Localization QA Lead | Irvine, CA

Team Name:

Localization

Job Title:

Localization QA Lead | Irvine, CA

Requisition Id:

R026078

Job Description:

Position Overview

Blizzard Entertainment is looking for a hardworking Localization QA Lead located in CA, to join our Localization Team. The Localization QA Lead is a key member of the Localization Quality Assurance team, responsible for driving the effective implementation of LQA strategies across all projects, both internal and external. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, communication abilities, and cross-cultural collaboration experience. The successful candidate will proactively solve problems, bridge business needs with technology, and ensure high-quality localized deliverables through efficient workflows, tools, and quality frameworks.

The successful candidate will actively collaborate with partner teams in Localization, with our global suppliers and with stakeholders in the United States. A key responsibility of this role is ensuring that Blizzard standards are upheld for all languages worldwide. Our Localization Team’s mission is ‘It Feels Blizzard in Every Language’, and the LQA Lead is a key player in fulfilling this mission. If you have a passion for delivering high-quality, localized entertainment experiences to millions of players globally, this job may be for you.

This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the comprehensive and consistent implementation of the Localization Quality Assurance (LQA) strategy across all projects, both internal and external, in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership in fostering cross-functional and cross-team collaboration—including LQA partners, development, FQA, language, and production teams—to optimize LQA operations and elevate vendor performance.
• Proactively contribute at the team level by integrating business requirements with technological solutions, translating strategic goals into actionable workflows, tools, and quality frameworks that enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and coverage.
• Act as the designated backup for the project coordinator, leveraging on-site presence to facilitate effective in-person communication and improve alignment with US time zones.
• Diagnose and resolve environment-related issues, particularly those requiring development team support, to ensure seamless testing operations.
• Maintain oversight of ongoing test activities, conducting thorough investigations and follow-ups on any issues or flags raised to ensure timely resolution.
• Monitor project schedules across multiple initiatives to identify, assess, and escalate potential risks that may impact deliverables.
• Track and analyze LQA test resource utilization, maintaining accurate records of partner employee lists to support resource planning and management.
• Closely monitor LQA partner performance, develop targeted improvement plans with teamwork, and collaborate with partners to drive continuous quality enhancement.
• Oversee the administration and management of LQA tools, including Jira, TestRail, and DAM, ensuring their effective utilization and ongoing optimization.

Requirements

• Strong passion for quality and accountability.
• Excellent understanding of software testing principles and methodologies, with a proven track record in test project management.
• Experience in localization and testing.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Localization QA, leading AAA projects.
• Deep understanding of the localization industry, with strong relationship management and influence skills.
• Outstanding organizational and analytical skills, with a data-driven approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Pluses

• Passion for testing and the gaming industry.
• Knowledge of audio-visual data and asset management.
• Experience with machine translation and post-editing.
• Familiarity with data visualization and related software (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Degree in a related field (e.g., computer science, software engineering, quality assurance, localization).
• Certifications in testing or project management (e.g., PMP, ISTQB).
• Experience in risk-based testing.
• Excellent knowledge of company products and services.
• Proficiency in one or more languages supported by company products.

Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!

Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!

The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.

We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do!

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.  We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.

Rewards

We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for ‘Every World’ - we’ve got our employees covered!  Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
• Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company.  You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.

In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $23.85 - $44.12 Hourly. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role’s range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.