Data Science Intern, Valorant Data Ops
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Job Description
About Riot Games:
Riot Games is a video game developer and publisher best known for its popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, League of Legends. They are expanding into other game genres, including Valorant, a tactical first-person shooter. Their data developers utilize petabytes of data and advanced technology to understand and enhance player experiences worldwide. Riot emphasizes a “Player Experience First” philosophy in all its endeavors.
Job Description: Data Science Intern, Valorant Data Ops
This 10-12 week summer internship on the Valorant Data Ops team focuses on building data products to support game features and organizational functions. The intern will report directly to the Data Science Manager and will collaborate with cross-functional teams (game feature teams, game designers, software engineers) on projects impacting various aspects of the game, from in-game features and content design to infrastructure improvements.
Key Responsibilities:
• Work closely with game feature teams to optimize the design and delivery of features to players.
• Partner with game designers and software engineers to design and implement data-driven features and services.
• Design and apply data science systems directly to live games, including areas such as matchmaking, skill determination, and personalization.
Required Qualifications:
• Currently enrolled in an M.S. or Ph.D. program in statistics, engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, or a related quantitative field (math, physics, etc.).
• Full-time availability for 10-12 weeks during the summer.
• Experience in statistics, statistical modeling, and optimization.
• Experience processing data and building machine learning models using Python.
• Experience with databases and SQL.
Desired Qualifications:
• Basic understanding of data warehousing, relational databases (e.g., MySQL), and distributed data processing or storage systems (e.g., Spark, Flink, Hadoop).
• Basic experience with Spark or other big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop).
• Basic experience with cloud data tools (e.g., AWS, GCP).
• Demonstrated player empathy and a genuine interest in enhancing player experiences.
The role emphasizes craft expertise, collaboration, and player-centric decision-making. Riot will assess applicants based on academic background, experience, and personal engagement with games. The internship is paid, includes in-game perks, and participation in a 401(k) plan and Play Fund. The hourly rate is USD $61.78 per hour. The position is remote only. The application deadline is Friday, January 10th, 2025, at 11:59 pm PT.
