Senior Videogame Tester (Remote)

Senior Videogame Tester (Remote)

Seismic Squirrel LLC

Job Title: Senior Videogame Tester

The Role: Perform testing of our videogames.

Our Games: Narrative-centric RPG videogames set in an alternate-history 1930s New York City.

Experience: Senior level, 8+ years of professional experience testing narrative or turn-based videogames on PCs and consoles.

Location: USA or Canada (Remote) – Must reside within the UTC-4 to UTC-8 timezones.

Company Size: ~24

Pay Rate: $32 - $36 USD per hour – Depends on skills and experience.

Job Type: Contract-to-Hire (see below)

Overview

We are looking for a creative and resourceful Senior Videogame Tester with effective testing skills, a clear understanding of QA best practices, a logical and systemic thinker with an iterative approach to work, a collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and an enthusiasm for RPG and turn-based videogames.  The ideal candidate enjoys working with talented fellow testers, writers, artists, designers, engineers, marketers, and management, with a drive to create a fun and cohesive gameplay experience, able to empathize with both new players and with experts of the genre.

The ideal candidate communicates effectively in a small cross-functional remote team environment, clearly presenting their ideas to stakeholders.  They bring a passion for working within an iterative and creative development environment, having a collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for videogames.

This is a remote position which requires regular team collaboration online during our company's core work hours of 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM Pacific, attending relevant team meetings (e.g. daily scrums, retrospectives, sprint planning, and showcase meetings).  Occasional calls during late evenings may be expected to meet with international collaborators.  The option to convert to full-time employee may be available to ideal candidates, depending on their location, skills, fit, project needs and schedule, and timing.  H-1B transfers and sponsorships are not available at this time.

Quests

• Test our videogames for bugs and other quality deficiencies, supporting our QA processes.
• Validate enhancements and bug fixes.
• Research and champion tools and processes which contribute to product quality.
• Evaluate each sprint's build for quality regression.
• Test our games on various hardware and platforms.
• Participate in the development, organization, and execution of Test Plans and Test Cases.
• Create and contribute to reports on product quality.
• Represent the customer as their advocate for quality and value.
• Provide feedback and creative solutions for various aspects of development quality, including design, programming, narrative, art, and audio.
• Actively collaborate with the development team, openly communicating on progress and problems, helping us to set realistic project timelines and expectations.
• Assist in the coordination and execution of internal and external testing efforts.
• Balance and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, working within agreed timeframes and budgets.

Character Stats

• 8+ years of professional experience testing narrative or turn-based videogames on PCs and consoles.
• Understands videogame testing best practices.
• Has an enthusiasm for and a familiarity with many videogame titles and genres, past and present.
• Familiar with UI and UX conventions of modern videogame design.
• Shares our love for history and skilled in historical research.
• Self-disciplined, motivated, a self-starter with a drive for excellence.
• Organized, detail-oriented, able to work fast and loose or carefully with quality when each is needed.
• Courteous and patient, able to give and receive constructive and inspirational feedback gracefully.
• Able to work effectively with people having a variety of personalities and backgrounds.
• Possesses high emotional intelligence, a respected professional across disciplines.
• Excellent at problem-solving, resourceful, able to find solutions when needed.
• Adept at balancing and prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines, working within agreed timeframes and budgets.
• Adaptable: The job can change according to the needs at hand and requires wearing various hats.
• Skilled at working remotely using various collaboration tools.
• Possesses strong written, visual, and verbal English language communication and presentation skills.
• Passionate for the videogame industry and inspired to grow within it.
• Experienced using Unity, testing games within the engine.
• Proficient in business productivity tools, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Visio.
• Enthusiastic to learn new tools, technologies, and techniques.

Bonus Points

• Experienced using Test Automation techniques and tools.
• Familiar with tactical RPG videogames.
• Understands non-linear narrative structures and the complexities they introduce for testing.
• Experienced in videogame design and/or programming.
• Familiar with design diagramming techniques using UML.
• Proficient in digital art and modeling tools (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Blender).
• Located in one of our hub metros: Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, Edmonton.
• An avid TTRPG player.
• Multilingual.

The Company

Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers.  We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.  Our nimble size allows for everyone to have a voice in the projects we create, demanding the ability to be both detail-oriented and flexible.

For more information about Seismic Squirrel, go to http://www.SeismicSquirrel.com/

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you and you're located in the USA or Canada, please submit both your Résumé and your Cover Letter to Seismic Squirrel.