Principal Software Engineer, Ads Marketplace Dynamics

Every day, tens of millions of people come to Roblox to explore, create, play, learn, and connect with friends in 3D immersive digital experiences- all created by our global community of developers and creators.

At Roblox, we're building the tools and platform that empower our community to bring any experience that they can imagine to life. Our vision is to reimagine the way people come together, from anywhere in the world, and on any device.We're on a mission to connect a billion people with optimism and civility, and looking for amazing talent to help us get there.

A career at Roblox means you'll be working to shape the future of human interaction, solving unique technical challenges at scale, and helping to create safer, more civil shared experiences for everyone.

We are seeking Principal Software Engineers to join our Ads team, driving innovation in Roblox ad marketplace. In this role, you will analyze and optimize supply & demand dynamics, design and refine auction mechanisms, implement advanced pricing strategies, and enhance market efficiency. Your work will directly influence how advertisers, publishers, and users interact in a dynamic, data-driven data-driven metaverse, delivering transformative ads experiences that drive sustainable growth.

Roblox Ads is one of the company's newest and fastest-growing teams, dedicated to revolutionizing advertising in the immersive metaverse. We strive to establish Roblox as the leading platform for immersive advertising, delivering transformative experiences that benefit advertisers, creators, and users alike.
You Will:

• Analyze and balance the ad marketplace's supply (inventory) and demand (advertiser spend) to ensure healthy marketplace equilibrium, drive yield optimization of programmatic demand, and maximize value for all participants.
• Develop and optimize auction systems to ensure fairness, efficiency, and profitability, exploring approaches to 1st-price, 2nd-price, VCG, and hybrid auction models.
• Lead efforts to create and refine strategies for reserve prices, dynamic pricing models, bid shading algorithms, and revenue optimization to drive sustainable growth.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to define roadmaps, set priorities, and deliver high-impact projects that shape the future of Roblox advertising.
• Evolve our Ads platform architecture to fit seamlessly within the metaverse, supporting both current and future advertising initiatives.
• Mentor and guide engineers, contribute to a world-class engineering culture, and drive the team toward innovation and results.

You Have:

• BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, Economics or equivalent experience.
• 5 years in software development, with at least 3 years focused on ads auctions design, ads market dynamics study, and implement advanced pricing models
• Proven success in in ad delivery mechanisms, auction models, and pricing frameworks
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor teams, fostering a respectful, high-impact engineering culture.
• A creative, strategic mindset for navigating complex technical and organizational challenges, working closely with Product to ensure clarity and alignment.

For roles that are based at our headquarters in San Mateo, CA: The starting base pay for this position is as shown below. The actual base pay is dependent upon a variety of job-related factors such as professional background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in some circumstances, the actual salary could fall outside of this expected range. This pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. All full-time employees are also eligible for equity compensation and for benefits.

Annual Salary Range

$273,070-$338,270 USD

Roles that are based in our San Mateo, CA Headquarters are in-office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with optional in-office on Monday and Friday (unless otherwise noted).

You'll Love:

• Industry-leading compensation package
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage
• A rewarding 401k program
• Flexible vacation policy (varies by exemption status)
• Roflex - Flexible and supportive work policy
• Roblox Admin badge for your avatar
• At Roblox HQ:
• Free catered lunches five times a week and several fully stocked kitchens with unlimited snacks
• Onsite fitness center and fitness program credit
• Annual CalTrain Go Pass

Roblox provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Roblox also provides reasonable accommodations for all candidates during the interview process.

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.