[Dystopia] QA Manager/Lead Tester needed! Thread

The creators of the popular Dystopia modification for the Source Engine have an appeasing opportunity for those interested. We have one (1) opportunity available that needs to be filled immediately. We have an aggressive plan for growth in the team and believe that you can offer a positive contribution towards our team's success. The position requires time, commitment and teamwork from someone who is interested in game development experience and making money!

Team Dystopia is comprised of a close-knit small group of multi-talented game developers skilled in the Source Engine, the PopCap Engine, the GoldSource Engine and the Quake 3 : Arena Engine. Our team consists of many industry professionals with work experience from popular studios such as Red Storm Entertainment, Epic Games, FuzzyEyes Studios and Pandemic Studios.

We are only looking for those that have an avid interest in being a part of the video game industry, which are easy to work with, friendly and can produce work fast and efficiently!

This position has the pre-requisite of being active in our private IRC channel, readily available to the rest of the team, attending our monthly meetings over our private Ventrilo server, and being an active contributor to the project.
Benefits include the potential inclusion into future projects by Team Dystopia, potential paid work, experience and education from industry professionals on game development subject material and an overall nostalgic feeling of self-indulgence.

QA Manager
• Contribute to the expansion of the Development Team and it's QA Department.
• Create test scenarios, test plans/briefs and standardization guidelines for entering defects into our defect database.
• Management responsibilities of over 30 testers at any given time. This includes conscription, interviews and termination.
• Supervising lead testers and delegating responsibilities for multiplayer test sessions and identification priorities.
• Prioritize and schedule all multiple person test sessions.
• Schedule and assist the test team in the creation of test documentation.
• Tutor and coach the test team in best practices for testing both from scripted test cases, and by drawing on your own knowledge of how to find bugs.
• Provide status reports to the Production team, flagging any risks to milestone deadlines.
• Ensure that all required tests are completed and that all bugs reported by the testers are done so fully and effectively.
• Manage the performance, discipline and personal development of QA staff.
• Conduct progress reviews at each milestone, generating meaningful and constructive conclusions and recommendations.
• Work closely with the Support/IT staff to expand the suite of automated tests.
• Supervise and execute required localization tests and responsibilities.
• Motivate QA team members

Experience Required:
• 2+ years experience in QA or Production
• Knowledge of and experience with PC hardware and software.
• Understanding of technologies related to video game and software testing bug reporting.

Knowledge/Skills Required:
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• An excellent communicator, both verbally and written.
• An excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent negotiation, interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, both on an individual and team basis.
• Experience with working with deadlines and the ability to work under pressure.
• Technical understanding of game elements.
• Knowledge of bug tracking software.
• Must have uncompromising standards of quality in performing job functions and a strong focus on delivery.
• Ability to work in a group and individually efficiently.

Knowledge of the following areas a plus:
• A long standing history and passion for video gaming.
• Self motivated individuals who can inspire others and is outgoing!
• Familiarity with the Source Engine or other BSP based engines.
• Basic knowledge of programming languages, 3D art or animation.
• Beta testing for online games.
• Fluent or near-fluent in multiple spoken languages.

Team Dystopia prides itself on being a small group of individuals who are well rounded in every game development style. Each of our developers is also experienced with differentiating talents in the game development field. Our Level Designers also serve as Modellers, Texture Artists, Animators, Sound Engineers, Music Engineers, Coding or other game-based trades.

Be Aware:
All candidates will go through a rigorous interview process in which I will ask many tough questions and exchange many e-mails. However, I am always open for fielding questions myself.

To Apply:
Please be sure to check out our website, our media, past news posts and all information regarding Dystopia at Dystopia-game.com first!
E-mail urinal-cake at dystopia-game dot com with the position in the subject line, information about yourself, your free time, your motivation, past experience and what makes you a suitable candidate as well as a cover letter and resume.

The wall of text is too much to read I lost interest after the introduction. This is serious stuff and the wall of information is scary. I quickly did a word search and compensation and paid isn't mention anywhere in the post, you also mention at the end to put in how much free time so I assume you are talking free work. Sorry to say you are trying to hire a rambo to be your body guard without paid.

Edited by: shadowofamn

Maybe that's the point - anyone who is put off by the need for reading carefully won't make a good QA

Edited by: Gibberstein

Gibberstein wrote: Maybe that's the point - anyone who is put off by the need for reading carefully won't make a good QA

And the one who is put off by the lack of paying won't make a good QA either?

Depends - if you're still at university this would be an excellent chance to gain some experience with a very experienced and knowledgable team. It's very likely to put you on the fast track to employment (and money) when you graduate.

not much people will offer free services if they do have 2+ years in production and QA department, definitely not a uni student since they probably don't have any experience. Now I know they made some awesome work and probably want someone good to join but they are asking for too much with how much they offer.

Depends if they mean commercial QA or mod team QA - there could well be uni sudents who've been participating in various commercial betas and mod test teams for 2+ years who feel ready to take on some of the coordination of the testing process. To be fair, that experience will be needed if you're taking on testing something as complex and polished as Dystopia is.

Let me clarify a few things regarding this post. With some hesitance, I do admit that this many requirements and job responsibilities, as well as the 48 hour lock down (in which no more candidates will be accepted after 48 hours) serve the purpose of warding off unfavorable candidates. I've been doing QA for many years for companies like Epic Games, Introversion, Massive Entertainment and my current employer Ubisoft, in addition to countless modifications.

I am looking for someone, who like me, has the constant thirst of self-improvement and desire to always be learning. You can be the best at what you do, but you can still learn more about what you're doing or who you're interacting with to be better at it. If you found this "wall of text" disheartening or not motivating, then I encourage you not to apply -- in this instance, motivation and drive mean more to us than skill or experience.

Bright eyed people who are excited to learn, humble enough to admit they do not know everything and are looking for constant self-improvement should apply.

Well... motivation and drive is nice... but people with experience in QA are better. Hot-shots ( in my opinion ) are not really helpful in the long run. If I had to look for a QA guy I'd look for somebody with experience and strong will not hot-shots.

I would apply but unfortunately I'm not that experienced, nor do I have many of the qualifications asked for. But it's nice to see a professional application on these forums. Anyway, good luck with finding that QA Manager!

--

~Toyoka's Gaming Channel~

Dragonlord wrote: Well... motivation and drive is nice... but people with experience in QA are better. Hot-shots ( in my opinion ) are not really helpful in the long run. If I had to look for a QA guy I'd look for somebody with experience and strong will not hot-shots.

You say people with experience in QA are "better" but your statement is almost redundant. A QA Manager or leader in any position knows that the most important thing next to work getting done, is to make sure that the people he works with are motivated so that they in turn, can get the work done. After doing QA for so long, I haven't identified one QA Manager, SDET or Lead Tester at Microsoft, Midway or any other companies that isn't excited about what they do, because their jobs are to motivate the individuals behind them.

Anyone can learn QA, testers are a dime a dozen. Good testers are still not hard to find, people can be trained in it easily. But finding someone that is inspired enough in what they do to motivate others is way more important than experience will ever be. This coming from someone who has a lot of experience.

I am glad to see a professional(quality) team posting in the recruiting and resumes section. There has been a lot of garbage; it's nice to see a request for a slot on a game like Dystopia .

Edited by: NGS616

Thanks to all who have applied, the position is now closed.