Blackbird Interactive

Blackbird Interactive is a creative-fueled, future-driven, independent game studio where the best talent in the industry can find long-term careers to help grow their abilities while working on a wide range of projects, which encompass world-class IPs as well as our own creations across multiple genres.

In 2022, we announced that our studio is implementing a four-day work week as well as supporting in-studio, remote within Canada, and hybrid work arrangements as permanent options to our employees.

The Quality Assurance Lead (VR) will work closely with all project stakeholders to understand what and when they will be delivering, while defining and implementing strategies to ensure that the project receives appropriate test coverage throughout the schedule.

You will have strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and manage individuals, as well as the ability to understand and discuss the project on both a macro level and a micro level.

The Quality Assurance Lead (VR) will work on-site alongside a world leading team to execute testing and workflow requirements using VR Rigs.

Alongside the operation of the VR rigs, the Lead may manage the team to provide feedback on test cases, workflow improvements, and feature development.

Requirements include:

• Ability to physically operate VR equipment for a maximum of 4 hours a shift non-consecutively
• Work on site
• Able to work morning and evenings on a rotating schedule

Responsibilities

• Builds a tight working relationship with Production, and QA staff on their project.
• Defines the overall Test Plan and Test Schedule.
• May assist with creating shift schedules for the Analyst team
• Trains the QA Analyst team to use the VR equipment and software
• Provides coaching, mentoring and opportunities for growth for the QA staff on their project
• Assist Production with hiring, staffing and scheduling
• Identifies project issues and works to solve them before they become risks. 
• Acts as an advocate for QA, QA processes, and QA staff
• Adjusts testing priority, urgency, tactics and timing in response to changing development schedule, design, priorities, and dependencies. 
• Drives the team to successfully achieve all targeted QA KPIs.
• Contributes to the development of new processes/workflows, and/or adjustment of existing processes and ensures that they are documented.
• Writing, reviewing, triaging and prioritizing bugs for their project
• May be required to run manual, and/or automated tests. 
• Use state-of-the-art virtual reality equipment, performing a variety of physical test cases to be captured within the Studio’s proprietary software
• Monitor the actions of, and collate data from, other Lead using the VR equipment
• Learn to use the VR simulators while keeping the integrity of the hardware (motion capture/teleop rig) in mind
• First Aid trained, including reporting of first aid related events

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years experience in a Quality Assurance Lead role or equivalent.
• Work on-site for the entirety of the contracted period
• Basic proficiency with Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies
• Experience with Video Games QA process and testing terminology
• Working knowledge of business tools such as email, spreadsheets, word processors etc. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across multiple audiences.
• Ability to work within a highly functional cross-discipline team.
• Willing to work on a flexible schedule when necessary
• Must be able to stand / move around for long periods of time
• Must be comfortable wearing a VR headset and being in a Virtual environment for extended periods of time

Pluses

• Strong understanding of Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies
• Basic working understanding of Linux
• Proficiency in scripting languages, such as JavaScript or Python
• Familiarity with 3D packages, or video game engines
• Experience with database software such as Jira

Additional Information

• Full time 6 month contract
• Morning and evening shifts
• 4 day work shifts cycling between Monday to Friday

Vacation & Extras

+ 4-day, 32-hour work week for all full-time staff

+ Mentorship program

+ Skunkworks internal game jam program

+ 4 weeks paid vacation per year

+ 11 paid stat holidays

+ 3 paid days per year for professional development

+ December holiday studio closure (extra paid time off!)

+ Comprehensive health/dental benefits from day 1

+ Life insurance

+ $300 Healthcare Spending Account per annum

+ RRSP matching

+ Profit-sharing bonus program

If applying for an artistic role, please provide a link to your portfolio and/or demo reel.

Any questions about the role and/or accessibility requests can be sent to: recruitment@blackbirdinteractive.com

Unfortunately, we cannot reply to everyone. Only successful applicants will be contacted about the next steps. Thank you for your understanding.

If you are interested in the role, please apply even if your experience and skills don’t perfectly match our ideal credentials. We are committed to inclusion and especially encourage members of historically marginalized communities to apply. As an equal opportunity employer we encourage applications from all qualified individuals. BBI does not discriminate against applicants based on gender, race, national and ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital and family status, and/or mental or physical disabilities.

Blackbird Interactive is privileged to be developing our projects on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ /Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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