Lead Software Engineer - Roku

Paramount Pictures; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 156,800 - 235,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Generous paid time off

On-site and virtual engagement events

Life insurance & 401(k)

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Paramount Pictures is seeking a technical leader to own the Paramount+ Roku application's direction. This hands‑on role writes and reviews code while setting standards for a team of engineers delivering features to millions of viewers.

You will lead architecture decisions around memory, threading, and performance, drive CI/CD and testing infrastructure, and collaborate with Product, Design, Backend, and DevOps to translate requirements into shippable work.

Qualifications

• 8+ years writing software.
• 4+ years building Roku applications.
• 2+ years leading a team or serving as a technical lead.
• BS in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Strong foundation in OOP, data structures, and algorithms.
• BrightScript and SceneGraph SDK, including RSG 1.3.
• Deep command of the Roku threading model and performance on low‑end devices.
• Roku frameworks and services: RAF, RMF, RokuPay.
• Unit and integration testing on Roku; built test infrastructure.
• RESTful API design, HTTP caching behavior, and CDN interaction.
• Git and GitHub proficiency.
• Strong technical writing—architecture docs and plans.
• Active use of AI development tools with concrete examples.

Responsibilities

• Set technical direction for the Paramount+ Roku app architecture.
• Build and maintain core framework components; ship code.
• Lead Roku engineers through code reviews and pairing.
• Architect around memory, render‑thread boundaries, and performance.
• Ship real‑time personalization features within constraints.
• Drive adoption of RSG 1.3 APIs, Perfetto tracing, and monitors.
• Scope projects and manage risks to keep shipping.
• Coordinate with Product, Design, Backend, and DevOps to translate requirements.
• Write architecture docs, RFCs, and component guides.
• Maintain CI/CD pipelines, testing infra, and build tooling.
• Design and run A/B tests and act on results.
• Use AI development tools to move faster.

Skills

Software development

Roku development

Team leadership

Architectural design

BrightScript

SceneGraph SDK

RESTful APIs

Git & GitHub

AI tools

Education

BS in Computer Science

Tools

RSG 1.3 APIs

Perfetto tracing

BrightScript Memory Monitor

CI/CD tooling

Docker

Job description

At Paramount the brands, stars, and the power to entertain the planet is just the beginning. Joining the team means co‑creating moments that matter for audiences and employees, leaving a positive mark on culture.

ABOUT THE ROLE

You’ll own the technical direction of the Paramount+ Roku application—the platform, the patterns, and the architecture. This is a hands‑on leadership role where you write and review code and set the standard for a team of engineers shipping features to millions of viewers.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Set technical direction for the Paramount+ Roku application—choose patterns, own architecture, defend decisions
• Build and maintain core framework components and features—this is a hands‑on role where you ship code
• Lead a team of Roku engineers through code reviews, pair programming, and feedback that helps people grow
• Architect around Roku's constraints: memory limits, render‑thread/task‑thread boundaries, device performance tiers, and certification requirements
• Ship real‑time personalization features—personalized recommendations, dynamic artwork, and ad engagement experiences—within Roku's memory and threading constraints
• Drive adoption of RSG 1.3 data transfer APIs, BrightScript Memory Monitor, and Perfetto tracing across the team
• Scope projects, identify risks before they become blockers, and keep the team shipping
• Coordinate with Product, Design, Backend Engineering, and DevOps/SRE to translate requirements into plans your team can execute
• Write architecture docs, RFCs, and component guides so decisions are visible and durable
• Maintain and improve CI/CD pipelines, testing infrastructure, and build tooling
• Design and run A/B tests, then act on the results
• Use AI development tools to move faster, and help the team adopt them

WHAT GOOD LOOKS LIKE

• Team ships on time because you scoped the work correctly—not because anyone worked weekends
• Engineers on your team grow quarter over quarter; you can name what changed
• You open a 200‑file BrightScript repo you've never seen and start making changes the same day—and you've given the team the docs and context to do the same
• You notice a memory spike on a Roku Express before QA files a ticket, you fix it, write up what happened, and turn it into a pattern the team follows
• You write architecture decisions down; six months later a new engineer reads one and understands why you chose it
• You push back when a plan has gaps and suggest a better one—without making people feel small
• You treat the build pipeline, test coverage, and error monitoring like product features
• You make the people around you better at their jobs. They’d say so if asked

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years writing software
• 4+ years building Roku applications
• 2+ years leading a team or serving as a technical lead
• BS in Computer Science, a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Strong foundation in OOP, data structures, and algorithms—able to design systems and evaluate others' designs
• BrightScript and SceneGraph SDK, including RSG 1.3—explain trade‑offs between MoveIntoField, PostMessage, and CopyMessage without looking them up
• Deep command of the Roku threading model and where performance falls apart on low‑end devices
• Roku frameworks and services: RAF, RMF, RokuPay
• Unit and integration testing on Roku—built test infrastructure, not just written tests
• RESTful API design, HTTP caching behavior, and CDN interaction
• Git and GitHub
• Strong technical writing—architecture docs and plans that people actually read and act on
• Active use of AI development tools (Copilot, Claude, Cursor, or similar) with concrete examples of how they've changed how you work

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• BrighterScript and Roku community tooling (ropm, bslint, roku‑debug)
• Other OTT platforms: Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV, LG webOS
• Observability tools: Conviva, New Relic, Datadog, Sentry
• Microservices and backend‑for‑frontend patterns
• Experience integrating personalization or recommendation systems into connected‑device applications
• Experience with real‑time or event‑driven architectures on client platforms
• E2E testing for connected‑device applications
• Docker and CI/CD tooling (Jenkins or similar)
• GraphQL
• Track record of introducing AI tools to a team—actual adoption, not just a demo
• You care about UX enough to push back on Product and Design when something isn't right
• You’ve worked across time zones without waiting for meetings to unblock yourself

WHAT WE OFFER

• Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages. Check out our full list of benefits: https://www.paramount.com/careers/benefits
• Generous paid time off.
• An exciting and fulfilling opportunity to be part of one of Paramount’s most dynamic teams.
• Opportunities for both on‑site and virtual engagement events.
• Unique opportunities to make meaningful connections and build a vibrant community, both inside and outside the workplace.
• Explore life at Paramount: https://www.paramount.com/careers/life-at-paramount

Paramount is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Salary range: $156,800.00 – $235,200.00. The range applies to New York, California, Colorado, Washington, and most other geographies. Starting pay depends on factors such as location, market demand, experience, and education. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), life insurance, disability coverage, tuition assistance, PTO, and bonus eligibility.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you can request a reasonable accommodation by calling 212.846.5500 or sending an email to [e-mail]. Only messages for this purpose will be returned.