Quality Analyst, World of Warcraft | Irvine, CA or Austin, TX

At Blizzard Entertainment, we pour our hearts and souls into everything we create. Best known for iconic video game universes, including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, we’ve been creating genre-defining games for millions of players around the world for more than 30 years. We’re on a quest: bring our dreams to life and craft the most epic entertainment experiences…ever. Hard work, iteration, and polish go into the Blizzard “secret recipe,” but the most important ingredients come from talented people who share our vision.  

The concept of “Blizzard polish,” that is, the infinite care and loving detail put into every aspect of our games, is something we take seriously and pride ourselves on delivering to our players.  It’s a responsibility shared across the company – and its undisputed heart and soul is Blizzard QA. Blizzard QA is a close-knit team; we care about iteration, problem-solving, and succeeding as a group. We genuinely love what we do for a living and expect the same from everyone who joins us!

The Quality Analyst is a software development professional experienced in implementing the fundamental test process to enhance development processes and product quality. This role involves executing test approaches that align with Blizzard's quality standards, identifying and communicating defects and risks, and offering potential solutions. The Quality Analyst supports associate-level Quality Analysts, collaborating closely with key stakeholders on the product team. They analyze the development process to drive improvements, focusing on tool-assisted test design, execution, analysis, and test library management.

The Quality Analyst recognizes the value of test automation and actively participates in product development meetings and planning activities. They work closely with stakeholders to achieve product quality objectives and assist in training associate-level and new staff members.

This role is a full-time, hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA or Austin, TX.

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• Deliver test design, test execution, test library maintenance, and test closure results through both manual and automated Grey-box test approaches.

• Document and maintain detailed records of test cases, test results, and any issues discovered during testing.

• Develop test plans with a strategic selection of test methodologies, including but not limited to data validation, regression testing, integration testing, and performance/load testing.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, to comprehend and formulate requirements for effective testing.

• Regularly partner with internal and external vendor partners in global test teams to support applicable test activities.  

• Responsible for adhering to department Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within project management (i.e. JIRA) and test-related tools (i.e., TestRail).

• Ensure deployment stability across all test environments.

• Research, recommend, and adopt tools to support continuous improvement and to increase test coverage through automation.

• Use appropriate measures and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to validate and report on software quality.

• Utilize creative thinking to swiftly and comprehensively identify and test 'edge cases' beyond expected functionality. 

• Develop innovative exploratory testing methods that challenge the intended design of our products.

• Help others develop appropriate knowledge and skills through training and constructive feedback.

• Advocate the user experience through the delivery of qualitative reporting.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience in a similar role. 

• Experience working with a global test team structure preferred.

• Practical experience with game engines, bug and task tracking systems, content and asset editors, and shared technologies.

Knowledge & Skills

• High School diploma or equivalent required.  Bachelor’s Degree in a related field preferred. 

• Thorough understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), specifically QA processes in agile and waterfall development environments.

• Proven ability to analyze, interpret, and act on data sets and complex workflows. 

• Ability to troubleshoot using root cause analysis and provide creative approaches to detect and report on software defects promptly.

EXTRA POINTS

• Gray box testing experience.

• ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) or equivalent.

• Coding Knowledge: XML / HTML, JavaScript, Python, Java, C / C++ / C#, SQL.

• High level of gaming knowledge and/or skill.

• Passion for Blizzard’s line of products and services.

Your Platform 

Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. 
 

Our World 

Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet! 
 

Our ability to build immersive and innovative worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment.  We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered! 
 

Ready to Activate Your Future?   

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.   
 

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.   
 

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to [email protected]. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest. 
 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.