QA Lead

About this role

We're looking for an experienced QA Lead to join the Sumo Digital QA team to own quality assurance on an unannounced project. Working on-site when needed, you'll set the test strategy, lead build validation and defect management, and act as the voice of QA across a project from daily triage to leadership build reviews. You'll also lead, mentor, and help develop a team of testers, making sure they have the tools, confidence, and ability to do their best work. * Own the test strategy for the project at every stage of development, from feature specs through to milestone and submission testing. * Lead build validation (BVT, Smoke, LKG) and ensure results are triaged, reported, and acted on. * Be involved with testing and apply a hands-on approach on the project to experience and evaluate where its quality is at throughout development. * Manage the full defect lifecycle including creation, validation, ongoing tracking and represent QA in bug triage. * Build, maintain, and evolve test plans and test environments across internal, external, and publisher QA channels. * Produce regular QA reporting for the team and project leadership. * Own the QA risk register and contribute to the wider project risk register. * Lead, coach, and develop the QA team with 1on1s, reviews, career progression and performance management. * Mentor junior testers and own their onboarding into the discipline. * Help coordinate outsourced QA resource and liaise with publisher QA. * Represent QA in agile practices including planning, retrospectives and leadership build reviews. * Maintain QA documentation and contribute to future project proposals. * Communicate within the QA team hierarchy as a voice for your project and also the QA discipline. * Proven experience as a QA Lead or Test Lead in games development. * Strong grasp of build validation and defect lifecycle management. * Experience writing test plans and QA reporting. * People-management experience with 1on1s, reviews, improvement plans, or similar. * Confident communicator, comfortable representing QA to developers, leadership and publishers. * Proficient with bug tracking and documentation tools (e.g. JIRA, Confluence). * A high degree of flexibility and organisational skills. * Passion for games and their development. * In-depth knowledge of console/PC hardware and software, development tools and technical games development. * Ability to problem solve, horizon scan, research and develop ways to increase testing accuracy, coverage and quality on an ongoing basis. * Proficient in Microsoft Office applications. Desirable: * Working knowledge of console certification/submission processes (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Mobile, Handhelds). * Experience managing outsourced or external QA vendors. * Familiarity with Perforce or similar version control tools. * Experience shipping at least one full title through all stages of development. Sumo understands the importance of having control over your benefits. That's why we offer a flexible, personalised benefits package designed to meet your unique needs, no matter where you are in your career.  Money: Flexible benefits allowance, salary sacrifice pension, benefits hub, payroll giving, an employee referral scheme (up to £1,000), financial/home buying consultations, workplace ISA and other schemes for tech loans, car loans and bicycles.   Lifestyle: Flexible working, 21 free choice days holiday, bank holidays, birthday day off, Christmas shutdown (Christmas Eve to New Year) and options to buy or sell up to a week of annual leave*. Health and Wellbeing: Dental insurance*, income protection, life assurance, BUPA private healthcare*, leading EAP programs (remote GP, mental health, physio, nutrition, lifestyle coaching and medical second opinions), critical illness cover*, health cash plan* and funded flu vaccines/eye tests. Personal Development: Structured Personal Development, regular appraisals and 5 learning days per annum. Extra Perks: A variety of in-studio perks, regular care packages, studio days out (family welcome), studio-led social activities (game jams, yoga, quizzes, life drawing and more), sabbaticals (at 10 years service) and annual gaming subscription. *Opt-in benefits (part of our flexible benefits options).