// Open Role at Barnstorm VFX
Join VOID Interactive, the team behind Ready or Not, as a Senior QA Specialist. Work remotely to develop comprehensive testing strategies, identify critical issues, and elevate the quality of their best-selling FPS game.
Based in the heart of Leamington Spa, Pixel Toys have spent over a decade pushing the capabilities of mobile gaming. We have developed multiple award-winning titles, including: Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realm War; and we’re now excited to be exclusively working on a new game, unlike ANYTHING we’ve done previously!
As a forward thinking and innovative studio we are always looking for new technologies and techniques to develop and use in our games and make them even more engaging experiences for our customers.
We are excited to continue to grow our team and are always on the lookout for highly talented and motivated individuals, who are passionate about gaming and excited to join us on our ambitious journey!
The Role:
Join us as a Server Engineer at Pixel Toys and become an architect behind our next-gen backends, building the high-performance infrastructure that powers our AAA mobile title.
Undertake a unique opportunity to work in a flexible, creative environment where your ideas directly shape the sophisticated systems supporting millions of players. Your mission involves taking full ownership of complex feature development, from initial planning through to the deployment of robust, scalable server technologies. You will work in close collaboration with our Designers, Artists, and client-side Developers to ensure our game systems are perfectly integrated and optimised for a seamless player experience.
Beyond the initial build, you will play a critical role in maintaining our technical gold standard by profiling code, identifying performance bottlenecks, and resolving compatibility issues. You will be a guardian of the server stack, conducting insightful code reviews and implementing best practices that ensure the security, stability, and longevity of our infrastructure.
About you:
You are a highly motivated engineer with a deep-seated passion for crafting complex backend solutions and a relentless commitment to technical quality.
Experienced in C# and with a practical understanding of modern architectural patterns, you possess the expertise needed to shape the very foundation of our server environments. You will bring hands-on experience with a variety of database solutions, ideally including DynamoDB, Redis, and AWS RDS; and are well-versed in navigating cloud platforms like AWS. Your technical toolkit is rounded out by a strong understanding of CI/CD tools such as Jenkins or Codebuild, and you are a firm believer in the importance of security best practices and rigorous monitoring through tools like Datadog or Kibana.
In the fast-paced world of Agile development, you stand out as a creative problem solver and an exceptional communicator who can bridge the gap between complex server logic and broader project goals. You are a proactive team player who thrives on troubleshooting and has the "can-do" attitude required to drive a project to the highest standard.
Above all, you are fueled by a genuine love for gaming and a desire to solve the intricate technical puzzles that come with supporting a global, high-traffic product. Your enthusiasm for collaboration and your drive to stay at the forefront of server technology make you a pivotal asset to our engineering team and the future of our games!
What can Pixel Toys offer?
At Pixel Toys we are proud of the progressive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment we have created; a place where everyone has the opportunity to be themselves and is welcomed and valued for who they are and what they contribute. We have some fantastic benefits we offer our employees… Here are just some of them:
- Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive testing strategies and test cycles covering gameplay, functionality, performance, usability, balancing, and regression. - Validate game quality across all major platforms, identifying issues early in development and supporting the delivery of stable, high-quality releases. - Identify edge cases, potential risks, test coverage gaps, and opportunities to improve overall product quality. - Write detailed and easy-to-understand bug reports. - Transform large volumes of QA feedback into actionable reports. - Support milestone planning by providing detailed risk assessments and informed quality evaluations. - Champion the continuous improvement of QA workflows, processes, documentation, and testing standards. - Maintain balanced test coverage aligned with project milestones, priorities, and long-term product goals. - Apply strong FPS and tactical shooter knowledge to develop effective testing strategies. - Work collaboratively, share knowledge, and help foster a supportive and effective testing environment. - Support Agile development practices and participate in team ceremonies. - 4+ years of QA experience in the videogame industry, with experience owning or leading testing initiatives. - Proven experience contributing to complex projects from early development through final release. - Solid understanding of QA processes, testing workflows, methodologies, and best practices. - Exceptional bug-reporting skills with strong attention to detail. - Experience designing, maintaining, and executing detailed test cases and comprehensive test plans. - Strong communication and collaboration skills. - Confidence identifying QA project risks early, and experience contributing to practical mitigation strategies and solutions. - High proficiency with issue-tracking and documentation platforms including Jira and Confluence. - Deep understanding of complex FPS game mechanics, systems, and player behaviours. - Ability to consolidate large amounts of information into clear and concise action items. - Strong passion for FPS and tactical shooter games. - Experience and confidence working in Agile and Scrum environments. - Self-motivated, highly adaptable, and a collaborative team player.