Roku is changing how the world watches TV
Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and we've set our sights on powering every television in the world. Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. Our mission is to be the TV streaming platform that connects the entire TV ecosystem. We connect consumers to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers unique capabilities to engage consumers.
From your first day at Roku, you'll make a valuable - and valued - contribution. We're a fast-growing public company where no one is a bystander. We offer you the opportunity to delight millions of TV streamers around the world while gaining meaningful experience across a variety of disciplines.
This team spends most of its time working on customer focused features that improve the user experience, from content discovery and search to Roku pay and subscription to embedded software and firmware, and much more. Our product roadmap helps us accelerate our growth and scale, putting surprising new features into the hands of tens of millions of Roku users worldwide. Our developers and engineers are owners. They are motivated from within, finding and taking on a feature or project simply because that problem needs to be solved and shipped. But that individual must work together with different engineering teams, UI design, product teams, and business leadership to make things happen, which means that engineers succeed here because they can maintain that independent spirit and motivation within a deeply collaborative environment. We are the pragmatic dreamers inventing and re-inventing the world of streaming media.
What is the role?
As a Senior Software Engineer on the OS UI/SDK team, you will design, develop, and deliver engaging platform features — including screensavers, static and dynamic wallpapers, trivia, featured experiences, and AI-driven content initiatives — that reach millions of Roku users worldwide. You will leverage AI and machine learning technologies to develop new capabilities that enhance user experiences across the Roku platform. This role requires a proactive, ownership-driven approach where you will create proof-of-concept prototypes in a startup-minded environment and then adapt those prototypes for production-grade deployment. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners in UI/UX design, product management, backend engineering, and business leadership to translate ideas into impactful solutions. You will investigate, diagnose, and resolve technical issues to maintain high-quality, commercially viable products. This is an opportunity to shape the future of streaming entertainment through innovation and a deep commitment to engineering excellence.
How will I use AI at Roku?
At Roku, we don't just use AI, we work with it. AI agents and smart tools help power drafts, analysis, and repetitive workflows, while our people bring direction, judgment, and accountability. We're looking for curious, adaptable builders who can show how they've used AI or automation to move faster, raise the bar, and scale their impact.
We value your AI skills if have built fluency across the agentic engineering toolchain — coding harnesses like Claude Code or Cursor, MCP servers, custom skills, or agent frameworks. And you can describe projects where you shipped real work with these tools. You know how to drive an agent, verify its output, and ramp on an unfamiliar codebase with an agent helping you.
What are the responsibilities of the role?
- Design and develop features for new experiences on the Roku platform, including screensavers, wallpapers, trivia, and featured experiences
- Build proof-of-concept prototypes to validate ideas rapidly, working with a startup mindset to iterate quickly and deliver solutions
- Collaborate with UI/UX design, backend engineering, and product management teams to create and implement new user experiences
- Adapt proof-of-concept solutions into production-ready, scalable implementations
- Leverage AI, machine learning, and large language model technologies to develop innovative platform features
- Investigate, diagnose, and resolve technical issues to maintain commercially viable solutions
- Contribute to API design decisions, understanding considerations and trade-offs
- Work across cloud development, content management, and UI development to deliver end-to-end feature solutions
What experience would help someone be successful in this role at Roku?
- Extensive experience in a software engineering environment
- Demonstrated project work using AI/ML and LLM technologies
- Proficiency in scripting languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, React Native, Python, BrightScript, or related technologies
- Experience working in an embedded environment
- Experience in productionising solutions, including content management, UI development, cloud development, and cloud backend integration
- Knowledge of core OS concepts such as memory management and multi-threading
- Experience in API design, with an understanding of considerations and trade-offs
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
- Consumer electronics experience in media, content, or ad product development is a plus
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field
Roku fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment where teams generally work in the office Monday through Thursday. Fridays are generally flexible for remote work, except for employees whose specific roles or assigned office location require five days' a week attendance.
What are some of the benefits?
Roku is committed to offering a diverse range of benefits as part of our compensation package to support our employees and their families. Our comprehensive benefits include global access to mental health and financial wellness support and resources. Local benefits include statutory and voluntary benefits which may include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), life, accident, disability, commuter, and retirement options (401(k)/pension). Employees are supported in taking time off, in accordance with local leave policies and other personal needs to support their evolving work and life needs. It's important to note that not every benefit is available in all locations or for every role. For details specific to your location, please consult with your recruiter.
Accommodations
Roku welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and provides reasonable accommodations and adjustments in accordance with applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation at any point in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].
What should I know about Roku's culture?
Roku is a great place for people who want to work in a fast-paced environment where everyone is focused on the company's success rather than their own. We try to surround ourselves with people who are great at their jobs, who are easy to work with, and who keep their egos in check. We appreciate a sense of humor. We believe a fewer number of very talented folks can do more for less cost than a larger number of less talented teams. We're independent thinkers with big ideas who act boldly, move fast and accomplish extraordinary things through collaboration and trust. In short, at Roku you'll be part of a company that's changing how the world watches TV.
We have a unique culture that we are proud of. We think of ourselves primarily as problem-solvers, which itself is a two-part idea. We come up with the solution, but the solution isn't real until it is built and delivered to the customer. That penchant for action gives us a pragmatic approach to innovation, one that has served us well since 2002.
To learn more about Roku, our global footprint, and how we've grown, visit https://www.weareroku.com/factsheet.
By providing your information, you acknowledge that you want Roku to contact you about job roles, that you have read Roku's Applicant Privacy Notice, and understand that Roku will use your information as described in that notice. If you do not wish to receive any communications from Roku regarding this role or similar roles in the future, you may unsubscribe at any time by emailing [email protected].
Skills Required
- Up to 3 years experience in software development
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field
- Proficiency in JavaScript, TypeScript, React Native, Python, BrightScript
- Familiarity with AI/ML and LLM technologies
- Experience with C++ in embedded environments
- Experience in productionizing solutions
- Knowledge of Core OS concepts
- Experience in API design
- Strong communication skills
Roku Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Roku and has not been reviewed or approved by Roku.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is positioned as competitive across many roles, with frequent emphasis on strong base and total compensation relative to market expectations. Fair-pay perception appears comparatively stronger than overall satisfaction with the broader rewards package.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is framed as a standout, with sizable employer premium contributions that can reduce employee premiums significantly depending on plan choice. Preventive care and mental-health support are also described as part of the core offering.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are presented as broad, including paid holidays, PTO, and multiple leave categories such as bereavement and family-related leave. Self-managed or “unlimited” PTO is also described for many salaried roles, supporting flexibility in taking time off.
Roku Insights
What We Do
Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. We connect users to the streaming content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Roku streaming players and Roku TV™ models are available around the world through direct retail sales and licensing arrangements with TV OEMs and service operators.
