Head of QA at 25: how to grow within a team without waiting for the right moment

“Not ready enough”, “too little time in the industry”, “too early to take on more”...

What if we told you that you can just go ahead and try?

Ilya joined 01.tech as a Middle QA and in 3 years grew into Head of QA. Today he is 25, and he manages the team he built himself.

01.tech stood out to Ilya even before joining the team.

— There was a clear sense of professionalism from HR: the job requirements were clearly described, communication was well-structured, and questions were answered in detail and without delays.

It was exactly the case when from the very first seconds you understand: “this is the right place”.

— A strong team, high-quality onboarding, a clear area of responsibility from day one. Honestly, this is rare.

— I initially joined as a Middle QA, now I hold the role of Head of QA. During this time, the company has grown significantly both from a business and product development perspective. Almost everything has changed, but the values remain the same: focus on people, a high level of technical expertise, and flexibility.

What helped me grow was the team, taking initiative, and clear goals. In short: the environment.

Team

— We all have different backgrounds, but we share one thing: genuine interest in work, professionalism, and a sense of responsibility. You can feel it in day-to-day processes, and it directly affects quality. When you’re surrounded by strong leaders with deep expertise, the bar naturally rises—and it gives you an extra push to grow.

Space for initiative

— It’s not enough to just identify a problem; you also need to propose a solution and take responsibility for the result. Here, taking ownership and seeing tasks through to completion is valued. Mistakes are inevitable, but overcoming them builds competence. At the same time, the company provides what matters most—trust and space to act. This is what allows you to progress faster and have a real impact on the outcome.

Clear goals

— I always understood where we were heading. When there is clarity in direction, it becomes easier to grow together with the team.

As your role evolves, the focus shifts. Previously it was on solving specific tasks and ensuring product quality at the execution level, but now it also includes working with the team and processes.

And this is where an important point comes up—one that is often overlooked.

— It’s a common thing to hear that processes, guidelines, and rules keep changing. At the same time, employees are not told why this is happening.

This approach destroys trust and reduces engagement, so one of Ilya’s key principles is transparency.

— When announcing changes, I try to explain the reasoning behind decisions and the causes in as much detail as possible: an incorrect hypothesis, a change in priorities, or unsatisfactory results. When the team understands the reasons, changes stop being stressful and become part of moving forward.

According to Ilya, this is what ultimately led to the most important achievement over the years.

— What I am most proud of is the team we built.

This is how Ilya describes his entire experience at 01 in one phrase.

Our team is made up of people who don’t wait for the “right moment” and aren’t afraid to pursue their ambitions. Those who are ready to outpace the market and use their experience not as a rigid framework, but as a tool. Those who already take on roles today that others are afraid to approach.

If this sounds like you, check out our current openings and follow the team on Telegram channel.