This job listing expired on Nov 2, 2020
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Job purpose

  • To develop and manage the Technical QA (TQA) department and TQA Leads
  • To coordinate processes and improvements for Technical Testing departments and offices; not limited to but including Application and Network Performance Testing, PC & Mobile Compatibility QA.
  • To support, TQA Leads, Test Leads, and Testers performing Technical QA on projects.
  • To manage the TQA team’s work in terms of workflow, prioritization, and assignment.
  • To prepare financial TQA elements of projects relating to evaluation and quoting.

Scope of role

The successful candidate will manage and develop the Technical Services departments throughout Keywords and make sure that the TQA team in Montreal replies to and investigates queries, updates checklists to match the latest industry performance expectations and/or developer requirements and maintains Keywords’ knowledge base on industry trends, expectations and direction. The employee should have the skills and experience to train/mentor/answer/query/publish defects across all platforms/service lines. The candidate will also need to be able to help plan and evaluate TQA work for client evaluations and quotes. The key responsibilities may vary during peak business periods, absences or workload fluctuations, and support to management as required.

Key Responsibilities

  • Applying a coaching and process mentality to the department. Ensuring team’s performance, skills and professional growth are being actively developed and tracked.
  • Collaborating with other FQA PMs on client engagement and project delivery.
  • Collaborating with TQA Leads on ensuring their department processes are clearly documented; tracked and updated on a regular basis
  • Working with TQA Leads on training initiatives to serve new TQA Testers, Seniors and Leads.
  • Ownership of the team’s test schedule, staffing, and incoming work requests within the department’s capacity.
  • Assess technical scope for new projects and prepare estimates and quotes for clients.
  • Advise other Project Managers, Leads and clients on best practices and agree on project processes and timelines.
  • Define Technical test strategy in accordance with project schedule and budget requirements.
  • Plan testing activities in order to maximize the use of specific resources (either specialized staff or test equipment).
  • Assign roles and coordinate workflow within the TQA team.
  • Coordinate with the TQAM to determined software and hardware requirements for their teams, departments and client needs.
  • In conjunction with the other Project Managers, manage staff planning and ensure the correct and most efficient assignment of staff is achieved at all times.
  • Ensure TQA documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately for all technical service lines.
  • TQA consulting and support for the whole Montreal Keywords group.
  • Follow correct processes or clearly communicate on any necessary deviations.
  • Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely fashion.
  • Maintain and communicate TQA Test Leads’ and Testers performance records, including providing feedback and mentoring on an ongoing basis.
  • Adhere to and provide input into all KWS policies, processes, and security.
  • Oversee the Technical QA feedback and reporting processes.
  • Work with the TQAM to drive department level, and service line goals.
  • Ensure that client-facing technical QA service reports completed, review them, and ensure that actions required as a result are put in place.
  • Maintain, create & publish service-line business reports.
  • Liaison with other Technical services outside of purview.
  • Liaise with hardware manufacturer partners; establish and nurture partnerships with hardware manufacturers.
  • Ability to perform core Project Manager duties, managing client relationships and FQA project delivery.
  • Any other task as deemed necessary by the employee’s line manager.

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Ability

  • Highly organized – process driven/centered.
  • Relevant experience in a Project Management, Leadership, QA supervision, or similar role in the Video Games or related industry
  • Relevant experience in Technical QA testing; PC Compat, mobile Compat, NPT or performance is a plus.
  • General understanding of chipset architecture, graphics APIs, graphics rendering methods and hardware performance.
  • General understanding of underlying game systems and performance KPIs used within the industry.
  • General understanding of mobile architectures, mobile market trends and understanding of the mobile compatibility test approach.
  • General understanding of common household network infrastructure vs enterprise infrastructure layouts.
  • Must possess ‘can-do’ attitude as well as strong client-facing and client-relationship skills.
  • Ability to work effectively and decisively under pressure.
  • Ability to handle multiple projects and multiple project types concurrently.
  • Ability to effectively manage a team and act as a role model to team members.
  • Ability to prepare, interpret, and effectively utilize management information reports.
  • Ability to analyze problems, recommend and implement effective solutions to difficult and politically sensitive problems.
  • As a leader, capable of rallying teams to achieve common goals together and drive the team forward.
  • Awareness of the bigger picture; considers the project, client, company, and team when making decisions.
  • Actively approaches others for their ideas and suggestions.
  • Resolves conflicts with tact and maturity.
  • Provides team direction and clarity and timely, clear and actionable performance feedback.
  • Demonstrates a keen eye for errors/inconsistencies in both their own and others’ contribution, highlighting or amending these as appropriate.
  • Familiarity with Test Case Management and Bug Tracking and Reporting software
  • Experience with Test and Dev Tools across one or more console platforms.
  • Solid understanding of the SDLC and how it applies in 3rd Party QA.
  • Understanding of QA and TQA testing processes.
  • Basic understanding of software submission requirements and processes for Consoles, PC, VR and other platforms.
  • Recognizes the importance of accuracy within their role/team/department’s inputs/ outputs and takes steps to verify or implement this.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
  • Advanced skills with MS Excel and basic programming.
  • Experience with working in a diverse-culture environment.

Desirable

  • 4+ years of Game industry experience.
  • 1st Party Game development support experience.
  • Formal Project Management techniques or training such as PMP.
  • Experience with Project Management tools such as MS Project, KANBAN or other.
  • Bilingual French and English.