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 almost 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 associate carefully with our Product staff to make sure we’re engaged on the suitable initiatives that ship essentially the most affect for our group and firm. So every single day, I’m desirous about delivering on our long-term technique and constructing options that our customers will discover precious 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 over time. After exploring roles on the firm and connecting with of us internally, I began to grasp the core loop of the product and have become intrigued by it. Most of all, although, I used to be drawn to the individuals. Everybody I talked to was engaged on actually exhausting issues and had a real ardour for the work, mission, and imaginative and prescient. Previously, I performed aggressive water polo and was very captivated with it. By way of water polo, I discovered that after I was a part of a powerful and dedicated staff, I improved as a person as effectively. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I needed to be one of the best engineer I might probably be, and I knew that surrounding myself with such proficient colleagues would assist me try this.
All through your Roblox tenure, you’ve made an amazing 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 staff. There have been no “groups” within the conventional sense, so I jumped proper into tackling something and the whole lot that got here my method. That was a extremely thrilling interval the place I discovered a lot in regards to 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 beloved it. However I knew deep down that I had an actual ardour for management and that I needed to proceed growing my individuals and engineering administration abilities. With each new undertaking, I paid shut consideration to what labored and what didn’t and internalized these classes. Subsequently, via statement and collaboration with my leaders, I discovered to delegate, ask exhausting 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 function the place I led individuals 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 abilities by difficult myself with extremely advanced 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 facet. 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 staff total.
Extra just lately, I’ve been a frontrunner 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 discovered in these management positions that you simply’re at all times accountable for part of the corporate, regardless of whether or not it’s a bunch of individuals, a multi-quarter or multi-year undertaking, or perhaps a firm theme or precept. So an important 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 accountable for a bunch has been a giant perspective shift, what’s remained the identical throughout all of my numerous roles and ranges at Roblox is holding the lengthy view in thoughts and prioritizing the mission. In order a frontrunner, one among my high priorities is instilling a tradition of possession and long-term considering all through each side of our groups. That sense of alignment and shared accountability is so precious and it’s a key purpose why Roblox is profitable and an ideal place to work.
What’s stored you motivated?
As I developed and grew my profession, Roblox was rising, too. The technical challenges we had been fixing turned extra formidable and thrilling, and on the identical time, each our creator group and inner workforce had been rising dramatically. Day by day introduced new alternatives, which was and nonetheless is extremely motivating. And whereas what I’ve needed and wanted from my profession has advanced and altered over time, Roblox has at all times been capable of present it within the type of new initiatives, technical challenges, and profession development.
There’s one other factor that retains me motivated, too: doing wonderful work with wonderful individuals. On any given day at Roblox, you could be a part of a undertaking that’s going to alter the whole lot. We have now 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 desirous about becoming a member of the corporate?
Working at a development firm is exhilarating and thrilling in some ways, nevertheless it 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 wonderful journey towards our imaginative and prescient of reimagining the way in which individuals come collectively. The people who find themselves most profitable on this atmosphere are self-driven, persistent, capable of suppose via a long-term lens, and at all times preserve one of the best pursuits of our firm and group top-of-mind.
What’s one factor you’ve discovered as a frontrunner at Roblox?
The easiest way to align motivation with success is to be clear about expectations. It really works bidirectionally: each receiving and offering clear expectations empowers a staff to succeed. I’ve at all times handed this recommendation alongside to the individuals I’ve labored with and mentored over time, and I’ve discovered that it’s related throughout all varieties of work at each degree of the group.
What’s one thing your staff has achieved that you simply’re very pleased with?
I’ve simply began in my function 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 the planet. It’s really modern. No different firms are doing this and there aren’t any different merchandise we are able to have a look at and say “it really works similar to that.” I’m hopeful that sooner or later individuals 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 really novel and actually thrilling.
On the Creator facet, the staff is concentrated on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and techniques which deal with their particular person wants. By empowering creators to resolve 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 functions to entry their Roblox sources through customary internet 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 are able to do with a number of thousand staff. So unlocking creator potential and making use of that to each product we have a look at is highly effective and positively 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 frontrunner?
Our “Take the Lengthy View” worth is so intrinsic to the whole lot we do at Roblox and it resonates with me deeply. After I first joined the corporate, our values and imaginative and prescient had been just about the identical as they’re at the moment. 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 explanation I’m the place I’m at the moment. “Take the Lengthy View” is embedded in our firm in so many sides – from our efficiency administration philosophy to our product roadmap to the well being acutely aware snacks within the café. Our dedication to long-term considering has benefitted my profession, my expertise as a know-how chief, and even modified the way in which I have a look at parts of my private life. It’s been an incredible journey up to now, and I’m very excited to see what the long run holds.
Impressed by Antoni’s story? He and his staff are hiring. Go to our careers website to discover open roles.
