defined by craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players.
- Candidates must possess a personal relationship with games and embody player empathy.
- Applications close November 6th, 2026.
Compensation and Perks
- Hourly Rate: USD $58.37 hourly.
- Internships are paid.
- Ability to participate in the 401(k) plan.
- In-game perks.
- Ability to participate in the Play Fund to broaden and deepen knowledge of players and the community through games.
- Invitation to intern-focused events to connect with fellow interns and Rioters.
Culture and Workplace
- Riot Games fosters a player and workplace experience that values teamwork and ongoing work to build an inclusive company in gaming.
- The company provides equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members.
- The company makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters.
- Employment decisions are made in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law, including various Fair Chance Ordinances.
- 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.
- Job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary.