Sr. Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer

Job Overview

The primary responsibilities of a Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer involve meticulously testing software applications to ensure they meet specified requirements and quality standards. On a daily basis, this role requires designing and executing test plans, identifying and documenting defects, and collaborating closely with development teams to resolve issues. The engineer must also analyze test results, provide feedback for improvements, and ensure that the final product is reliable and user-friendly. The main objective is to enhance software quality and performance, thereby contributing to the overall success of the project and satisfaction of end-users.

Organizational Impact

The role of a Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer is pivotal to the company's overall success. By meticulously testing software products, this individual ensures that the final deliverables meet the highest quality standards, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and brand reputation. Their work directly impacts other teams, such as development and product management, by providing critical feedback that helps refine and improve product features. This, in turn, streamlines operations and reduces the time and cost associated with post-release bug fixes. From a financial perspective, high-quality software reduces the risk of costly recalls or legal issues, thereby safeguarding the company's bottom line. Additionally, by ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations, the role mitigates potential legal risks and contributes to the organization's strategic goals. Overall, the Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer plays a crucial role in minimizing risk and driving the company towards its long-term objectives.

Key Systems

A Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer must be proficient in a range of essential software, tools, and technologies to effectively perform their role. Key platforms include test management tools such as TestRail or Zephyr, which are crucial for organizing and tracking test cases and results. Familiarity with bug tracking systems like JIRA or Bugzilla is also important for reporting and managing software defects. Additionally, a strong understanding of version control systems such as Git is necessary for collaborating with development teams. Proficiency in SQL is often required for database testing, while knowledge of automation tools like Selenium can be beneficial, even for manual testers, to understand the broader testing framework. While this role is not directly related to the accounting field, if it were, familiarity with accounting software such as Yardi, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, AppFolio, or MRI would be essential. Overall, expertise in these systems is critical for ensuring the quality and reliability of software products.

Inputs

A Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer is responsible for handling a variety of data, documents, and tasks essential for ensuring software quality. The role requires inputs such as software requirements specifications, design documents, and test plans, which are typically sourced from the development and product management teams. Additionally, the engineer may receive bug reports and user feedback from customer support and end-users. Test cases and scripts, often developed in collaboration with other QA team members, are crucial for daily work. The engineer also interacts with version control systems and defect tracking tools to manage and document testing activities. These inputs collectively enable the engineer to perform thorough testing, identify defects, and ensure the software meets the required standards before release.

Outputs

The primary deliverables of a Senior Manual Software Quality Assurance Engineer include comprehensive test plans, detailed test cases, and thorough bug reports. These outputs are crucial for ensuring the software's functionality, reliability, and performance. Test plans outline the testing strategy and scope, while test cases provide step-by-step instructions for validating software features. Bug reports document any defects or issues discovered during testing, offering detailed descriptions and steps to reproduce the problems. These deliverables are utilized by development teams to identify and rectify software issues, by project managers to assess project progress and quality, and by stakeholders to ensure the final product meets the required standards and specifications.

Activities

- Conduct comprehensive manual testing of software applications to ensure quality and functionality.

- Develop and execute detailed test plans and test cases based on project requirements.

- Identify, document, and track software defects and inconsistencies.

- Collaborate with development teams to resolve identified issues and improve product quality.

- Participate in requirement reviews and provide feedback from a quality assurance perspective.

- Maintain and update testing documentation and records for future reference.

- Continuously improve testing processes and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Recommended Items

- Test Case Design Checklist 

- Bug Reporting Guidelines 

- Test Plan Template 

- Quality Assurance Process Framework 

- Test Execution Checklist 

- Defect Tracking Guidelines 

- Risk Assessment Template 

- Peer Review Checklist 

- Regression Testing Checklist 

- User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Guidelines 

- Test Summary Report Template 

- Root Cause Analysis Framework

- Test Data Management Guidelines 

- Exploratory Testing Charter Template 

- Continuous Improvement Process Framework

Content Example

- Test plans and test cases documentation. 

- Bug and defect reports.

- Test summary reports.

- Traceability matrices.

- User acceptance testing (UAT) reports.

- Regression test scripts.

- Quality assurance process improvement reports.

Sample Event-Driven Tasks

- Review project requirements and specifications for new projects.

- Develop and document test plans and test cases for new features.

- Conduct manual testing and report bugs for new releases.

- Collaborate with developers to resolve issues identified during testing.

- Perform regression testing before project deadlines.

- Provide feedback and suggestions for process improvements upon request.

- Prepare and present test results and reports for project stakeholders.

Sample Scheduled Tasks

- Conduct weekly test case reviews and updates.

- Perform regression testing on a bi-weekly basis.

- Execute monthly test plan evaluations and adjustments.

- Participate in weekly team meetings to discuss project status.

- Review and document software defects on a daily basis.

- Prepare and submit monthly quality assurance reports.

- Conduct weekly training sessions for junior QA team members.

Sample Infill Tasks

- Conduct exploratory testing sessions.

- Review and update test documentation.

- Perform root cause analysis on critical issues.

- Assist in training new team members.

- Evaluate and recommend new testing tools.

- Participate in post-release retrospectives.

- Collaborate with developers on complex bug fixes.