QA Lead

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled QA Lead located in Auckland, New Zealand, who not only excels at testing but also has the capability to enhance quality assurance practices across a development team. This role goes beyond conventional bug detection; it focuses on pinpointing where quality efforts yield the most significant benefits, making informed risk-based decisions, and establishing procedures that enable consistent delivery of superior player experiences.

You will be responsible for ensuring quality in a live Unity game characterized by intricate systems featuring numerous characters, abilities, and interactions that result in extensive gameplay variability. Your role will be critical in managing ongoing content additions and updates, safeguarding the game's quality, and supporting dependable releases.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the QA strategy, discerning the best balance between automation and manual testing to maximize impact.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering teams to enhance game testability, integrating quality considerations throughout development phases rather than treating them as final checkpoints.
• Ensure the reliability and usefulness of automated testing results, maintaining team trust in these processes.
• Lead quality assurance triage and release decisions by evaluating risks, prioritizing defects, and guiding informed deployment choices.
• Refine and sustain QA tools, workflows, and methodologies to enhance testing efficiency and effectiveness.
• Coordinate with outsourced QA teams to align testing initiatives with project objectives and maximize their value.
• Offer insightful quality reports identifying trends, risks, and opportunities for enhancement, while promoting a studio-wide quality culture through coaching and practice improvements.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in the gaming industry, including shipping and maintaining live games, preferably in mobile free-to-play sectors.
• Senior-level QA expertise with a solid foundation in testing principles and strategic quality management across complex systems.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities capable of influencing teams, fostering improvements, and establishing robust QA processes.
• Technical proficiency in QA automation and testability, with practical collaboration experience alongside engineers; hands-on automation skills are advantageous.
• Judicious understanding of testing methodologies, capable of balancing automation benefits with exploratory and player-centric testing approaches.
• Excellent communication skills, enabling effective engagement with Engineering, Design, Production, and leadership stakeholders.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience with Unity development projects and associated pipelines.
• Practical experience in automation scripting or development of QA tools.
• Background in supporting live-service games involving patches, hotfixes, and stability enhancements.
• Familiarity with console certification standards and requirements.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary that reflects your expertise and commitment.
• Wellness initiatives including dedicated wellness days, gym or club membership allowance, and extensive health coverage through Southern Cross Wellbeing Two.
• Comprehensive relocation and visa assistance with dedicated support personnel to facilitate easy transition for you and your family.
• A positive company culture featuring engaging social events that encourage team bonding.
• An invigorating work environment supplied with weekly fresh fruit deliveries and quality coffee and snacks.
• Opportunities for personal growth and career development, with a focus on helping you fulfill your full potential.

Additional Information

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in New Zealand, such as a valid work visa, residency, permanent residency, or citizenship (New Zealand/Australia). This position is based onsite in Auckland and requires full-time commitment within the studio.