Game Tester - EA Sports Noord Amerika

The QA Tester is a support function to the QA Project Lead and Senior QA Project Lead (each hereafter referred to as “QA lead”).  This position deals with functionality testing of all EA products and acting as a direct support to the assigned QA lead.  This position may also be called upon to perform as an acting senior tester if situations call for it and/or for training purposes.

II. Position Responsibilities (Percentage of Time over a Year):
• Functionality testing of all EA products (70%)
• Act as direct support to assigned QA lead (20%)
• Special projects or assignments (10%)

III. Position Duties

Functionality testing of assigned EA products
• Thorough testing of all aspects of EA games including but not limited to; interface design, documentation, packaging, gameplay performance, statistics, play balance, functionality, logic and entertainment value.  Accomplish same using a balance of both checklists and ad hoc testing.
• Identifying and documenting bugs in a database.  Prioritizes and disseminates information in a clear and precise way that is easily understood by both the QA lead, the test team, production, and development.
• Possessing complete familiarity with QA testing policy and procedures.
• Following instructions and accomplishing tasks as directed by a QA lead or QA management.
• Remain current on the play and status of EA Sports products and on the characteristics of current popular software titles of competitors.

Act as direct support to assigned QA lead
• Assist assigned QA lead as floor lead, taking general direction from the QA lead and working out the specifics to delegate to the test team.
• Assist assigned QA lead in “owning” a significant portion of a project, such as multiplayer or statistics, as assigned by QA lead.  Can be definitively relied upon to be the team expert on a given portion of the game.
• Undertakes additional responsibilities, such as database management, as assigned by QA lead.

Special projects or assignments
• From time to time the QA manager may assign special projects to the QA tester in furtherance of the Quality Assurance department’s goals.

IV. Scope of the Position
This position involves working with test teams that range from large (twenty or more), to teams made up solely of the solitary tester.  This position reports to a designated QA Project Lead and/or Senior QA Project Lead.  This position may eventually lead to the position of Senior QA Tester.

V. Principal Working Relationships
QA manager; senior QA project leads; QA project leads; sr. testers and other testers; production executives; producers; development directors; development managers; administrative staff.

 
Requirements

Position Qualifications

1) Education
a) High school diploma
b) Pursuit of a B.A. or B.S. in Computer Science or Entertainment related area is considered ideal

2) Special Knowledge or Skills
a) Has ability and patience to perform detailed testing
b) A sharp eye for details, capacity to stay on course, as well as the intuition as to when to veer off the planned track, following a hunch to trap a new bug
c) Must possess good spoken and written communication skills and be able to work with varied staff members and personalities. Communicates with a high degree of understanding, conciseness and directness
d) Honesty, punctuality and a strong work ethic
e) Takes a proactive, problem-solving/trouble-shooting approach to identifying and solving customer problems. Does not stop at identifying the problem, but experiments using available information to try to narrow the possibilities and determine a solution
f) Swift note-taking skills to transcribe the pertinent variables upon encountering new bugs
g) Capacity to follow checklists with precision
h) Actively communicates a positive, outgoing approach to quality assurance
i) Able to give and accept positive as well as negative feedback
j) Ability to identify what is required by customers and being prepared to provide it
k) Working knowledge of most popular console platforms and related hardware
l) Working knowledge of Windows and Macintosh operating systems and related hardware
m) Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
n) Working knowledge of communications, on-line services and the Internet

3) Prior Experience
a) Experience working in a comparable quality assurance department is preferred but not required

4) Other Qualifications and/or Requirements
a) Prior knowledge of current gaming consoles and types of games is beneficial
b) Demonstrable ability to learn and implement new software testing procedures
c) Demonstrable ability to train new testers
d) Ability to access any service or system quickly to obtain information
e) Ability to talk inexperienced users through obtaining system information
f) Willingness to work above and beyond the call of duty
g) Strong desire to be in the interactive gaming industry preferred