Principal Software Engineer, Engine Systems

About the Role

As a Principal Software Engineer on the Engine DataModel team, you will own and innovate on the foundational components that form the backbone of the Roblox platform. In the Roblox Engine, the DataModel is a tree-like structure analogous to a scenegraph in other 3D engines. This role reports to the engineering manager and is based out of our HQ in San Mateo, CA on a hybrid model (onsite Tuesday through Thursday).

What the Team Owns

• The core structures and systems used to build the DataModel and interact with it.
• The C++ reflection bindings that form the Engine’s Luau API surface and let creators interact with the DataModel, along with custom codegen tooling to generate reflection bindings and related structures.
• DataModel serialization and foundational engine capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop engine code that performs well for all user-created games on the Roblox platform.
• Build the core systems and data structures used in the Roblox engine, collaborating with other teams on universal solutions.
• Take ownership of projects throughout their full lifecycles.
• Execute code that performs well across all supported devices, from desktop and mobile phone clients to console clients.

Qualifications

• Experience developing systems-level C++ programming.
• Experience working on game engine internals.
• Demonstrated responsibility for building and maintaining optimally performing systems.
• Curiosity to learn and stay up-to-date on technology developments.
• Curiosity regarding CPU execution behavior when using smart pointers, templates, virtual functions, and memory blocks (both structured and raw).