From QA to PM: How Not to Get Lost on the Way Up
Hi, I’m Maksym Parshyn, a Project Manager. Today, I want to talk about the growth challenge from middle to senior and beyond — in the context of a QA specialist.
A Coincidence That Turned Into a Career
These days, everyone wants to break into IT or gamedev. But for my generation, things started a bit differently. In my case, it was more of a coincidence: ZAGRAVA urgently needed a tester for three months, and I happened to be looking for a job. So we matched.
No one asked about experience — there simply weren’t many experienced specialists on the market back then. Sometimes even education didn’t matter much. What mattered was enthusiasm and at least some technical background.
That’s how I landed on an English-speaking project preparing for release. Zero experience, but full commitment. I had to quickly get up to speed with terminology, processes, and tasks — and we successfully shipped the project. That’s when I knew: I want to stay.
My Path from QA to PM
Back then, ZAGRAVA was a small outsourcing studio, and the projects were incredibly diverse. I handled five projects at once, working in various roles — from QA to level designer, game designer, manager, and even sound designer.
This broad exposure gave me a deep understanding of game development pipelines and laid the foundation for my current role as a Project Manager. It also helped shape my view on how QA specialists can grow within the industry.
Career Paths for QA in Gamedev
QA is not just a “bug hunter.” A good tester sees the whole game, collaborates with all departments, and deeply understands the product. That’s what opens up so many opportunities.
The key is not to blindly chase trends. Instead, ask yourself: what really drives you — art? narrative? code?
Development Options
1. The Standard Path
Junior → Middle → Senior → Lead
Perfect for I-shaped people — those who want to go deep into one direction. In QA, this could mean specializing in mobile testing or automation.
2. Interdisciplinary Growth (Π-shaped)
Lead/Head roles, Technical Director, Game Director
This path requires deep expertise in multiple areas and a systems-thinking mindset.
3. Lateral Moves (T-shaped)
PM, Game Designer
You’ll need broad knowledge across disciplines and strong coordination and communication skills — but you don’t have to be an expert in every single area.
Types of Professionals: Find Your Growth Style
I-shaped
Deep expertise in one area. Often introverts, focused, constantly improving their skills. Many artists are I-types — they love what they do and prefer to stay in their zone of genius.
T-shaped
Wide interests + deep knowledge in one domain. Adaptable, social, comfortable switching between tasks. That’s my type.
Π-shaped
Deep expertise in two or more areas + broad knowledge in others. These are the analysts, integrators, and natural leaders of cross-functional teams.
How to Figure Out Your Type
✅ Analyze what truly excites you
✅ Identify where your strengths lie
✅ Notice which tasks energize you — and which ones drain you
Don’t become a PM just because it’s considered prestigious if you genuinely love testing. And don’t feel pressured to become a lead if what really makes you happy is solving tasks solo, not running meetings.
In Closing
Career growth isn’t about following a universal path. It’s about you. QA specialists have a unique chance to see the full product — and that means they have enormous growth potential.
So find your direction — and go where the interest leads you.
