This job listing expired on Mar 10, 2021
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OVERVIEW

Rare is a one-of-a-kind game studio where we create the kind of games the world doesn't have, games that are uniquely Rare! Working here offers opportunities unlike anywhere else. You'll be providing players with unforgettable shared experiences in games loved by millions worldwide. Our pirate adventure Sea of Thieves, launched in 2018, is still going strong – and alongside that we're busy creating our next magical world, Everwild, announced in 2019 to a global audience.

We strive to make Rare an amazing place to work, embracing a culture of respect and building a supportive environment for our developers. Our custom-built Twycross studio is situated in the beautiful English countryside, surrounded by woodland and wildlife, with plenty of room for us to grow. Studio benefits are catered to making life easier for staff, including flexible working, a bonus scheme, industry-leading pension and healthcare packages, mental health initiatives and free events for employees and their families.

By joining Rare, you'll be joining one of the finest studios in the industry with support from the wider Xbox Game Studios network. We're always on the lookout for exceptional people who can bring their expertise and unique thinking to help make our team even stronger!

ROLE PURPOSE

Could you be our next permanent Embedded Tester Engineer at Rare? This fundamental position is part of an exciting new range of roles to strengthen our current team and prepare for the future. As our Embedded Tester Engineer, you will be working on the website development team of our acclaimed, award-winning and epic shared world pirate adventure Sea of Thieves based at our Rare studio at Twycross, UK.

At Rare we operate differently in that we do not have a separate Test Organisation, but instead, a small quality-focussed group who work within our dynamic and diverse multi-disciplinary development team. Known as ‘Embedded Testers’ they are as much a part of our development team as everyone else, with a goal to ensure that new features are designed and delivered to high quality with low risk.

This role is a unique Engineering position to continue development and drive our Selenium and Playwrite test capabilities for our website testing automation in support of Sea of Thieves. You will own the quality focus for our online offerings and develop the test infrastructure further.

You will be self-organised but will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary development team around you and represent our customers within development. You will assist in the planning, guidance and sign-off of new features and suggest/deliver relevant test cases or automation where appropriate. You will drive our existing Selenium and Playwrite test systems and develop independent tools to improve our quality coverage.

You will not “consume builds” but instead evaluate upcoming features based on change, technical complexity, risk, schedule and resources, focussing your effort to ensure features under your ownership are delivered to plan.

You will analyse developer updates and understand design goals.

Can you define a design change that reduces the risk/complexity of delivery? Can you propose a tool or test automation change to optimise team workflow and subsequently deliver it? Will you evangelise quality best-practice throughout development whilst being sympathetic to wider project requirements?

You will have access to a range of challenges that will test and broaden your experience whilst being part of a team of friendly, highly talented developers who like nothing better than sharing their own challenges and their experiences with you.

We are fully committed to keeping staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic; therefore, all our teams are currently working from home. The support and wellbeing of all staff is paramount to our success, as well as ensuring each employee is able to thrive and carry-on building games in times of uncertainty. As a result, we do ask that any applicants have sufficient broadband/fibre infrastructure at home, to transfer several GigaBytes of data each working day.

Responsibilities

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Driving the planning, building and delivery of new website and forum tools and test automation.
  • Highlighting areas of risk or test complexity.
  • Proposing mitigations or solutions to optimise the development process and ensure our players enjoy a great experience.
  • Maintaining web test coverage across a wide range of handheld, portable or desktop platforms.
  • Promoting test and quality within the development process and actively seeking out tasks that would benefit from test input.
  • Ensuring Test processes allow the development team to iterate locally, rapidly and securely; finding issues close to creation.
  • Providing a positive and professional attitude under pressure, demonstrating integrity and being a role model for others.
  • You will be “improving our products and also improving the process for making them”.

Qualifications

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Demonstrable ability to deliver web testing automation using Selenium and Playwrite, driving this with Javascript. Ability to setup jobs in Powershell and C#. You have experience working with bug tracking solutions (preferably Azure DevOps) and have working familiarity with Teamcity.

A minimum of 3 years’ experience in agile game development teams with at least 2 products shipped. We are not just looking for people with a Test background but require you to be an experienced Engineer or suitable Web Developer. This technical role involves self-organisation, ownership and drive.

Strong candidates will have some working familiarity with Unreal Engine and Blueprint. Previous experience working on a service or other online multiplayer title beneficial, as is having worked closely with a cross-discipline development team.

You are passionate but level-headed, self-motivated, articulate, organised, a collaborative team player, investigative, committed to self-improvement. You can discuss the game development processes you have experienced with confidence and how you have influenced them.

DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS

Experience working within a development team, and close to other disciplines such as Engineering or Design is beneficial. Bonus: ISEB/ISTQB qualified.

Successful applicants will gain a permanent and full-time position, enjoying the benefits of working within an award-winning studio and directly within development teams, from the spark of ideas through to completion. The competitive package includes excellent salaries, flexi-time working, pension contributions, health benefits and simply the time to spend at our beautiful countryside facility – when we return there.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

Benefits and Perks

  • Industry leading healthcare
  • Savings and investments
  • Giving programs
  • Educational resources
  • Maternity and paternity leave
  • Opportunities to network and connect
  • Discounts on products and services
  • Generous time away