Software Quality Analyst

DEPARTMENT: Information Technology (IT)

JOB TITLE: Software Quality Analyst

JOB CODE: SSQA

REPORTS TO: Manager, Software Quality Assurance

JOB PURPOSE:

The Software Quality Analyst position exists to ensure that software changes are tested and validated prior to releasing them into our production environment. This position is responsible for the full QA lifecycle within an agile team. Manual testing and automated testing skills are used in the functional and regression phases. Additional skills in performance and security testing are required along with the capability to assess testing needs beyond the obvious.

The Software Quality Analyst works closely with Developers and Business Analysts, in an agile sprint format, developing and executing test plans and test cases using automated test methodologies and manual test execution. The QA team members must ensure that the entire QA lifecycle (including feature conception/design, functional testing, security testing, performance testing, regression testing and deployment) is complete for any feature or code output of the given team. Deep knowledge of QA methodology, automation and AF specific products and tools is required to excel in this position.

DEPARTMENTAL EXPECTATION OF EMPLOYEE

• Solid analytic and problem solving skills (key skill)
• Strong QA Testing skills (key skill)
• Adheres to AF Policy and Procedures
• Acts as a role model within and outside AF
• Looks for opportunities to share knowledge and act as a mentor
• Performs duties as team workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive, respectful and inclusive attitude
• Communicates regularly with supervisor about team and department issues
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position
• Meets team and department productivity standards
• Alignment with AF Leadership Brand.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Test Planning

• Develop high-level test plans that cover all phases of testing, including test script automation
• Align business and functional requirements
• Participate in the refinement of the team’s agile user stories
• Challenge assumptions, question, and understand how software will be utilized

Functional Test Execution

• Conduct manual testing for AF’s entire range of software products (client/server applications, web-based products, and data/web services); automated testing utilized where appropriate
• Use SQL statements for querying data and manipulating test scenarios (for manual and automation)
• Collaborate with developers and BA’s to validate test findings
• Identify and log defects using defect tracking tools. Validate defect solutions

Automated Test Planning/Execution

• Working knowledge and ability in the Cypress test automation tool
• Work collaboratively with application developers, business team and testing team to identify automation strategy, design automated tests, troubleshoot issues, and implement scalable test automation solutions
• Conduct ongoing automated testing (during development, nearing release and prior to deployment)

Team Support

• Attend and participate in all Agile team functions(standups, retrospectives, refinements and planning)
• Participate in troubleshooting of priority defects (support Technical Services)
• Continually seek opportunities to increase Member satisfaction and deepen Member relationships.

Process Adherence / Improvement

• Provide ongoing feedback / improvements to the AF Agile process
• Promote continuous improvement regarding use of testing tools and quality metrics

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development priorities are determined by the Product Manager and BA’s. Support diversions are added as needed, with the approval of the Product Manager. The agile team functions in a self-organizing manner, taking the necessary tasks to complete the priority development items. In our agile environment, team members are specialized in the Development, QA and BA roles. QA team members normally focus on the QA tasks of functional testing and automation testing.

The QA Manager will occasionally assign outside work, as needed, to complete extraneous tasks. The Software Quality Analyst is expected to function in an autonomous fashion when determining work assignments within their agile teams.

The functional testing work product of the Software Quality Analyst is peer reviewed within the Agile Team. Occasionally, the QA Manager reviews specific work product prior to production deployment. The Software Quality Analyst is largely autonomous with respect to their work product, and thus only highly skilled, self-starting individuals with a great work ethic are qualified for the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Education, and Licensure

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field 
• Minimum 3 years testing experience
• Minimum 1 years of automation testing experience; Cypress Automation Tool
• Analyst quality problem-solving skills required
• Industry-related certifications a plus
• Insurance industry experience/knowledge a plus

Language Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to train and/or explain product behaviors, new features, and updated functionality. This includes the responsibility to provide “End of Sprint Demos” for the wider team.
• Ability to function as a liaison between the business, technical organization, and operational areas
• Quickly understand business issues and data challenges of Member's organization and industry
• Interact professionally with a diverse project team, including executives, managers, technical IT staff, and subject matter experts

Mathematical Skills

• Solid analytic and problem solving skills (key skill)

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to identify and resolve critical issues
• Recognize areas for improvement in internal processes and provide solutions

Other Key Competencies

• High attention to detail
• Experience in strategizing and completing functional testing projects
• Experience building feature and product based automated testing strategies
• Working knowledge of testing web services using SOAP UI
• Working knowledge of QA’s role within the Agile software development process
• Working knowledge of database modeling and design; strong SQL / query skills
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Team player, open-minded, and flexible
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in creating high level test plans, detailed test cases, and test automation scripts for products that have been released into commercial environments.
• Web services, client/server, and web-based testing experience
• Work productively on an independent basis and as part of a team
• Experience writing automated test scripts, preferably with Cypress

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

AF is a remote working environment.