Principal Game Designer - Unpublished R&D Product
Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.
We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.
That's where you come in.
As a Principal Game Designer at Riot, you will shape, refine, and elevate player experiences through clear design vision, expert craft judgment, and deep player empathy. Your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to work across disciplines will help teams create experiences that feel cohesive, distinctive, and worthy of players’ time.
As a Principal Game Designer at Riot China Studio, you will define and guide the game’s overall design vision for a fast-paced new title. You will work closely with a lean internal team and external development partners to ensure gameplay, feature direction, and product execution align with Riot’s quality bar and player expectations. You will make high-conviction decisions about core game design, audience needs, and IP authenticity while helping the team move with speed in an ambiguous development environment. You will report to the Head of China Studio.
Responsibilities:
Define and evolve the game’s holistic design vision, core gameplay direction, and player experience goals from concept through development
Establish clear design principles, frameworks, and quality bars that guide feature development, player experience decisions, and long-term product direction
Review and guide major design decisions, ensuring systems and features align with player needs, product goals, and Riot’s quality expectations
Translate player insight, product context, market understanding, and development realities into clear design direction and strategic priorities
Partner closely with internal developers and external co-development teams to align on design intent, execution quality, and iteration plans
Evaluate trade-offs, identify risks early, and make agile decisions that help the team respond to feedback, data, and changing development needs
Solve ambiguous, high-impact design problems and create clarity for cross-functional partners across design, production, art, and leadership
Raise the craft bar by mentoring other designers, giving high-quality feedback, and influencing how the team approaches game design without relying on formal people management
Required Qualifications:
10+ years of professional experience in game design, product leadership, or related game development roles, including significant responsibility on shipped titles
Experience defining gameplay vision, feature direction, or holistic player experience for a live, in-development, or shipped game
Proven experience working closely with external development partners, co-development teams, or publishers to deliver high-quality game experiences
Strong ability to operate in ambiguous environments and drive alignment across design, production, and cross-functional stakeholders
Strong systems thinking, design judgment, and player empathy, with the ability to connect product goals to moment-to-moment player experience
Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape strategic decisions through craft expertise, communication, and trust
Strong understanding of players in China and the local market context
Fluency in written and spoken Chinese
Desired Qualifications:
Experience shipping mobile or cross-platform games in a senior individual contributor or design leadership role
Experience working with established IP and translating it into compelling gameplay experiences
Experience setting design standards, mentoring other designers, and improving craft practices across a team or product area
Fluency in written and spoken English
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!