Software Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist/Applications Tester

Develops and implements quality control methodologies to ensure compliance with quality assurance standards, guidelines, and procedures in a large computer-based organization. Develops and executes software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes. Establishes and maintains a process for evaluating hardware, software, and associated documentation and/or assists in the evaluation. Conducts and/or participates in formal and informal reviews at pre-determined points throughout the development life cycle.

Tasks:
• Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
• Develop and defines major and minor characteristics of quality including quality metrics and scoring parameters and determines requisite quality control resources.
• Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
• Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
• Design or develop automated testing tools.
• Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
• Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
• Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
• Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
• Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
• Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
• Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
• Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
• Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
• Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
• Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
• Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
• Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
• Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
• Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
• Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
• Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
• Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
• Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
• Coordinate user or third party testing.
• Conduct historical analyses of test results.
• Provide technical support during software installation or configuration.
• Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
• Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
• Assist the sponsor in the evaluation of software and associated documentation.
• Participate in formal and informal reviews to determine quality.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Tools used in this occupation:
• Computer servers - Application servers
• Desktop computers
• Integrated circuit testers - In circuit emulators ICE; Logic analyzers
• Mainframe computers - Supercomputers
• Notebook computers - Laptop computers

Technology used in this occupation:
• Development environment software - Apache Ant; CruiseControl *; JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA; Microsoft Visual Basic Object or component oriented development software - Acresso InstallAnywhere; Apple Cocoa; Objective-C; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
• Operating system software - Linux; UNIX; VMWare Workstation; Wind River Systems VxWorks
• Program testing software - Borland SilkTest; JUnit; Watir *; YourKit Java Profiler
• Web platform development software - Apache Tomcat; Hypertext markup language HTML; JavaScript; Microsoft ASP.NET

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