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 intently with our Product group to make sure we’re engaged on the fitting tasks that ship essentially the most influence for our neighborhood and firm. So every single day, I’m excited about delivering on our long-term technique and constructing options that our customers will discover beneficial and empowering.
You joined Roblox over a decade in the past. What led you right here?
I had used the platform previously and watched it evolve and enhance over time. 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 arduous issues and had a real ardour for the work, mission, and imaginative and prescient. Up to now, I performed aggressive water polo and was very enthusiastic about it. Via water polo, I discovered that once I was a part of a robust and dedicated group, I improved as a person as properly. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I wished to be the very best engineer I may probably be, and I knew that surrounding myself with such gifted colleagues would assist me try this.
All through your Roblox tenure, you’ve made an amazing influence on our platform and firm, scaling your profession alongside the best way. Inform us about your profession development thus far.
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 all the things that got here my manner. That was a very thrilling interval the place I discovered a lot in regards to the product and the tech. On a regular basis was a progress alternative.
For the primary few years, I used to be an Particular person Contributor (IC), and I liked it. However I knew deep down that I had an actual ardour for management and that I wished to proceed creating 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 statement and collaboration with my leaders, I discovered to delegate, ask arduous questions, and take accountability.
Over time, I took on extra accountability as an IC and proved I may handle giant tasks successfully. After about two years, I transitioned right into a hybrid Engineering Supervisor position the place I led folks but additionally 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 advanced tasks. Roblox was rising so quick that I finally discovered I had so many direct studies that I used to be struggling to maintain the excessive management bar I’d set for myself and nonetheless be capable of ship on the IC aspect. So I mentioned the scenario with my supervisor, who was very supportive, and we labored collectively to tailor a plan that empowered each my progress and the success of the group total.
Extra 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 discovered in these management positions that you just’re at all times answerable 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 answerable for a gaggle has been a giant perspective shift, what’s remained the identical throughout all of my varied roles and ranges at Roblox is maintaining the lengthy view in thoughts and prioritizing the mission. In order a pacesetter, one in all my prime priorities is instilling a tradition of possession and long-term considering all through each facet of our groups. That sense of alignment and shared accountability is so beneficial and it’s a key purpose why Roblox is profitable and an excellent place to work.
What’s saved you motivated?
As I developed and grew my profession, Roblox was rising, too. The technical challenges we have been fixing grew to become extra formidable and thrilling, and on the similar time, each our creator neighborhood and inner workforce have been growing dramatically. Day by day introduced new alternatives, which was and nonetheless is extremely motivating. And whereas what I’ve wished and wanted from my profession has developed and altered over time, Roblox has at all times been capable of present it within the type of new tasks, 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 may be a part of a undertaking that’s going to alter all the things. We now have a really huge imaginative and prescient and the potential for influence matches that scale. You realize 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 excited about becoming a member of the corporate?
Working at a progress firm is exhilarating and thrilling in some ways, however it additionally takes a degree of grit and tenacity. Roblox will at all times present scale and alternatives for significant influence, so that you’ll get to be a part of the superb journey towards our imaginative and prescient of reimagining the best way folks come collectively. The people who find themselves most profitable on this setting are self-driven, persistent, capable of assume by means of a long-term lens, and at all times hold the very best pursuits of our firm and neighborhood top-of-mind.
What’s one factor you’ve discovered as a pacesetter 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 group to succeed. I’ve at all times handed this recommendation alongside to the folks I’ve labored with and mentored over time, and I’ve discovered that it’s related throughout all kinds of work at each degree of the group.
What’s one thing your group has completed that you just’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 the planet. It’s actually modern. No different corporations are doing this and there aren’t any different merchandise we will take a look at and say “it really works similar to that.” I’m hopeful that sooner or later 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 group is concentrated on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and programs which tackle 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 purposes to entry their Roblox assets through customary net APIs and construct extra simply on prime of Roblox. There are greater than 3 million creators on Roblox, and the size of that influence is simply a lot bigger than something we will do with a number of thousand staff. So unlocking creator potential and making use of that to each product we take 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 at this time. To me, that’s the final 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 at this time. “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 expertise chief, and even modified the best way I take a look at parts of my private life. It’s been a tremendous journey thus far, and I’m very excited to see what the longer term holds.
Impressed by Antoni’s story? He and his group are hiring. Go to our careers web site to discover open roles.
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 intently with our Product group to make sure we’re engaged on the fitting tasks that ship essentially the most influence for our neighborhood and firm. So every single day, I’m excited about delivering on our long-term technique and constructing options that our customers will discover beneficial and empowering.
You joined Roblox over a decade in the past. What led you right here?
I had used the platform previously and watched it evolve and enhance over time. 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 arduous issues and had a real ardour for the work, mission, and imaginative and prescient. Up to now, I performed aggressive water polo and was very enthusiastic about it. Via water polo, I discovered that once I was a part of a robust and dedicated group, I improved as a person as properly. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I wished to be the very best engineer I may probably be, and I knew that surrounding myself with such gifted colleagues would assist me try this.
All through your Roblox tenure, you’ve made an amazing influence on our platform and firm, scaling your profession alongside the best way. Inform us about your profession development thus far.
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 all the things that got here my manner. That was a very thrilling interval the place I discovered a lot in regards to the product and the tech. On a regular basis was a progress alternative.
For the primary few years, I used to be an Particular person Contributor (IC), and I liked it. However I knew deep down that I had an actual ardour for management and that I wished to proceed creating 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 statement and collaboration with my leaders, I discovered to delegate, ask arduous questions, and take accountability.
Over time, I took on extra accountability as an IC and proved I may handle giant tasks successfully. After about two years, I transitioned right into a hybrid Engineering Supervisor position the place I led folks but additionally 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 advanced tasks. Roblox was rising so quick that I finally discovered I had so many direct studies that I used to be struggling to maintain the excessive management bar I’d set for myself and nonetheless be capable of ship on the IC aspect. So I mentioned the scenario with my supervisor, who was very supportive, and we labored collectively to tailor a plan that empowered each my progress and the success of the group total.
Extra 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 discovered in these management positions that you just’re at all times answerable 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 answerable for a gaggle has been a giant perspective shift, what’s remained the identical throughout all of my varied roles and ranges at Roblox is maintaining the lengthy view in thoughts and prioritizing the mission. In order a pacesetter, one in all my prime priorities is instilling a tradition of possession and long-term considering all through each facet of our groups. That sense of alignment and shared accountability is so beneficial and it’s a key purpose why Roblox is profitable and an excellent place to work.
What’s saved you motivated?
As I developed and grew my profession, Roblox was rising, too. The technical challenges we have been fixing grew to become extra formidable and thrilling, and on the similar time, each our creator neighborhood and inner workforce have been growing dramatically. Day by day introduced new alternatives, which was and nonetheless is extremely motivating. And whereas what I’ve wished and wanted from my profession has developed and altered over time, Roblox has at all times been capable of present it within the type of new tasks, 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 may be a part of a undertaking that’s going to alter all the things. We now have a really huge imaginative and prescient and the potential for influence matches that scale. You realize 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 excited about becoming a member of the corporate?
Working at a progress firm is exhilarating and thrilling in some ways, however it additionally takes a degree of grit and tenacity. Roblox will at all times present scale and alternatives for significant influence, so that you’ll get to be a part of the superb journey towards our imaginative and prescient of reimagining the best way folks come collectively. The people who find themselves most profitable on this setting are self-driven, persistent, capable of assume by means of a long-term lens, and at all times hold the very best pursuits of our firm and neighborhood top-of-mind.
What’s one factor you’ve discovered as a pacesetter 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 group to succeed. I’ve at all times handed this recommendation alongside to the folks I’ve labored with and mentored over time, and I’ve discovered that it’s related throughout all kinds of work at each degree of the group.
What’s one thing your group has completed that you just’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 the planet. It’s actually modern. No different corporations are doing this and there aren’t any different merchandise we will take a look at and say “it really works similar to that.” I’m hopeful that sooner or later 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 group is concentrated on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and programs which tackle 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 purposes to entry their Roblox assets through customary net APIs and construct extra simply on prime of Roblox. There are greater than 3 million creators on Roblox, and the size of that influence is simply a lot bigger than something we will do with a number of thousand staff. So unlocking creator potential and making use of that to each product we take 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 at this time. To me, that’s the final 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 at this time. “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 expertise chief, and even modified the best way I take a look at parts of my private life. It’s been a tremendous journey thus far, and I’m very excited to see what the longer term holds.
Impressed by Antoni’s story? He and his group are hiring. Go to our careers web site to discover open roles.