Lead Software Test Engineer

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance.

Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.

Here, you’ll work with talented teams that move fast, think boldly and collaborate with purpose to deliver results. We aim high, champion the best ideas and win together, earning the trust of our employees, creators, partners and audiences every day.

If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO!

For our Milan office (Corso Europa) we are currently recruiting for a full-time:

Lead Software Test Engineer

Is this the role for you?

POSITION SUMMARY:

Skydance is looking for a passionate, self-motivated lead software test engineer to handle all aspects of testing (functional, performance, load, security, etc) across a large multiplatform environment. This individual will be partnering with various teams (product, engineering, and quality) by assisting with the development of processes and tools that allow the organization to excel in its continuous software development initiatives. As code is being delivered multiple times per day, test coverage and automation is crucial in allowing products to deliver quickly to market while maintaining the high level of quality our consumers deserve across our many diverse platforms.

What will you be doing?

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide technical quality leadership and guidance to the projects and resources that are assigned by implementing testing best practices

• Work on product/project teams developing test plans, test cases and test execution

• Partner with software engineering to design and develop tools and to assist in continuous development initiatives

• Conduct technical assessment of process and teams

• Perform load / performance testing where applicable

• Work alongside and mentor other test engineers to continuously improve process and provide input into our internal training bootcamps

• Contribute to and help maintain the testing framework for various types of testing (functional, load/performance, security) on multiple platforms (web, iOS/Android, emerging platforms)

• Operate in an agile software delivery methodology focused on testing new features within an iteration and providing near immediate feedback to engineers through test automation

• Perform exploratory testing where necessary in addition to regression testing

• Effectively communicate complex and/or difficult information to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment supporting many products on varied release cycles

• Oversee activities of other QE Engineers contractors

• Design and architect end-to-end test frameworks and strategy from the ground up for large-scale, multiplatform streaming applications, applying appropriate design patterns without over-engineering

• Lead the adoption of AI-augmented quality engineering practices, including AI-assisted test generation and review, evaluation of AI/LLM feature outputs, and establishing safeguards and data-governance practices (e.g. anonymization) for AI tool usage

• Perform hands-on code and test-design review (spotting logic bugs, flaky-prone patterns and bad practices), and hold the line on quality standards across the team

• Own test-suite health: prioritize test maintenance, identify and resolve flaky tests in CI, and drive risk-based and requirements-based coverage decisions

• Document processes and testing knowledge continuously to reduce key-person risk and support knowledge transfer across the team.

What are we looking for?

JOB SKILLS:

• Deep understanding of software quality best practices, with a passion for learning and adopting emerging technologies and methodologies
• Solid software development expertise and technical architecture capabilities
• Strong object-oriented programming background, with a focus on building scalable, reliable, and reusable solutions
• Hands-on proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript, with practical experience in one or more of C#, PHP, or Java
• Experience working in Unix/Linux environments
• Familiarity with version control systems such as Git, SVN, and Stash
• Experience with automation and testing tools, including Selenium, WebDriver, JUnit, TestNG, Appium, and Cypress
• Proficiency with CI/CD and build automation tools such as Jenkins and Bamboo
• Experience using performance testing tools, including JMeter and LoadRunner
• Experience working within Agile development and testing environments
• Understanding of web video playback, encoding, live streaming, and related technologies
• Knowledge of network analysis and proxy tools such as Charles, Fiddler, and HttpWatch
• Working knowledge of IT infrastructure, networking concepts, content delivery networks (CDNs), database fundamentals, and caching strategies
• Experience with TDD and BDD methodologies is a plus
• Strong coding and analytical problem-solving skills, with hands-on experience writing and debugging unit tests
• Good understanding of test design patterns and the ability to apply them pragmatically when appropriate
• Practical experience leveraging AI within quality engineering, including AI-assisted test generation, prompt engineering, and evaluation of AI/LLM outputs, combined with an awareness of data governance and safety considerations
• Experience designing and building test automation frameworks and architectures from the ground up
• A proactive, self-motivated professional who thrives both independently and as part of a collaborative team

EXPERIENCE:

The ideal candidate should have a background in software engineering and is seasoned in software quality best practices. Additionally, the candidate should have:

• 5+ years of designing and working with test automation frameworks and developing automated test scripts (web, mobile & OTT) specifically object-oriented frameworks

• 5+ years working and testing with various online research and analytics tools

• 3+ years working with and leading offshore resources

• Demonstrated experience designing (not only maintaining) a test automation framework from scratch, including architecture and technology choices

• Experience with online streaming video experiences (web, mobile & emerging technologies) a plus

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business or related discipline. The combination of education and relevant work experience will be considered.

Does it sound like you? Apply now and become part of our team!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hiring Salary Range: €55,000-€65,000

The hiring salary range for this position applies to Italy. Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. The benefits available for this position include lunch vouchers; Cancer Prevention Centres ("Centri Prevenzioni LILT"); Parents Package ("Pacchetto Genitori"); Employee Discount Program; Tax Assistance; Business Travel Accident Insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP); Well-being programmes, and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement benefits.

What we offer:

• Comprehensive compensation and benefits packages.
• Complimentary subscriptions to HBO Max, Paramount+, and other Skydance streaming services and digital news products.
• An exciting and fulfilling opportunity to be part of one of Skydance's most dynamic teams.
• Opportunities for both on-site and virtual engagement events.
• Unique opportunities to make meaningful connections and build a vibrant community, both inside and outside the workplace.

About Skydance

Skydance is a next-generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. Skydance's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, CBS, CNN, CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Food Network, BET, HGTV, and Comedy Central.

Skydance is an equal opportunity employer (EOE)

We embrace the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit. In line with the laws of the country or region in which the role is based, this includes consideration without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, union status or any other category protected by applicable law.