Co-op @ RIM - Instant Messaging Software Testing

Hi everyone,

I recently joined the Software Verification & Validation Real Time Collaboration team at RIM full time, after enjoying two 4-month Co-op terms on the team.
We're looking for Co-op students starting in the fall and winter!

The short description is that we test Instant Messaging applications and services for BlackBerry devices. We do a little of everything really..

We work hands-on with all BlackBerry models and manage our own testing environments including proxy servers for the instant messaging protocols listed below and BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

We cover consumer-based instant messaging protocols such as BlackBerry Messenger, AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger.
The Enterprise side includes Lotus Sametime, Microsoft Office Communicator and Novell GroupWise Messenger.

Some common activities include test suite development, test execution, certification, issue reporting and verification, client and server environment setup. Things progress pretty quickly, so most of this is usually not as straightforward as it sounds and requires some problem-solving and creative solutions.

I assure you that there's more than enough to do that you can touch on any or all of these things, depending on your interests or strengths.

You would be expected to a high level of individual responsibility and autonomy, but also collaborate closely within and between teams. That silly-looking line on your resume about working well individually and on a team actually rings true here!

There are a ton of new hardware and software toys being worked on right now, more ramping up and even more in the imminent future. This is a young and fast-paced team that gets along really well together, plus, I am on it :)

Even if you're more interested in the development side of things long-term, there's always room for any bright ideas for tool and script development to help improve team processes.

Having a strong testing background is a great asset that doesn't get touched on too heavily in programs at UofG, at least since I graduated 4 months ago and there is currently an increasingly high demand for software testing/quality assurance types of positions. (If 90% of grads aim for development positions and say 50% of available positions are development ones, you do the math). On that note, your specific program of study for this Co-op position doesn't likely matter too much. If you read this forum, you are likely in a related-enough program. Need to do some quick learning to get up to spee d at first no matter what :)

Co-Op:
https://rim.taleo.net/careersection/rimcampus/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=...

Full Time:
https://rim.taleo.net/careersection/professional/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&j...

Email me if you're interested and we can chat, I can also help fast-track the application process.

Cheers,

Will
wchaban at rim dot com
(please also cc: wchaban @ uog)