QA Tester

William Chyr Studio
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Posted
November 15, 2022
Full Time
Chicago, IL
Hybrid

Hello! I’m William, the designer of Manifold Garden and the Creative Director of William Chyr Studio (WCS). We are a small indie game studio based in Chicago, with a remote team located around the world. We are passionate about making highly polished experiences with innovative gameplay and unique visual styles. 

We are currently working on an unannounced original game as a follow-up to Manifold Garden and are looking for a QA Tester to join us. In this role, your primary goal is to identify and report bugs, figure out the reproduction steps, and work with engineers to ensure the bugs are fixed. You will also help us  develop testing plans, debug tools, and automated testing programs. 

The position will be partly remote and partly in-person at our studio in Chicago, IL. For the most part, you can work remotely to do QA testing. We will provide you with the necessary equipment, including a PC, MacBook, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Meta Quest 2. About once a week, you will be on-site at the studio to work with dev kits or specific devices. 

You must be eligible to work in the USA. 

 

Background

Manifold Garden’s development began in 2012. It was inspired by the works of M.C. Escher, physics, and architecture. While the game started as a solo project, it was a team that took it through the finish line. The core team came together starting in 2017, and the final product is a collaborative effort with all of our contributions.

Manifold Garden was released in October 2019 to critical acclaim. It was nominated for a BAFTA and Game Developers Choice Award and has since been exhibited at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Design Museum in London. The game is available on Apple Arcade, Steam, Epic Games Store, Itchio, PS4/PS5, Xbox One /Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch. We partnered with iam8bit to release a physical edition for PS5 and Switch, as well as a beautiful edition of the soundtrack on vinyl that won the Best Vinyl Gatefold Award.

 

What are we working on? 

Since Manifold Garden was released, we’ve been working on several new projects. We are excited about the creative potential of new technologies. Our focus is to create innovative games that push the boundaries of gameplay and reimagine space, physics, and architecture. One of the projects we are working on is an original VR title that explores impossible geometry. 

 

What are we looking for in a QA Tester? 

The QA Tester is responsible for finding and reporting bugs in our games. You will test on a number of devices across a variety of platforms (PC, Steam Deck, MacOS, tvOS, iOS, PS4/PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and VR). Our ideal candidate is an excellent communicator who is organized and excited about creating high-quality products. 

The QA Tester must be meticulous and detail-oriented. Asking questions like: Which area of the game did the bug happen? How long were you playing when the issue occurred? Which button did you press when the game glitched out? You must be an astute observer who enjoys finding answers using defined processes and procedures. 

The QA Tester must have strong written communication skills. You will work closely  with the development team and write up bug reports that clearly list the issue, the expected result, the reproduction steps, and any other relevant information.

The QA Tester must be curious. You don’t need to know how to program, but understanding how the game works will help you be a more effective tester. You should be interested in how games work under the hood and want to push the systems to their limits. 

 

Responsibilities

  • Test products and identify defects and inconsistencies
  • Write clear, concise, and detailed bug reports for engineers
  • Follow up and verify fixes are correct
  • Communicate with engineers and designers to understand how features are supposed to work
  • Work with existing QA testing processes and develop new ones as needed
  • Come up with plans to test edge cases and execute on them
  • Review and verify player-reported bugs
  • Run performance tests on builds to identify areas for improvement
  • Work with engineers to develop automated testing plans
  • Coordinate and schedule testing with external QA testers
  • Work with various consoles and platforms, including VR
  • Work with platform-specific requirement checklists as needed

 

Qualifications

  • Professional QA experience on one released game
  • Excellent communication and writing skills
  • Experience creating clear and concise bug reports
  • Meticulous and detail-oriented
  • Curious about game mechanisms 
  • Can work independently with minimal supervision
  • Comfortable working in a hybrid synchronous and asynchronous work style

 

Skills and Experience that would be beneficial, but not required:

  • Computer science background
  • Experience working on a VR or AR title
  • Experience with bug tracking software
  • Strong knowledge of console and platform technical requirements
  • Proficiency with perforce
  • Proficiency with Unity
  • Familiarity with Notion
  • A strong interest in puzzle games

 

Flexible Hours

We value flexibility and independence. Flexibility means each team member can decide what is the best way for them to work while staying open-minded to input. Independence means being self-motivated, having the ability to run with 75% of a task, and having the confidence to know when and how to ask for guidance and offer ideas.

We are primarily a remote work environment, with team members and collaborators working in multiple cities and various time zones. We use a synchronous/ asynchronous model to ensure we can have real-time meetings as a group, as well as time for each of us to do deep work according to our own schedule. Our synchronous hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am - 2 pm US Central Time. During these hours, you’re expected to be available and responsive. Outside of these 4 hours, you can manage your time however you want.

 

Location

  • Candidate must be based in or around the Chicago, IL area. 
  • Most of the time, you can work remotely, but about once a week, you will need to work on-site at the studio to test on dev kits or specific devices. 

 

Benefits

  • 100% employer-paid Health Insurance and 50% coverage for up to three dependents
  • Life Insurance
  • 401(k) Matching
  • Paid time off for holidays, vacation, and personal matters 
  • Options for family leave
  • Stipends for home office, games, and wellness
  • Remote work most of the time (in-office about once a week)
  • Flexible work schedule (Be available Monday to Friday 10 am - 2 pm CT, all other time is for you to manage)

 

To Apply

Please send an email to jobs at williamchyr dot com with "WCS - QA Tester'' in the subject line. Please also include 

  • A brief outline of why you think you'd fit the position
  • Contact information for two professional references
  • Attach any relevant supporting documents –resume, CV, or portfolio
  • Acknowledgement that you have the right to work in the USA

William Chyr Studio is an equal-opportunity employer committed to facilitating an inclusive environment for all team members. We encourage candidates with diverse backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

 

Application and Interview Process

The job posting period is from November 14th to December 2nd. After this period is over,  we will look over all applications and reach out to select candidates for interviews. We will aim to respond to everyone by December 9th. 

If you are selected for an interview, we will coordinate with you to set up a video call in order for us to get to know each other.

About 
William Chyr Studio
Featured Game
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Manifold Garden is a game that reimagines physics and space.

Rediscover gravity and explore a beautiful Escher-esque world of impossible architecture. Geometry repeats infinitely in every direction, and falling down leads you back to where you started. Manipulate gravity to change your perspective and see the world in new ways. Master the rules of the universe and restore a barren world with vegetation and life.

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