Senior Data Scientist - AI Foundations, ML Bots

On AI Foundations, our mission is to unlock cutting edge player experiences through the power of ML and AI technologies. Within this space, the ML Bots team partners with teams across Riot to accelerate the development and deployment of new machine learning & AI systems. We dive into diverse, high impact projects across Riot, and help take them from ideas to fully fledged features.

As a Senior Data Scientist specializing in applied machine learning, you will design and deliver Game Understanding Agents. This includes building and deploying in-game Game AI capabilities that enhance both the player and developer experience. You will apply methods in reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and simulation-based training for game AI, working closely with engineers on the ML Bots team to bring models from research into production. IIn addition to delivering high-quality systems, you will contribute to the team’s technical practices by sharing expertise, supporting experimentation, and mentoring junior teammates. By combining modern ML approaches with knowledge of game mechanics, you will help create autonomous agents that can play, understand, and adapt like real players.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement ML systems using methods including reinforcement learning and imitation learning (e.g., behavior cloning, inverse reinforcement learning), on-/off-policy algorithms, policy gradient methods, behavior shaping, and hybrid systems that combine learned policies with rule-based or scripted components.
• Develop and deploy in-game Game AI capabilities, focusing on training agents that can understand game state, make decisions, and act in ways that create compelling player experiences.
• Contribute to build adaptable training and evaluation pipelines, supported by robust tooling designed to capture the title’s specific mechanics, while evolving to meet new gameplay requirements
• Develop predictive features and signals from gameplay telemetry, unstructured game data, and simulation outputs, ensuring quality, interpretability, and reliability.
• Collaborate with game and platform engineers, along with UX teams, to integrate autonomous agents into live player environments with high reliability.
• Mentor junior team members in applied ML methods and best practices for production AI systems.
• Contribute to shared frameworks and tools for autonomous agent development, improving efficiency and maintainability.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of experience delivering ML systems in production, including reinforcement learning, imitation learning, or simulation-based training in interactive environments such as game worlds or multi-agent simulations; or if from academia, a MS/Ph.D. in a related field with relevant applied experience.
• Experience developing predictive features and signals from gameplay telemetry, simulation data, or other complex interactive environments.
• Hands-on experience building and optimizing agent-based systems or models for dynamic, player-facing environments.
• Experience designing experiments, evaluating models, and optimizing performance for autonomous agents.
• Awareness of human considerations in AI applications, such as responsible AI practices, player experience, and UX best practices.
• Collaboration experience with cross-disciplinary teams, including game engineers and designers.
• Familiarity with integrating ML-driven agents into live game environments.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with modern ML/data science libraries and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch or TensorFlow, pandas).

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.

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

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.