I applied online and took them several weeks to write me back. Maybe a month later? The recruiter (very nice and polite guy) set up a phone interview with one of the managers of the research department. The first interview was more about my personality, my background and some other questions about work situations and how I'd handle them. I think he wanted to see if I'd be a good fit for the company, considering its culture. The interview lasted about 50 minutes e was really nice. The interviewer was extremely cool, polite and nice and I didn't feel pushed against the wall. Before the interview I studied the company and the manager so I knew who I was talking to, which makes total difference, really. I even read his thesis, which was a little bit nerdy on my part, but the subject was awesome, so, it's fine. 4-5 days later the same recruiter sent me another e-mail letting me know that they've decided to move me forward in the interview process with another phone interview! This interview focused more directly on my research skillset. They asked me about my past research work and hypothetical applied research scenarios. This interview was with one of their researchers, who I also researched and studied. It's really great to watch their videos and talks about the research department at Riot. They are fun and it's a good way to hear their voices and know who are you dealing with. This interview was also very polite, professional and nice but I blew it completely. I was so nervous that I couldn't think. As soon as I hung up the phone I knew I had blown it and I started accepting it. The questions are several hypothetical research scenarios and how I'd deal with them. It really puts you on the spot and if you can't think fast, you might blow it too. So get prepared to know your stuff and do not get nervous. I've been doing research for over 5 years and I'm very very comfortable with my knowledge, but when you're on the phone and someone ask you a question about something you've never had to research before, it's really hard to think straight. The questions are hard to answer, prepare for that. Two weeks later I got the e-mail saying they'd move forward to another direction. I was sad, but I had accepted already. It was frustrating because I studied for this process for over a month and the phone interview really throws you off. But I'm grateful I went through it and I was happy they picked my resumé in the first place. I'll definitely apply again in the future. TIP FOR THE COMPANY: I think the skillset interview should be onsite. It's very hard to think fast and correctly on the phone, specially when you want the job so fast and you know the company is known for having extremely difficult interviews process. Maybe you're letting some good people go.

The interview process took about 3 months. It consisted of 3 fairly arduous phone interviews and flying out for a 7 hour interview on site. On site, I interviewed with the same folks from phone interviews with + 10 or so others. Ranged from professional (majority) to unprofessional (one interviewer was on his phone during the interview). Their hubris gets cloying, and it was palpable during the interviews, but that's well known in the industry. Ye doth protest too much (that ye do not drink ye own koolaid)--kind of thing. Some nice folks, of course, but there's some palpable internal inconsistencies and I think the company is very anxious about its horizon. This all impacts the interview process, or at least that's what it felt like in my case, which is unfortunate.