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QA Lead - Audio
2 years ago
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced QA or audio professional to be a part of the established team at Creative Assembly working on our Total War Franchise at our studio in Horsham, based in the heart of Sussex, England.
As a Lead, for our specialised audio-embedded QA team, you will be responsible for mentoring our QA technicians and supporting the audio development by ensuring the quality of every audio aspect meets the standards of our award-winning Total War series.
The ideal candidate is proactive, has a great ear for detail, is comfortable leading staff and knows how to drive the completion of tasks for both themselves and their team under the direction of the Senior QA Lead and QA Manager. They will have a passion for audio, knowledge of Total War and previous experience working in QA or audio within a development environment and are thus familiar with game audio processes using the middleware Wwise. A methodical approach to tasks and problem-solving as well as mentoring team members through 1 to 1's to resolve professional as well as personal issues will be an integral part of this role.
Key Responsibilities
The primary functions of the role are to enable the finding, grading, and reporting of defects completely and concisely, communicating key defects, feedback and testing requirements to stakeholders in both QA and the rest of the development team. As a QA Lead, you will achieve this through effective management of a group of testers who specialise in audio.
On a day-to-day basis, you will:
- Be responsible for recording test results and task progress daily, including completion info status, in the requested formats as well as verification and regression of defects that have been fixed
- Acquire in depth knowledge of core audio features (such as SFX, Dialogue, Music and Code) for titles in development and use in house tools to improve bug quality and accuracy for yourself and the team
- Be able to adapt to different titles and requirements, working with staff across multiple projects in development
- Be a role model for staff, mentoring them in their own career goals and developing them to be better technicians
- Work closely with the Senior QA Lead, assisting in the running of the team and leading in their absence.
Working with the rest of the development team, including QA, you will aim towards releasing the highest overall quality product possible by the given deadlines. Achieved primarily by logging and communicating clear and concise defects with the correct classification and reporting on key issues and project progress to key stakeholders. Knowledge, Skill and Experience
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to relay important information in the most suited format
- Proficient time management and organisational skills, able to handle multiple tasks and meet set deadlines and priorities
- Experience using Wwise
- A good ear for detail
- Ability to self-manage and generate tasks to drive the process and testing procedures
- A desire to lead, mentor and develop staff in a fast-paced, agile work environment
- Wide ranging experience playing a variety of PC video games including the Real-Time Strategy genre of games
- A passion for video games and a desire to be part of the creative process involved in developing video games
Desirable
- Previous experience working on a AAA title in a development studio
- Previous experience in an audio related field
- Experience playing the latest titles in the Total War franchise
- Knowledge of the development process and the various disciplines involved
- Experience using Jira, DevSuite and Perforce
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Experience with animation or database related game tools
Creative Assembly is about the right people making the best games. We are united through our values; Quality, Focus, Teamwork, Respect and Trust.
We house many talented people, from trainees to industry veterans who constantly challenge us and make sure we are striving for the best within our games and our studio life.
Winner of multiple Best Place to Work Awards, we have studio sites in Horsham UK and Sofia Bulgaria, including a number of bespoke state-of-the-art audio suites and a dedicated motion capture site.
Currently we are working fully remotely, and we continue to assess the COVID-19 situation with the safety of our staff our number one priority. We are still actively recruiting and onboarding new staff each week. Our expert IT and HR teams will set you up with everything you need to join remotely whether you will need to relocate to the UK (or within the UK) now, or at a later date.
We offer many benefits to support you and your family including:
- Bespoke relocation package for you and your dependents, with support throughout the process from our dedicated Relocation Specialists
- Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, private medical and dental insurance, life insurance, permanent health insurance, critical illness cover and free health care screening
- Generous holiday allowance plus full studio closure over the Christmas and New Year period, and all UK Bank holidays
- Annual discretionary studio bonus
- Join our award-winning education and social responsibility programme; the Legacy Project, as an industry ambassador to mentor and educate others
- Defined career development pathways and personalised training support including; SEGA Dev Day, internal masterclasses, prestigious creative workshops, on-site training with renowned specialists and global conference attendance
- Opportunity to join our Diversity and Inclusion Network – an employee-led group
- Season ticket travel loans and cycle to work scheme with free bike servicing and discounted car valet service on site
- Free games and merchandise plus access to our extensive games library
- Free breakfast every day - toast, bagels, pancakes, cereals, yoghurts, fresh fruit, smoothies, juices, milkshakes and more in our fully stocked kitchen*
- Wellbeing support with an employee assistance programme and onsite confidential sessions
- In-studio heavily subsidised massage therapy*
- Discounts for home technology, travel insurance, corporate gym membership, cinema tickets, holidays, trips out and Ikea vouchers, and many local businesses including estate agents
- Studio parties for you and your family; such as our Summer Festival, Christmas Party plus a separate Children’s Christmas Party. We also have Cinema days and wrap parties for game releases*
- Studio community activities such as free Japanese lessons, life drawing, creative writing, Pilates, Walking Challenges, Couch to 5k, basketball, game and movie evenings, board game club, 5-a-side football, CA Choir, Sword fighting (yes, sword fighting) and loads more*
*some of the above in-studio benefits are on hold while we work remotely during COVID-19. Our studio sites have disabled access. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.
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