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Development Lead (in Test) Job
Reading, GB
Job Category: Software Engineering: Test
Location: Reading, GB
Job ID: 782869-73043
Division: Interactive Entertainment Business
Are you passionate about the tools and automation necessary to create and test great games on Xbox 360, Windows, and Mobile platforms? Are you an excellent mentor capable of raising the technical skills of SDEs and SDETs across a games studio? Would you like to work in a fun, dynamic, energetic group that supports some of the best titles in gaming?
The Games Test Organisation (GTO) within Microsoft Studios is looking for a talented, experienced development lead to help create a full suite of tools and technical infrastructure. The position is based in the Microsoft UK campus in Reading, and reports directly to the Test Manager.
Team/Department Mission
The GTO is responsible for quality software engineering and testing across a range of AAA titles. We are crucial partners to game development teams, providing expert black box testing, automated testing and other technical approaches, data analysis and actionable reports.
We have a diverse portfolio, from family-friendly Kinect titles to hard-core shooters, including both video games and entertainment applications (e.g. Sky TV on Xbox 360). We work with the best of the industry (e.g. Lionhead, Rare) on AAA franchises like Fable, Gears of War and Forza. Microsoft Studios is always pushing the boundaries of entertainment, so our testers can expect to work on a variety of platforms (e.g. PC, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile, Xbox LIVE) and with many interesting technologies (e.g. Kinect, streaming video). We also invest time in developing new tools and processes that extend our capabilities.
Key Accountabilities
We’re looking for an Lead SDE 9develoipoment lead( to manage a small team of SDE’s and SDET’s to support Microsoft Studios. This team will juggle responsibilities across multiple projects. Strong candidates will have the ability to adapt to diverse processes and development partners as well as to seek out and drive process improvements.
As an SDE Lead your duties will include the design/creation of tools and automation to support various games and teams as well as recommending project specific debug hooks in order to test a project more efficiently and more completely. You will be working on a variety of Microsoft platforms, all of which utilize networking components. You will also be expected to drive automation within the department, consult, create standards and ensure support and implementation for projects. The creation of reporting infrastructure, integrating existing Microsoft Studios tools and technologies, working cross-functionally with our development and program management teams are also critical components for success in this role. Most importantly, you will drive the continuing technical development for Microsoft testing in Europe, developing and hiring talented SDEs and SDETs, resulting in improved and expert engineering in test.
Primary Responsibilities include:
- Developing a long-term plan for delivering tools, game automation and automated reporting of coverage data to support the entire department across multiple projects
- Building and managing a centralized team consisting of permanent and contingent software developers within the test department ensuring excellent hires and growth for all staff
- Apply knowledge of industry best practices and trends/developments to improve software development process in test
- Partnering with project test leads and studio partners to define, develop and deliver technical solutions that extend our testing, coverage and reporting
- Identify and investigate key game backend requirements, services and solutions, including load, performance, reliability, scalability and security
- Investigate opportunities for growing our White Box testing skillset with development partners
- Creating department-wide policies around source control, code reviews and other key processes and standards; holding direct reports and the entire department accountable to these best practices
- Instilling a culture of engineering excellence and personal advancement
- Developing and extending the tools and technology infrastructure for the team
- Designing and delivering code for systems that run in the game during development and help report, isolate, and resolve problems in the game and development process
- Fully maintaining and debugging tools and systems in the infrastructure space
- Leveraging the skills, knowledge, relationships and infrastructure of the GTO in Redmond, USA as well as Microsoft as a whole.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
A qualified candidate will have the following experience and skills:
1. Essential Experience: Qualified candidates must have a strong CS background and an awareness of good software architecture; excellent communication, organisational and demonstrable leadership skills; and great problem solving skills. They must have the ability to independently drive projects and work collaboratively across team boundaries.
2. Technical/Functional Skills: We’re looking for someone who has strong programming skills in C++ and C#, and is adept at debugging in these languages. Experience with all aspects of Windows Server (especially SQL and IIS), web development and networking are also highly desirable. Candidates should also have experience with a wide range of internal and production tools, automation and data mining and visualization (instrumentation, statistical analysis and reporting).
3. Personal Attributes/Interpersonal Skills: Ideally, a candidate will have direct experience working in or alongside both internal and external development teams. Management experience is essential; however we may consider an individual who can demonstrate the potential to become a great manager and mentor. In either case, candidates must be committed to learning and proactively sharing their knowledge with others. They must also possess the ability to work in a team environment and on multiple projects.
4. Qualifications: A degree in Computer Science or associated experience is required, along with a proven track record of contributing to the successful release of software products via software engineering and management.
5. Attitude: Candidates must have a passion for games and a strong desire to work in the games / interactive entertainment industry. They must equally have a passion for technology and a good awareness of emerging trends in software engineering.
Salary: Competitive salary, plus bonus, company car and company stocks and benefits
Location: Thames Valley Park, Reading
Closing date: 7th Feb 2012
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity
Microsoft’s privacy statement can be viewed on the following web page:
EUR:MSGB:RD:EN
EUR:MSGB:IT:EN
Location: Reading, GB
Job ID: 782869-73043
Division: Interactive Entertainment Business
Are you passionate about the tools and automation necessary to create and test great games on Xbox 360, Windows, and Mobile platforms? Are you an excellent mentor capable of raising the technical skills of SDEs and SDETs across a games studio? Would you like to work in a fun, dynamic, energetic group that supports some of the best titles in gaming?
The Games Test Organisation (GTO) within Microsoft Studios is looking for a talented, experienced development lead to help create a full suite of tools and technical infrastructure. The position is based in the Microsoft UK campus in Reading, and reports directly to the Test Manager.
Team/Department Mission
The GTO is responsible for quality software engineering and testing across a range of AAA titles. We are crucial partners to game development teams, providing expert black box testing, automated testing and other technical approaches, data analysis and actionable reports.
We have a diverse portfolio, from family-friendly Kinect titles to hard-core shooters, including both video games and entertainment applications (e.g. Sky TV on Xbox 360). We work with the best of the industry (e.g. Lionhead, Rare) on AAA franchises like Fable, Gears of War and Forza. Microsoft Studios is always pushing the boundaries of entertainment, so our testers can expect to work on a variety of platforms (e.g. PC, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile, Xbox LIVE) and with many interesting technologies (e.g. Kinect, streaming video). We also invest time in developing new tools and processes that extend our capabilities.
Key Accountabilities
We’re looking for an Lead SDE 9develoipoment lead( to manage a small team of SDE’s and SDET’s to support Microsoft Studios. This team will juggle responsibilities across multiple projects. Strong candidates will have the ability to adapt to diverse processes and development partners as well as to seek out and drive process improvements.
As an SDE Lead your duties will include the design/creation of tools and automation to support various games and teams as well as recommending project specific debug hooks in order to test a project more efficiently and more completely. You will be working on a variety of Microsoft platforms, all of which utilize networking components. You will also be expected to drive automation within the department, consult, create standards and ensure support and implementation for projects. The creation of reporting infrastructure, integrating existing Microsoft Studios tools and technologies, working cross-functionally with our development and program management teams are also critical components for success in this role. Most importantly, you will drive the continuing technical development for Microsoft testing in Europe, developing and hiring talented SDEs and SDETs, resulting in improved and expert engineering in test.
Primary Responsibilities include:
- Developing a long-term plan for delivering tools, game automation and automated reporting of coverage data to support the entire department across multiple projects
- Building and managing a centralized team consisting of permanent and contingent software developers within the test department ensuring excellent hires and growth for all staff
- Apply knowledge of industry best practices and trends/developments to improve software development process in test
- Partnering with project test leads and studio partners to define, develop and deliver technical solutions that extend our testing, coverage and reporting
- Identify and investigate key game backend requirements, services and solutions, including load, performance, reliability, scalability and security
- Investigate opportunities for growing our White Box testing skillset with development partners
- Creating department-wide policies around source control, code reviews and other key processes and standards; holding direct reports and the entire department accountable to these best practices
- Instilling a culture of engineering excellence and personal advancement
- Developing and extending the tools and technology infrastructure for the team
- Designing and delivering code for systems that run in the game during development and help report, isolate, and resolve problems in the game and development process
- Fully maintaining and debugging tools and systems in the infrastructure space
- Leveraging the skills, knowledge, relationships and infrastructure of the GTO in Redmond, USA as well as Microsoft as a whole.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
A qualified candidate will have the following experience and skills:
1. Essential Experience: Qualified candidates must have a strong CS background and an awareness of good software architecture; excellent communication, organisational and demonstrable leadership skills; and great problem solving skills. They must have the ability to independently drive projects and work collaboratively across team boundaries.
2. Technical/Functional Skills: We’re looking for someone who has strong programming skills in C++ and C#, and is adept at debugging in these languages. Experience with all aspects of Windows Server (especially SQL and IIS), web development and networking are also highly desirable. Candidates should also have experience with a wide range of internal and production tools, automation and data mining and visualization (instrumentation, statistical analysis and reporting).
3. Personal Attributes/Interpersonal Skills: Ideally, a candidate will have direct experience working in or alongside both internal and external development teams. Management experience is essential; however we may consider an individual who can demonstrate the potential to become a great manager and mentor. In either case, candidates must be committed to learning and proactively sharing their knowledge with others. They must also possess the ability to work in a team environment and on multiple projects.
4. Qualifications: A degree in Computer Science or associated experience is required, along with a proven track record of contributing to the successful release of software products via software engineering and management.
5. Attitude: Candidates must have a passion for games and a strong desire to work in the games / interactive entertainment industry. They must equally have a passion for technology and a good awareness of emerging trends in software engineering.
Salary: Competitive salary, plus bonus, company car and company stocks and benefits
Location: Thames Valley Park, Reading
Closing date: 7th Feb 2012
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity
Microsoft’s privacy statement can be viewed on the following web page:
EUR:MSGB:RD:EN
EUR:MSGB:IT:EN
Want to apply?
Apply online at:http://www.microsoft-careers.com/job/Reading-Development-Lead-%28in-Test%29-Job/1682018/