Job Title: Senior quality assurance

Division: Software

Department: Quality assurance Department

Reports to: Software manager

1. PRIMARY PURPOSE

Ensure the delivery of high-quality software products and applications by leading and managing testing processes, strategies, and teams. Senior QA professionals play a critical role in maintaining the integrity, functionality, and usability of software systems, identifying defects, and ensuring that software meets the required standards and user expectations.

2. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

01. Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive QA strategies, methodologies, and processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality software products.

02. Plan, design, and execute test cases, scenarios, and test scripts that effectively cover software functionalities and user scenarios.

03. Manage and mentor a team of QA engineers, providing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities.

04. Oversee the creation and maintenance of detailed test plans, documentation, and testing artifacts.

05. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and designers, to establish quality standards, testing requirements, and acceptance criteria.

06. Perform manual and automated testing to identify defects, inconsistencies, and areas for improvement in software products.

07. Develop and implement an automation strategy for testing repetitive and critical aspects of software applications.

08. Conduct performance, load, and stress testing to assess software responsiveness, stability, and scalability.

09. Lead defect management efforts, track defects using bug tracking tools, and collaborate with development teams to ensure timely resolution.

10. Perform thorough regression testing to verify that software changes do not adversely impact existing functionalities.

11. Evaluate user interfaces and user experiences to ensure they meet usability standards and user expectations.

12. Identify potential risks associated with software quality and work with development teams to mitigate risks through comprehensive testing.

13. Continuously refine QA processes, methodologies, and tools to optimize testing procedures and enhance overall software quality.

14. Lead efforts to ensure software compliance with industry standards, regulations, and security protocols.

15. Provide clear and concise test reports, summaries, and documentation to communicate testing results and progress to stakeholders.

16. Stay updated with the latest QA trends, tools, and best practices to contribute to continuous improvement within the QA team.

17. Contribute to the training and onboarding of new QA team members, fostering a culture of knowledge sharing and quality excellence.

18. Takes Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) lead in ensuring “safe systems of work” and “safe conditions” are in place within area of responsibility.

19. Performs other similar or related duties as required or assigned by management.

3. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

A. Educational Requirements / Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

B. Experience:

Proven 5-8 years of experience as a Quality Assurance Engineer, with a strong track record of leading testing efforts.

Proficiency in QA methodologies, software testing techniques, and testing tools.

4. SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Selenium, Appium) for automating functional and regression testing.
• Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with experience managing and guiding QA teams.
• Solid understanding of software development lifecycle, Agile methodologies, and continuous integration practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to think critically and analytically.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with performance testing, security testing, and usability testing concepts.
• Knowledge of version control systems and collaboration tools (e.g., Git, JIRA).
• Experience with API testing and test-driven development (TDD) is a plus.
• ISTQB or similar certification in software testing is desirable.

5. KPI’s

• Percentage of Requirements Covered: Measure the percentage of software requirements covered by test cases and scenarios.
• Test Case Completeness: Track the ratio of executed test cases to total planned test cases.
• Defect Detection Rate: Calculate the ratio of defects identified in testing to the total number of defects.
• Defect Closure Rate: Measure the rate at which defects are resolved and closed after identification.
• Test Execution Efficiency: Measure the time taken to execute a set of predefined test cases.
• Automated vs. Manual Testing Ratio: Track the proportion of tests executed through automation compared to manual testing.
• Automation Coverage: Measure the percentage of test cases covered by automated tests.
• Automation Progress: Monitor the growth of automated test suites over time.
• Test Execution Success Rate: Calculate the percentage of test executions that pass without critical defects.
• Regression Test Pass Rate: Measure the percentage of regression tests that pass successfully after each code change.
• Severity of Detected Defects: Categorize defects by severity levels (e.g., critical, major, minor) and track their distribution.
• Priority of Detected Defects: Assign priorities to defects based on their impact and urgency.
• Team Performance: Evaluate the performance and productivity of the QA team under the senior QA professional's leadership.
• Mentorship and Skill Development: Measure the growth and skill development of junior QA team members.
• Process Adherence: Assess the adherence to established QA processes, methodologies, and standards.
• Process Enhancements: Track the identification and implementation of process improvements based on lessons learned.
• Test Case Documentation: Evaluate the completeness, accuracy, and maintenance of test case documentation.
• Test Reports: Ensure the timely and accurate generation of test reports with clear summaries and findings.
• Release Defect Density: Calculate the ratio of defects found in the final testing phase to the size of the codebase.
• Release Sign-off Rate: Measure the rate of successful release sign-offs by QA for production deployment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Assess the effectiveness of collaboration with development, design, and product teams.
• Communication Effectiveness: Measure the clarity and accuracy of communication regarding testing results, defect status, and progress.
• Professional Development: Track the senior QA professional's participation in training, workshops, and certifications.
• Adoption of New Testing Techniques: Measure the application of new testing techniques and methodologies.
• Stability of Test Environment: Evaluate the stability and readiness of the test environment for testing activities.
• Test Execution Time: Measure the time taken to execute a defined set of test cases.
• Cycle Time: Track the time it takes to identify and resolve defects from detection to closure.
• User Feedback: Gather user feedback on software quality and incorporate it into QA improvements.
• Impact on Product Quality: Evaluate the senior QA professional's contribution to overall software quality and user satisfaction.