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LYNDSAY PISTELLA

Senior Video Game QA Analyst

Qualifications

SOFTWARE

ISSUE TRACKING/DOCUMENTATION
Trello, JIRA/Confluence, Azure DevOps, Test Track Pro, Hansoft, Bugzilla

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DEVELOPMENT
Perforce, Selenium, Unity, WebDriver, Aspera, Jenkins, Python, Team City, Appium

 

OFFICE
Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Adobe Creative Suites, 3DS Max and Maya, Twitch, Discord

TEST STRATEGY  & EXECUTION

Implementated Comprehensive Test Plans 

  • Functionality & Regressions

  • Compliance & Cert 

  • Performance & Stability

  • Multiplayer & Cross-Platform

  • Localization & Balance

  • Automation & Data Analysis

  • Test Plans & Documentation​​

  • Network & Stress Testing

  • Smoke, Build Verification

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PLATFORMS

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XBOX: GDK - Xbox Manager

Series X, Xbox One, 360, Kinect
 

SONY: SDK - Target Manager
PS5, PS4, PS3, Vita

 

NINTENDO: SDK - NDI
Switch, WiiU, 3DS, 

 

MOBILE: iOS, Android, Fire OS
 

VR: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, PSVR
 

PC: Steam, MSS, Epic, GoG

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SKILLS

- Passion for gaming with a strong player perspective, curious and problem-solving mindset

- Proactive communication, organization, and attention to detail.

- Highly motivated to learn and maintain continuous growth in sync with industry changes.

- Time management, team collaboration and adaptability

- Admin, organization and documentation

LEADERSHIP & TEAM MANAGEMENT

  • Mentored junior testers, and provided coaching on best practices and tools.

  • Delegated tasks based on tester strengths and project priorities.

  • Fostered a collaborative team culture with a focus on trust, ownership and accountability.

  • Conducted performance reviews and gave promotion feedback for direct reports.

TECHNICAL QA & TOOLS

DEV LANGUAGES: Python, JQL, SQL, Unity C#, Lua

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LANGUAGES: English - Native

Spanish - A2

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CUSTOM TOOLS: Partnered with internal tool teams to test, iterate, and improve proprietary utilities.

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Resume

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Experienced Senior QA Analyst with 12+ years in video game testing, contributing to 20+ AAA and indie titles across PC, mobile, VR, and multiple console generations. Proven leader in Agile/SCRUM environments, skilled in data-driven test strategies, automation tools, and platform compliance. Player-first mindset with deep industry knowledge, with strong analytical skills for risk assessment and test optimization. 

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Work History

Senior QA Analyst

Panic Button

Austin, TX
June 2020 - 2025

  • Led QA efforts on high-profile titles including Skyrim, Starfield, Fallout 4, Forza Horizon 4/5, and Jedi: Fallen Order, overseeing test strategy across PC and all major consoles.

  • Built and executed test pipelines for complex projects like Skyrim: 10th Anniversary Edition, managing platform-specific requirements (Steam, Epic, GoG, MS Store).

  • Collaborated cross-functionally with Bethesda QA, production, and engineering to resolve critical issues, streamline workflows, and align test priorities.

  • Improved testing efficiency using internal automation tools, JIRA dashboards, and data-driven risk assessment to optimize bug triage and coverage.

  • Owned compliance and certification testing for AAA titles, proactively identifying TRC/XR issues to reduce submission delays and support smooth live releases.

QA Analyst III

  • Led QA efforts across all production stages for Doom Eternal, Torchlight II, and Wolfenstein: Youngblood, collaborating with developers to define test strategies for Xbox Series X/One, PS4/PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

  • Designed and executed detailed test cases covering compliance, accessibility, multiplayer stability, performance, latency, localization, and compatibility across console generations.

  • Identified root causes of issues through hands-on troubleshooting and provided actionable solutions to developers, contributing to efficient problem resolution and overall game stability.

  • Coordinated with remote QA teams to maintain consistent workflows across time zones, ensuring quality and alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

Panic Button

Austin, TX
June 2019 - June 2020

QA Manager

  • Built and led the QA department from the ground up for Final Assault (VR), overseeing hiring, training, playtests, and manual testing across multiple VR platforms.

  • Developed QA processes and selected tools, collaborating closely with studio founders and developers to align testing with production goals and evolving game design.

  • Conducted balance and gameplay testing, ensuring smooth mechanics, fair difficulty, and overall playability through iterative feedback and design updates.

  • Acted as the key liaison between QA and development, maintaining up-to-date testing strategies in response to frequent changes in game balance and features.

  • Provided actionable feedback to directors and producers, helping prioritize testing efforts and improve studio-wide quality benchmarks.

Phaser Lock Interactive

Austin, TX
Feb. 2018- March 2019

EA Mobile: Red Crow

Austin, TX
Apr 2017 - Nov 2017

QA Analyst II

  • Managed daily builds and deployments using Jenkins and Perforce, supporting LiveOps and QA for The Simpsons: Tapped Out across Android, iOS, macOS, and Fire OS.

  • Led the Baton Rouge QA team, creating test plans, logging bugs, and ensuring thorough, on-time testing for regular content updates and patches.

  • Collaborated with internal teams and Fox to uphold quality standards for a highly protected IP, adapting quickly to shifting requirements and tight event-driven deadlines.

  • Monitored live game performance, proactively identifying and resolving issues to ensure a smooth player experience during updates and events.

Lead QA Analyst 

InMotion Software

Austin, TX
June 2016 - April 2017

  • Led QA testing for mobile UX/UI projects, including HEB’s mobile app, focusing on design/functionality issues and seamless user experience.

  • Collaborated directly with stakeholders in an Agile/Scrum environment, defining scope, authoring test cases, setting milestones, and delivering client-facing reports.

  • Tested cross-platform functionality for projects like REEF Education, ensuring stable communication between external hardware and web/mobile interfaces.

  • Coordinated onsite QA planning at HEB Headquarters, aligning test scope and responsibilities with internal teams to ensure project clarity and coverage.

QA Analyst I

  • Owned multiplayer QA for “Demons” mode in Doom, leading testing on matchmaking, latency, server stability, and organizing internal studio-wide playtests.

  • Focused on gameplay parity and timing in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, ensuring accuracy to the original game across multiplayer systems.

  • Identified high-impact bugs and exploits through detailed multiplayer testing and triage, contributing to improved balance and player experience.

Certain Affinity

Austin, TX
Sep 2015 - April 2016

QA Tester

KingsIsle Entertainment

Austin, TX
Apr 2014 - May 2015

  • Tested Wizard101 and Pirate101 for release readiness, with a strong focus on COPPA compliance, chat filters, and child safety standards.

  • Streamlined testing with Lua scripting and automation tools, improving efficiency for character progression, smoke tests, and sanity checks.

  • Collaborated with developers to debug and reproduce complex issues, adapting test plans to evolving gameplay and compliance needs.

QA Tester

Pole to Win

Austin, TX
July 2013 - Apr 2014

  • Provided QA and tech support for major console titles, including GTA Online, Tekken 6, The Walking Dead, and Zumba: World Party, with a focus on regression and late-stage testing across platforms like Kinect and WiiU.

  • Specialized in manual testing and feature ownership, developing deep familiarity with assigned systems and executing detailed test passes.

  • Utilized tools like JIRA, Hansoft, and Trello to log, organize, and prioritize bugs throughout various production phases.

CREDITS

Lyndsay Pistella

2025

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