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Ryan Ramsey
Verified Expert in Engineering
Quality Assurance Engineer and Developer
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Toptal member since December 17, 2021
Bio
Ryan is a veteran quality assurance manual tester with extensive experience testing websites, games, apps, and content management systems. He has a strong familiarity with a wide range of mobile devices, as well as PC and Mac. An expert at test planning, test execution, and bug tracking, Ryan has the experience to ensure your project receives the test coverage it deserves.
Portfolio
Nexon America
Jira, Agile, Website Testing, Mobile App Testing, Game Testing...
Avanquest
Agile, Jira, Website Testing, eCommerce, Quality Assurance (QA)...
EndPlay
Agile, Jira, Website Testing, eCommerce, Content Management Systems (CMS)...
Experience
- Bug Discovery & Tracking - 20 years
- Manual QA - 20 years
- Leading Quality Assurance (LQA) - 18 years
- Game Testing - 12 years
- Console Games - 11 years
- Jira - 9 years
- Website Testing - 9 years
- Mobile App Testing - 6 years
Preferred Environment
Windows, Jira
The most amazing...
...results I've achieved are at Nexon; we released 12 monthly content updates without the need to ever roll back the game servers due to missed bugs.
Work Experience
Quality Assurance Lead
2018 - 2019
Nexon America
- Led the QA team in the testing of MapleStory 2, an MMORPG for PC. Coordinated the testing efforts of our in-house team with additional off-site testers.
- Led the testing for monthly content updates which included forming the test strategy, creating all test cases, and tracking the testing for all game and website content.
- Assured that no rollbacks or emergency patches were needed. Between our initial launch and 12 content updates, we never had to roll back game servers or bring servers down for an emergency patch. All high severity issues were found before release.
- Volunteered to work at a live fan event, MapleFest 2019; was a fun day interacting with fans of the game and I enjoyed speaking with them about the game, the company, and software testing in general.
- Acted as a Jira expert, including on a daily basis, reviewing all open database issues and following up with issues that weren't receiving the required attention.
- Managed our collection of mobile devices used by several test teams and used them when testing the game's website.
- Played the game extensively in my free time. This allowed me to better understand the game community's perspective and what they expected from the game.
Technologies: Jira, Agile, Website Testing, Mobile App Testing, Game Testing, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Slack App, Bug Discovery & Tracking, Manual QA
Quality Assurance Lead
2014 - 2016
Avanquest
- Led the team in the testing of six eCommerce websites. This included planning the test strategy and tracking all test progress.
- Managed the department's mobile device collection, consisting of a wide range of phones and tablets. These devices were used in the testing of all websites and mobile apps.
- Discovered a security flaw in the login system, which allowed malicious users to log in and make purchases using another person's account and saved payment information.
Technologies: Agile, Jira, Website Testing, eCommerce, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Mobile App Testing, Manual QA, Slack App, Bug Discovery & Tracking, HTML
Lead Quality Assurance Engineer
2010 - 2013
EndPlay
- Led the testing of a content management system and the accompanying news websites for clients such as LIN Media, Scripps, and FOX Deportes. Also led the testing of an eCommerce website, as well as a children's game and learning website called Mutasia.
- Balanced the workload for several projects at once. We worked on all of our projects simultaneously and would constantly jump between projects on a daily basis.
- Traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to meet with clients regarding our newest update. Met with news station producers to demonstrate advanced features, as well as to listen and gather their feedback in real time as they used our software.
Technologies: Agile, Jira, Website Testing, eCommerce, Content Management Systems (CMS), Game Testing, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Mobile App Testing, Skype, Bug Discovery & Tracking
Production Tester
2009 - 2010
The IS Agency
- Managed all test planning, testing, and bug tracking as the sole tester for this small studio.
- Collected, stored, and organized all client media. The websites we created were to showcase digital art, so we needed to work with clients to acquire their work and ensure it was displayed as they envisioned.
- Met clients locally to receive their digital media to avoid the delay of delivery service.
Technologies: Jira, Agile, Website Testing, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Skype, Bug Discovery & Tracking
Quality Assurance Lead
2009 - 2009
Animax Entertainment
- Led the testing of multiple projects at once, including a learning website for children and various PC games.
- Began with a team of two other testers. They ended up leaving, and I became the sole QA resource. I could perform the workload alone, so we decided not to hire additional testers.
- Collaborated with developers to help them fine-tune the difficulty of games before release.
Technologies: Agile, Jira, Website Testing, Game Testing, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Content Management Systems (CMS), Skype, Bug Discovery & Tracking
Senior Quality Assurance Tester
2006 - 2008
Take-Two Interactive Software
- Led large teams in testing various AAA sports titles such as NBA 2K, NHL 2K, and MLB 2K. As a sports fan, I had an expert understanding of what to expect from various sports.
- Managed the bug database which included reviewing every bug entry for accuracy (mostly submitted by entry-level testers); it usually took 2-3 shifts, each consisting of 20-40 testers submitting as many bugs as possible.
- Assisted in the training of every new hire that we brought in. Spent two hours every Monday to Wednesday to work with each new hire individually, assess them, and recommend whether to retain them beyond the initial training week.
Technologies: Bug Discovery & Tracking, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Console Games
Quality Assurance Tester
2005 - 2006
THQ
- Discovered bugs and submitted them into the bug database for various console games.
- Tested fixed issues when new builds were available.
- Regressed existing features when new builds were available.
Technologies: Bug Discovery & Tracking, Console Games, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA)
Quality Assurance Floor Lead
2001 - 2005
Activision
- Assisted in managing a team of 20-40 testers in bug discovery and bug entry.
- Tested fixed issues when new builds were available.
- Regressed existing features when new builds were available.
Technologies: Console Games, Bug Discovery & Tracking, Quality Assurance (QA), Manual QA, Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Skype, Game Testing
Production Tester
2003 - 2003
Neversoft Entertainment
- Tested new builds to ensure stability before they were sent to the large test teams. Worked onsite at Neversoft for the duration of one specific project, Tony Hawk's Underground.
- Focus-tested the game throughout production and helped to fine-tune the difficulty of progression, as well as the difficulty of finding hidden Easter egg-type objects.
- Created a map included in the retail version of the game, using the game's Create-A-Park feature. I included the hardest challenges that the game had to offer in my map due to my love for the game combined with my advanced gameplay skills.
Technologies: Bug Discovery & Tracking, Manual QA, Quality Assurance (QA), Console Games
Experience
Test Lead for MapleStory 2
I joined Nexon to lead the testing of MapleStory 2. I created our test strategy, which focused on testing monthly content updates. With an extremely small team, we were able to deliver stable and high-quality releases on a regular basis.
I created all test documentation, including dynamically updating progress displays using Excel and maintaining an archive of test results. I also ensured all bug reports were assigned to the right developers, and I was the main driving force in suggesting which bugs received a higher priority for fixes.
I created all test documentation, including dynamically updating progress displays using Excel and maintaining an archive of test results. I also ensured all bug reports were assigned to the right developers, and I was the main driving force in suggesting which bugs received a higher priority for fixes.
Test Lead for Six eCommerce Websites and their Mobile Apps
http://www.canvasworld.comI served as the quality assurance lead for the testing of six eCommerce websites. I was responsible for creating new test cases for all new functionality and new products, as well as planning and tracking all test progress. I also tested the companion app for several websites and maintained and managed the devices used for mobile testing.
Test Lead for News Websites, Flash Games, and an eCommerce Website Simultaneously
At EndPlay, I was the quality assurance lead for several projects concurrently. I performed all planning and tracking for the testing of the news websites, Flash games, and an eCommerce website. My responsibilities also included creating test cases for all new functionality.
Skills
Tools
Jira, Skype
Paradigms
Agile
Languages
HTML
Other
Website Testing, eCommerce, Mobile App Testing, Game Testing, Bug Discovery & Tracking, Quality Assurance (QA), Leading Quality Assurance (LQA), Manual QA, Slack App, Console Games, Content Management Systems (CMS)
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