Principal Researcher (R&D Publishing) - Central Product Insights Job at Riot Gam

Principal Researcher (R&D Publishing) - Central Product Insights

Join to apply for the Principal Researcher (R&D Publishing) - Central Product Insights role at Riot Games .

The Insights discipline empowers Rioters to make more informed, data-driven decisions. We’re an interdisciplinary team of user researchers, scientists, advisors, and strategists from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a love of games, a passion for science, and a commitment to helping others succeed. By illuminating the globally diverse experiences, behaviors, and needs of players, we help Riot stay true to its player-focused mission.

As a Principal User Researcher on the R&D Publishing Team, you’ll not only shape Riot’s understanding of players, but also guide strategic and operational decisions across all R&D games at Riot and how we bring those games to market. Your work will drive strategic decisions about the audiences we serve, the opportunities we pursue, and how our games evolve to deliver richer, more player-driven experiences.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute end-to-end studies using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover player motivations, pain points, and emerging opportunity areas.
• Lead complex, high-impact research workstreams across Riot R&D - evolving milestone testing practices, establishing playtesting benchmarks, informing milestone & development decisions, and solving sophisticated research challenges.
• Generate strategic insights that inform high impact publishing decisions ranging from positioning, to regional investment strategies, and GTM planning.
• Work closely with R&D publishing to build early clarity and perspectives on player communities and the role they play in our future players lives.
• Partner with publishing to develop product positioning.
• Work with publishing product leads to establish data informed distribution plans.
• Communicate research findings through compelling narratives that align stakeholders and drive executive decision-making.
• Champion the player perspective by delivering evidence-based guidance on player needs, motivations, and behaviors.
• Collaborate closely with game teams, R&D Publishing, and Insights partners to develop and socialize research-driven frameworks that shape both individual game strategy and broader portfolio direction.
• Advance strategic thinking and research framework development across R&D to support long-term innovation and player-focused development.
• Establish and own research craft standards for R&D Publishing insights - mentoring other researchers and leading the development of a new practice at Riot.

Required Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

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 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.

Duties

Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories :

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.

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