[Wattpad] Sr. Product QA Specialist

Toronto, Ontario / Remote - US or Canada / Halifax, Nova Scotia
Wattpad – Wattpad | Delivery /
Full-time /
Remote
Wattpad is a global multiplatform entertainment company whose vision is to entertain and connect the world through stories. Since 2006, we’ve been on a mission to use the power of community and technology to unleash the full potential of stories to the world. Every month 85 million people around the world spend over 23 billion minutes on Wattpad to share and discover stories they can’t find anywhere else.  Our brand banner includes: Wattpad, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Wattpad Books and Wattpad Brand Partnerships. We’re proudly based in Toronto, but our reach is global. Come build the future of entertainment and storytelling, and write your next chapter with us!

The Senior Product QA Specialist is a vital member of our Product Delivery team, responsible for upholding the highest quality of our product. This role entails identifying and documenting both functional and non-functional quality requirements, creating and executing comprehensive testing strategies, automating regression tests, collaborating with engineering to establish and manage staging environments, mentoring product quality staff, reporting and tracking defects, and implementing automated regression plans for periodic releases. The expertise of the Product QA Specialist is essential to ensuring that our product features and updates adhere to the highest standards of quality and performance.

What you’ll be doing:

    • Build and Manage Staging Environments: Collaborate with the Engineering team to create and manage staging environments to replicate production settings for thorough testing.
    • Ensure Adherence to Test Strategy on Staging: Ensure that the test strategy on staging is followed and all test activities are aligned with the overall quality goals.
    • Implement automated regression Plans: Identify and build regression plans for periodic releases from a product perspective, ensuring thorough testing of all features and updates.
    • Identify Product Quality Requirements: Work closely with the Product Management team to identify and document functional (User authentication, content uploading, search functionality, and user interaction features) and non-functional (Dashboards, data reports, performance metrics, usability) product quality requirements. 
    • Design Test Strategy and Plan: Develop comprehensive test strategies and detailed test plans to ensure all product features meet the highest quality standards.
    • Execute Test Plan: Conduct manual and automated testing to identify and resolve product defects.
    • Automate Regression Tests: Develop and maintain automated regression tests to ensure ongoing product quality.
    • Mentor Product Quality team members: Provide guidance and training to product quality team members to improve their understanding of product quality requirements and testing methodologies.
    • Collaborate with Cross-Functional Teams: Work closely with developers, designers, technical project managers and product managers to ensure alignment on quality objectives and seamless integration of new features and updates.
    • Report and Track Defects: Document and track defects, providing detailed reports and working with the development team to ensure timely resolution.
    • Analyze Test Results: Review and analyze test results to identify trends, root causes of defects, and opportunities for improvement.
    • Stay Updated with Industry Trends: Keep up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices in quality assurance and testing methodologies.
    • Optimize Testing Practices: Drive continuous improvements in testing methods, tools, and techniques to augment product quality and streamline team productivity

What we're looking for:

    • A minimum of three years of demonstrated experience in a quality assurance role, preferably within a project-based environment.
    • Proven ability to develop and execute quality assurance plans.
    • Experience with industry-standard test automation tools, frameworks and various testing methodologies and techniques.
    • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
    • Knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, JavaScript) for test automation
    • Experience in mobile application testing
    • Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner)
    • Experience with security testing tools and methodologies
    • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI)
    • Knowledge of UX/UI principles and usability testing
    • Experience with work management tools like JIRA
    • Experience with bug tracking and test management tools.
    • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
    • Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
    • Effective communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
    • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Bonus Points For:

    • Relevant certifications are an asset, such as: ISTQB Certified Tester (Foundation Level or Advanced Level), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or other Agile certifications, Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA), or Certified Software Tester (CSTE)
    • Familiarity with the Entertainment and Tech sector is beneficial.
    • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as engineering, computer science, or business administration, is preferred.

What we offer:

    • Career development; we believe in mentorship and investing in your learning, supporting you to achieve your goals
    • Health benefits, including vision and dental!
    • RRSP Contributions (Canada), 401K Contributions (USA)
    • Generous vacation and Parental Leave Top-up
    • Corporate discount for gym memberships for you and your family
    • Winter break shutdown and a whole lot more!
Please note, this job description was created with the support of AI.

Wattpad is conducting all interviews in a distributed manner using applicable third party software where needed and using visual interface tools such as Google Hangouts and Zoom.

About Wattpad

Who are we? Entrepreneurs and Do-ers. Our vision is to entertain and connect the world through stories, and our mission is to use the power of community and technology to unleash the full potential of stories to the world.
What does that mean? We are visionaries, community builders, passionate problem solvers, storytellers, coffee snobs (tea drinkers, too!), curious by nature, and culturally diverse.
What are we obsessed with? Our users. Solving complex problems and maximizing flow. Learning constantly. Building the next great storytelling product. Finding the greatest stories ever told. Dogs (and cats), coffee, and good snacks.
How do we work? Autonomously, collaboratively, respectfully. Balancing with work, family, and play...and all while having a great time.

Wattpad is a remote friendly company and encourages remote candidates to apply as long as they are located and authorized to work in either the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) as a precondition of employment. We are not able to sponsor applicants for work permits.

If you happen to live near the areas of either Toronto, Ontario or Halifax, Nova Scotia, you may also have the opportunity to work from our beautiful offices - 1 located in Downtown Toronto and the other in Halifax.

Culture and Diversity

Wattpad is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate. Period. 

Wattpad welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. We have taken a leadership position on creating a culture and an organization that truly values diversity. We are committed to fostering a global team that reflects the diversity of the Wattpad community. At Wattpad, we believe cultural fit doesn’t mean culturally identical, and diversity of thought helps us to challenge one another to think big and think differently. We consider employment applicants without regard to age, race, colour, national origin, citizenship, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, disability status or any other protected status.  

If you have any special needs or accessibility requirements, please let us know. We will do our utmost to accommodate, in accordance with applicable local legislation.

Don’t meet all the requirements? Studies show women and people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs if they do not meet all the qualifications. Therefore, in an effort to build a more diverse workplace, we encourage you to apply anyways. You might actually be the right person or you may be a good fit for a number of other openings we currently have.