Main at Roblox with Antoni Choudhuri

On this Main at Roblox profile, we get to know Antoni Choudhuri, Head of Engineering for our Financial system Group. Antoni has been at Roblox for practically 11 years, rising from an Particular person Contributor Software program Engineer to Head of Financial 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 Financial 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 carefully with our Product group to make sure we’re engaged on the precise tasks that ship probably the most influence for our neighborhood and firm. So each day, I’m interested 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 people 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. Previously, I performed aggressive water polo and was very enthusiastic about it. By way of water polo, I realized that after I was a part of a robust and dedicated group, I improved as a person as effectively. The identical rang true for me at Roblox. I wished 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 influence on our platform and firm, scaling your profession alongside the best way. 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 every part that got here my manner. That was a very thrilling interval the place I realized 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 beloved 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 commentary and collaboration with my leaders, I realized to delegate, ask arduous questions, and take accountability. 

Over time, I took on extra accountability as an IC and proved I might handle giant tasks successfully. After about two years, I transitioned right into a hybrid Engineering Supervisor function the place I led folks but additionally 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 expertise by difficult myself with extremely advanced tasks. Roblox was rising so quick that I ultimately 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 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 progress and the success of the group total. 

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 Financial system group in early 2023. I’ve realized in these management positions that you just’re all the time liable for part of the corporate, irrespective 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 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 liable 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, one in every of 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 a terrific place to work.

What’s saved you motivated?

As I developed and grew my profession, Roblox was rising, too. The technical challenges we had been fixing turned extra bold and thrilling, and on the similar time, each our creator neighborhood and inside workforce had 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 advanced and altered 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 superb work with superb folks. On any given day at Roblox, you may be a part of a undertaking that’s going to vary every part. We’ve got a really massive imaginative and prescient and the potential for influence matches that scale. You recognize 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 interested by becoming a member of the corporate?

Working at a progress 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 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, in a position to suppose by a long-term lens, and all the time maintain one of the best pursuits of our firm and neighborhood top-of-mind.

What’s one factor you’ve realized 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 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 forms of work at each stage of the group.

What’s one thing your group has achieved that you just’re very pleased with?

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

On the Creator facet, the group is targeted on unlocking alternatives for creators to construct their very own instruments and methods which handle 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 assets through customary net APIs and construct extra simply on high of Roblox. There are greater than 3 million creators on Roblox, and the dimensions of that influence is simply a lot bigger than something we will do with a number 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 every part we do at Roblox and it resonates with me deeply. Once I first joined the corporate, our values and imaginative and prescient had 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 explanation 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 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 group are hiring. Go to our careers web site to discover open roles.