About the role
Riot Games was established in 2006 by entrepreneurial gamers who believe that player-focused game development can result in great games. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to critical and player acclaim. As the most played video game in the world, over 100 million play every month. Players form the foundation of our community and it’s for them that we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.
We’re looking for humble but ambitious, razor-sharp professionals who can teach us a thing or two. We promise to return the favor. Like us, you take play seriously; you’re passionate about games. We embrace those who see things differently, aren’t afraid to experiment, and who have a healthy disregard for constraints.
That's where you come in.
As a Senior Art Manager on Wild Rift, you will lead and grow a Shanghai-based team focused on lead the art direction for Wild Rift's live-service cosmetic content, in-game art, champions, and thematic live operations, encompassing champions, skins, maps, patch themes, and new events. Manage an internal team of artists in concept, 3D, VFX, animation, and UI, and collaborate with Tencent partners to deliver high-quality, high-velocity content that players love.
Reporting to the Creative Director, your core responsibility is building the “How” and nurturing the “Who”—shaping a team that delivers excellent work while thriving in a passionate, collaborative culture. You’ll guide the team through the realities of live game development while ensuring sustainable pipelines, strong team health, and cross-functional alignment.
Responsibilities:
- Manage and support the development of a small, multi-disciplinary creative team, setting clear expectations and career goals.
- Drive hiring, onboarding, and performance management, with a focus on mentoring and long-term team growth.
- Collaborate deeply with Tencent partners, resolving cross-team challenges, facilitating shared production pipelines, and aligning on delivery targets.
- Partner with Product, Discipline Leads, Delivery, Narrative, Design, Sound, and Publishing to align on content scope and execution quality.
- Build and maintain sustainable pipelines and workflows that allow the team to scale without burnout, including asset tracking and style guides.
- Lightly contribute to creative strategy, ensuring the team has context and ownership in theme development and player experience.
- Drive continuous process improvement and documentation to support visibility, velocity, and craft health.
- Ensure smooth collaboration with external vendors and clear, timely feedback on outsourced work.
Required Qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in video games, with strong knowledge of cosmetic development pipelines.
- 4+ years of direct management experience in an art or creative production role.
- Proven success in leading teams through live-service development or operating at scale.
- Deep understanding of game art fundamentals (concept, 3D, VFX, animation, UI).
- Familiarity with production pipelines and tools for mobile game development.
- Experience giving feedback across disciplines and guiding cross-functional teams.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience shipping a mobile game or supporting a live-service product with regular cosmetic updates.
- Background in skin or cosmetics pipelines for a major IP.
- Strong collaboration history with external partners or regional co-dev teams (especially in Asia).
- Proficiency in both English and Mandarin is a strong plus.
For this role, you’ll find success through craft awareness, cultural empathy, and decision-making that puts Wild Rift players first. If you care about live games, team health, and visual excellence, this could be the role for you.
Don’t forget to include a resume and cover letter. We receive a lot of applications, but we’ll notice a fun, well-written intro that shows us you take play seriously.<
Aplyr's read
Riot Games is a powerhouse in the gaming world, attracting talent passionate about esports and community-driven game development.
What's promising
- •Riot Games has a strong focus on community engagement, fostering a dedicated player base.
- •The company is a leader in esports, providing numerous opportunities for growth in competitive gaming.
- •Riot invests heavily in research and development, driving innovation in gaming technology.
What to watch
- •Work-life balance can be challenging due to the fast-paced nature of the gaming industry.
- •There is pressure to maintain the high success of flagship titles like League of Legends.
- •The company faces intense competition from other major game developers and publishers.
Why Riot Games
- •Riot Games is renowned for its strong esports ecosystem, influencing global gaming culture.
- •The company emphasizes player feedback, integrating community input into game development.
- •Riot's diverse role offerings span from creative arts to cutting-edge tech, attracting varied talent.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Riot Games
Riot Games is a leading video game developer and publisher known for creating popular titles such as League of Legends and Valorant. The company has significantly impacted the gaming industry by fostering a strong esports ecosystem and community engagement.
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