QA Specialist & Technical Problem Solver (Path to Founder's Right Hand)

The Role: We are a fast-moving B2B agency building data enrichment pipelines. We need a relentless Technical Problem Solver and QA Specialist. Critical thinking is the load-bearing wall of this role. I do not want a standard assistant who waits for step-by-step instructions. I need a resourceful executor who can read API documentation, test undocumented behaviors, measure empirical data, and take manual work off my plate. If you prove you can solve complex technical problems without me holding your hand, this role is designed to evolve into the Founder's Right Hand. What You Will Actually Do: You will start in the trenches. Your daily tasks will include: * Technical QA & API Testing: Running API calls, reading raw JSON responses, and finding edge cases in our data pipelines before they go live. * Empirical Measurement: Testing tools and fallback enrichments to verify data quality (trusting actual data over assumptions). * Leveraging AI & Coding Agents: Using Cursor, Claude, or ChatGPT to troubleshoot technical errors, write basic scripts, or automate manual work. * Manual Execution: Doing manual data entry, organizing spreadsheets, and helping me recruit by inviting specific candidates to our Upwork jobs *(Note: You will be added legally as a 'Hiring Manager' to our Upwork Client Team account to do this—we strictly follow Upwork ToS).* Compensation (Skin in the Game): We do not pay people just to sit at a desk. We pay for speed, accuracy, and problem-solving. * Base Rate: $3.00 - $5.00/hr (This is your safety net). * Performance Bonuses: You will earn bonuses based on the speed of your execution and the accuracy of your QA. * On-Target Earnings (OTE): With bonuses, A-players will target $6.00 - $8.00+/hr (which equals roughly $1,000 to $1,300+ per month full-time). Requirements: * Elite critical thinking and extreme resourcefulness. * Ability to run API calls and read raw JSON responses. * Flawless written English and high-speed, stable internet. CRITICAL - HOW TO APPLY: We assume 90% of proposals are AI-generated spam. To prove you are a real human, you must answer the following 3 questions. AI cannot answer Q2 and Q3 correctly—you must run the actual tests. Q1 — Engineering Judgment (Include a Loom link at the top of your proposal): Record a 60-second Loom video answering this exact question: *"How do you make sure all corner cases of a CLI utility are covered by tests? More importantly, how do you know when you have reached true exhaustiveness?"* Q2 — Undocumented API Behavior (Answer in the written screening questions): *"What HTTP status code and error message does the Soundcharts sandbox return when you search for 'The Rolling Stones'?"* *(Hint: public sandbox credentials are soundcharts / soundcharts).* Q3 — Empirical Measurement (Answer in the written screening questions): *"In Hunter.io domain-search results for music talent agency websites, approximately what percentage of returned emails are classified as type: personal vs type: generic?"* *(Hint: Hunter.io has a free tier — no card required).* If you do not include the Loom video, or if you fail the technical questions, your proposal will be instantly deleted.