IT Jobs in Bulgaria: What’s it like working as a Senior QA Engineer at VSG Bulgaria?

Emil Hristov talks about the role, the opportunities, and the myths.

Emil Hristov – Senior QA Engineer, VSG Bulgaria. Photo: VSG

Emil Hristov is a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer at VSG Bulgaria. He graduated from the University of Veliko Tarnovo with a degree in Computer Science. His interest in technology began in high school, where he studied computer science with extended English. That’s when he realized he wanted to build a career in software.

Emil, how did your career start?
Honestly, it started almost as a joke. I had just come back from the U.S. for the third time, I was in my fourth year at university, and I happened to hear about a company in Veliko Tarnovo looking for a QA specialist. At the time, I didn’t even know exactly what the job entailed. I decided to give it a try and applied, relying on my university knowledge and my English. That’s how it began—and ten years later, here I am, a Senior QA Engineer.

When and how did you join VSG Bulgaria?
About four years ago I was going through a lot of personal changes. A former colleague from my previous company offered to refer me—after he’d suggested the same role several times before. I finally took it as a sign; the timing felt right, so I went for it. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my career.

What are your main responsibilities in this role?
I use the experience I’ve gained to help build a new microservices system together with some of the company’s most experienced colleagues. I also mentor newcomers—sharing what I’ve learned so they can ramp up faster—and I work to keep the team well-synchronized. I believe strong technical skills and good teamwork are the keys to success in our field.

How would you explain your job to a 5-year-old? And to your grandmother?
To a child: my job is like checking whether their toys work properly and are safe. For example, “If you press the button, does it light up or play music?” If something’s wrong, I tell the “fixers” to repair it.
To my grandmother: I’d use the TV remote as an example. My job is to find problems and make sure everything works the way it should.

What projects are you working on, and which teams do you collaborate with most?
Right now, I’m working on a project to develop a new microservices system that will gradually replace legacy code. It’s part of banking software used by hundreds of banks in the U.S. The goal is to make it more innovative and easier to maintain. I mostly work with the developers on my team so we can align quickly and meet business requirements—their contribution is crucial to the project.

“Our role is bigger than most people think. We care about product quality, we’re active in the development process, and we often prevent problems before they even appear,” says Emil Hristov. Photo: VSG

What does a typical workday look like?
I usually start with a coffee between 9 and 10 a.m., depending on my morning meetings. I prioritize tasks so I can tackle the most important ones early, because my afternoons are mostly reserved for calls with colleagues in the U.S. That’s when we discuss urgent issues and look for quick solutions—our time-zone overlap is limited. We also try to take short breaks; even if our work looks easy from the outside, it can be intense and stressful.

What skills and qualities does this job require?
Logical and critical thinking are essential—you can’t identify and analyze problems in depth without them. Patience and attention to detail matter a lot too; you often have to check the same thing repeatedly to get to the root cause. Good communication is key: you need to explain where the issue is and why it’s important to fix. And you must be willing to keep learning—technologies and tools change constantly.

How do you keep your knowledge and qualifications up-to-date?
I try to stay on top of new technologies. Fortunately, my work itself pushes me to learn new things because they’re needed day-to-day. I love challenges, and I enjoy situations that force me to level up. In our field, continuous learning and development are the norm.

What are the growth opportunities?
They’re huge—as long as you’re persistent and motivated. I’m grateful to VSG for supporting us and encouraging everyone to choose their own direction. That creates an environment where each person can find their path. Personally, I’m focusing on automation and deeper API testing.

What are the biggest misconceptions about QA?
A common myth is that we just “click buttons” to see if something works. In reality, the role involves logical thinking, system analysis, cross-team communication, and decision-making—sometimes on critical issues. Often, our word is the final say on whether something works correctly and meets requirements. Our role is much bigger than most people think: we safeguard product quality, we’re actively involved in development, and we often prevent problems before they occur.

What are your hobbies—what do you do after work?
Since my son was born, hobbies have taken a back seat. My favorite “hobby” now is spending time with my family after work. Over time, I’m sure I’ll get back to my old passions—skiing, snowboarding, and fishing. In general, anything outside work helps me recharge and keep a healthy work-life balance.