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 Apply Job!