Senior Manual Test Engineer

About the company 

Side (formerly PTW) is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 20 studios in 14 countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. 

Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets. 

Help us bring stories to the world Join a global team of passionate gamers and contribute to delivering unforgettable game experiences.   

Experience our side of life. For more information, visit 

About the role 

We are looking for a Senior Manual Test Engineer to join a highly skilled QA team working on complex, modern software products. This is a hands-on manual testing role for an experienced QA professional who can operate independently with minimal guidance. The ideal candidate has strong testing fundamentals, solid technical understanding, and experience validating both traditional applications and AI-powered systems.

This role does not require hands-on programming, but does require a strong theoretical understanding of software development concepts and tools.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Perform manual functional testing across new features and existing functionality
• Design, write, review, and maintain clear and comprehensive test cases
• Execute regression testing to ensure system stability after updates and releases
• Conduct UI/UX testing, ensuring usability, consistency, and user experience standards are met
• Validate integrations and workflows involving APIs, API keys, and related development tools
• Test applications that interact with or leverage LLMs, demonstrating an understanding of how these systems work and respond
• Identify, document, and track defects with high-quality bug reports
• Review, validate, and manage bug creation and test outputs from offshore QA teams
• Collaborate closely with product, engineering, and QA stakeholders to ensure high-quality releases
• Act as a senior QA presence, providing guidance through best practices rather than direct supervision

Requirements 

• 6+ years of experience in manual software testing with a strong focus on quality assurance best practices
• Proven experience working as a QA professional on production software (not crowd testing or ad-hoc testing)
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (SDLC) and testing methodologies
• Ability to work independently with minimal guidance in a senior testing role
• Solid technical knowledge, including a theoretical understanding of at least one programming language (no hands-on coding required)
• Experience testing APIs, understanding API keys, authentication methods, and common development tools
• Familiarity with LLMs and AI-driven systems, including how they function, respond, and are validated from a QA perspective
• Experience writing clear, detailed, and maintainable test cases
• Strong defect management skills, including writing high-quality bug reports and tracking issues to resolution
• Experience collaborating with offshore QA teams, including reviewing and handling externally reported defects
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

What we offer: 

• Attractive compensation package, negotiable as per the level of experience.
• You will be working for the pre-eminent global provider of specialist services to the games industry and provided with full training and the opportunity to work on some of the biggest game clients, titles, projects, and tech in the world. 
• Attractive remuneration, holidays, regular team competitions with great prizes; and inclusion into an extensive social calendar. Our environments thrive with collaborative teamwork with people from all around the world, different nationalities, and languages. 
• A supportive community inclusive of LGBTQ+, and any age, ethnicity, religion, or disability. We care about the wellbeing of our employees and have a dedicated employee wellbeing program. We empower our people and offer regular progression opportunities to ensure our employees flourish. 
• Learn as you work and be part of something real that changes the face of gaming - forever. 
• Working with a global multi-lingual workforce with superb training and promotion and progression opportunities.