On this Main at Roblox profile, we get to know Antoni Choudhuri, Head of Engineering for our Economic system Group. Antoni has been at Roblox for practically 11 years, rising from an Particular person Contributor Software program Engineer to Head of Economic system Engineering. On this article, he displays on his tenure at Roblox and divulges key insights into our values-driven tradition in addition to his personal administration philosophy.
Thanks for becoming a member of us, Antoni. To begin, are you able to inform us about your present place?
I’m Head of Engineering for Roblox’s Economic system Group. Which means I lead the groups constructing the platform and merchandise which allow our vibrant, digital economic system for all customers and creators on Roblox. I additionally accomplice intently with our Product crew to make sure we’re engaged on the correct initiatives that ship probably the most affect for our group and firm. So day-after-day, I’m fascinated with delivering on our long-term technique and constructing options that our customers will discover priceless and empowering.
You joined Roblox over a decade in the past. What led you right here?
I had used the platform prior to now and watched it evolve and enhance through the years. After exploring roles on the firm and connecting with of us internally, I began to know the core loop of the product and have become intrigued by it. Most of all, although, I used to be drawn to the folks. Everybody I talked to was engaged on actually laborious issues and had a real ardour for the work, mission, and imaginative and prescient. Prior to now, I performed aggressive water polo and was very obsessed with it. By water polo, I realized that once I was a part of a powerful and dedicated crew, I improved as a person as properly. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I wished to be the very best engineer I might probably be, and I knew that surrounding myself with such gifted colleagues would assist me do this.
All through your Roblox tenure, you’ve made an incredible affect on our platform and firm, scaling your profession alongside the way in which. Inform us about your profession development up to now.
I joined Roblox as a software program engineer when the corporate had lower than 40 workers. There have been no “groups” within the conventional sense, so I jumped proper into tackling something and all the things that got here my method. That was a extremely thrilling interval the place I realized a lot concerning the product and the tech. On a regular basis was a development alternative.
For the primary few years, I used to be an Particular person Contributor (IC), and I cherished it. However I knew deep down that I had an actual ardour for management and that I wished to proceed growing my folks and engineering administration expertise. With each new undertaking, I paid shut consideration to what labored and what didn’t and internalized these classes. Subsequently, by means of commentary and collaboration with my leaders, I realized to delegate, ask laborious questions, and take accountability.
Over time, I took on extra accountability as an IC and proved I might handle massive initiatives successfully. After about two years, I transitioned right into a hybrid Engineering Supervisor position the place I led folks but in addition did some IC contribution. I spent a handful of years in that place, at all times staying true to my philosophy of studying from my friends and leaders and constructing my expertise by difficult myself with extremely complicated initiatives. Roblox was rising so quick that I finally discovered I had so many direct stories that I used to be struggling to maintain the excessive management bar I’d set for myself and nonetheless have the ability to ship on the IC aspect. So I mentioned the state of affairs with my supervisor, who was very supportive, and we labored collectively to tailor a plan that empowered each my development and the success of the crew general.
Extra just lately, I’ve been a pacesetter in two of our Engineering teams. First, I used to be Senior Director of Engineering inside our Creator group for 3 years, and was promoted to Head of Engineering for our Economic system group in early 2023. I’ve realized in these management positions that you simply’re at all times chargeable for part of the corporate, regardless of whether or not it’s a gaggle of individuals, a multi-quarter or multi-year undertaking, or perhaps a firm theme or precept. So crucial a part of my day job is taking accountability and possession in any space for which I’m accountable. And whereas switching from undertaking supply and execution to being chargeable for a gaggle has been a giant perspective shift, what’s remained the identical throughout all of my numerous roles and ranges at Roblox is maintaining the lengthy view in thoughts and prioritizing the mission. In order a pacesetter, certainly one of my high priorities is instilling a tradition of possession and long-term pondering all through each side of our groups. That sense of alignment and shared accountability is so priceless and it’s a key cause why Roblox is profitable and an awesome place to work.
What’s stored you motivated?
As I developed and grew my profession, Roblox was rising, too. The technical challenges we have been fixing grew to become extra bold and thrilling, and on the identical time, each our creator group and inside workforce have been rising dramatically. On daily basis introduced new alternatives, which was and nonetheless is extremely motivating. And whereas what I’ve wished and wanted from my profession has advanced and altered over time, Roblox has at all times been in a position to present it within the type of new initiatives, technical challenges, and profession development.
There’s one other factor that retains me motivated, too: doing superb work with superb folks. On any given day at Roblox, you might be a part of a undertaking that’s going to alter all the things. We’ve got a really large imaginative and prescient and the potential for affect matches that scale. You already know when all of it clicks, and when it does, the sensation is unbeatable.
As a profitable Roblox chief, what recommendation would you give to a brand new worker or somebody fascinated with becoming a member of the corporate?
Working at a development firm is exhilarating and thrilling in some ways, but it surely additionally takes a degree of grit and tenacity. Roblox will at all times present scale and alternatives for significant affect, so that you’ll get to be a part of the superb journey towards our imaginative and prescient of reimagining the way in which folks come collectively. The people who find themselves most profitable on this setting are self-driven, persistent, in a position to assume by means of a long-term lens, and at all times preserve the very best pursuits of our firm and group top-of-mind.
What’s one factor you’ve realized as a pacesetter at Roblox?
One of the best ways to align motivation with success is to be clear about expectations. It really works bidirectionally: each receiving and offering clear expectations empowers a crew to succeed. I’ve at all times handed this recommendation alongside to the folks I’ve labored with and mentored through the years, and I’ve discovered that it’s related throughout all forms of work at each degree of the group.
What’s one thing your crew has completed that you simply’re very pleased with?
I’ve simply began in my position as chief of the Economic system group however I’m already so pleased with our Market and the way we’re making a digital economic system system in contrast to every other on this planet. It’s actually modern. No different corporations are doing this and there are not any different merchandise we will have a look at and say “it really works similar to that.” I’m hopeful that at some point folks will look again and say we modified the world. The work we’re doing is setting us up for a future the place billions of individuals throughout all walks of life and all borders can work together in a good and equitable digital economic system. It’s actually novel and actually thrilling.
On the Creator aspect, the crew is concentrated on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and programs which deal with their particular person wants. By empowering creators to unravel their very own issues, we assist them construct extra effectively and successfully. For instance, the Creator group launched Open Cloud, which permits creators to construct their very own instruments and purposes to entry their Roblox assets by way of normal net APIs and construct extra simply on high of Roblox. There are greater than 3 million creators on Roblox, and the size of that affect is simply a lot bigger than something we will do with a couple of thousand workers. So unlocking creator potential and making use of that to each product we have a look at is highly effective and undoubtedly one thing to have a good time.
Roblox is a values-driven firm, so in closing, are you able to share a core worth that resonates with you as a pacesetter?
Our “Take the Lengthy View” worth is so intrinsic to all the things we do at Roblox and it resonates with me deeply. Once I first joined the corporate, our values and imaginative and prescient have been just about the identical as they’re in the present day. To me, that’s the last word realization of “Take the Lengthy View.” It’s additionally value noting that Roblox took the lengthy view on me. I put within the time, however Roblox’s tradition of steady studying and funding is the rationale I’m the place I’m in the present day. “Take the Lengthy View” is embedded in our firm in so many aspects – from our efficiency administration philosophy to our product roadmap to the well being aware snacks within the café. Our dedication to long-term pondering has benefitted my profession, my expertise as a know-how chief, and even modified the way in which I have a look at components of my private life. It’s been a tremendous journey up to now, and I’m very excited to see what the long run holds.
Impressed by Antoni’s story? He and his crew are hiring. Go to our careers website to discover open roles.