Main at Roblox with Antoni Choudhuri

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 start out, 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 financial system for all customers and creators on Roblox. I additionally accomplice intently with our Product workforce to make sure we’re engaged on the suitable tasks that ship essentially the most impression for our neighborhood and firm. So day-after-day, I’m fascinated by 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 up 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 folks. 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 obsessed with it. By means of water polo, I discovered that after I was a part of a powerful and dedicated workforce, I improved as a person as properly. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I needed to be the very best engineer I may 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 incredible impression 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 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 discovered 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 liked it. However I knew deep down that I had an actual ardour for management and that I needed to proceed creating my folks and engineering administration abilities. With each new challenge, I paid shut consideration to what labored and what didn’t and internalized these classes. Subsequently, by way of remark 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 may handle massive tasks 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, all the time staying true to my philosophy of studying from my friends and leaders and constructing my abilities by difficult myself with extremely complicated tasks. Roblox was rising so quick that I finally discovered I had so many direct reviews that I used to be struggling to maintain the excessive management bar I’d set for myself and nonetheless be capable 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 workforce general. 

Extra not too long ago, 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 simply’re all the time accountable for part of the corporate, irrespective of whether or not it’s a bunch of individuals, a multi-quarter or multi-year challenge, 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 challenge supply and execution to being accountable for a bunch has been an enormous perspective shift, what’s remained the identical throughout all of my numerous roles and ranges at Roblox is protecting the lengthy view in thoughts and prioritizing the mission. In order a pacesetter, considered one of my high priorities is instilling a tradition of possession and long-term pondering all through each facet of our groups. That sense of alignment and shared accountability is so precious and it’s a key cause why Roblox is profitable and an incredible 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 bold and thrilling, and on the identical time, each our creator neighborhood and inner workforce have been growing dramatically. Each day introduced new alternatives, which was and nonetheless is extremely motivating. And whereas what I’ve needed and wanted from my profession has developed and adjusted over time, Roblox has all the time been in a position to present it within the type of new tasks, technical challenges, and profession development.

There’s one other factor that retains me motivated, too: doing wonderful work with wonderful folks. On any given day at Roblox, you could be a part of a challenge that’s going to vary all the things. We’ve a really huge imaginative and prescient and the potential for impression matches that scale. 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 by becoming a member of the corporate?

Working at a development firm is exhilarating and thrilling in some ways, but it surely additionally takes a stage of grit and tenacity. Roblox will all the time present scale and alternatives for significant impression, so that you’ll get to be a part of the wonderful journey towards our imaginative and prescient of reimagining the best way folks come collectively. The people who find themselves most profitable on this surroundings are self-driven, persistent, in a position to assume by way of a long-term lens, and all the time preserve the very best pursuits of our firm and neighborhood top-of-mind.

What’s one factor you’ve discovered as a pacesetter at Roblox?

One of the simplest ways to align motivation with success is to be clear about expectations. It really works bidirectionally: each receiving and offering clear expectations empowers a workforce to succeed. I’ve all the time 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 stage of the group.

What’s one thing your workforce has achieved that you simply’re very happy with?

I’ve simply began in my position as chief of the Economic system group however I’m already so happy with our Market and the way we’re making a digital financial system system in contrast to some other on the planet. It’s really modern. No different corporations are doing this and there are not any different merchandise we will take a look at and say “it really works identical to that.” I’m hopeful that in the future 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 financial system. It’s really novel and actually thrilling.

On the Creator aspect, the workforce is targeted on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and techniques 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 functions to entry their Roblox sources by way of customary internet APIs and construct extra simply on high of Roblox. There are greater than 3 million creators on Roblox, and the dimensions of that impression is simply a lot bigger than something we will do with just a few thousand workers. 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 rejoice. 

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 right this 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 rationale I’m the place I’m right this 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 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 best way I take a look at components 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 workforce are hiring. Go to our careers web site to discover open roles.