Ryan Ramsey
Verified Expert in Engineering
Quality Assurance Engineer and Developer
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Toptal member since December 17, 2021
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
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
Availability
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
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.
Quality Assurance Lead
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.
Lead Quality Assurance Engineer
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.
Production Tester
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.
Quality Assurance Lead
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.
Senior Quality Assurance Tester
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.
Quality Assurance Tester
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.
Quality Assurance Floor Lead
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.
Production Tester
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.
Experience
Test Lead for MapleStory 2
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.comTest Lead for News Websites, Flash Games, and an eCommerce Website Simultaneously
http://www.mutasia.comSkills
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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