Quality Assurance Engineer
The Quality Assurance Engineer monitors the software development process to ensure design quality and adherence to standards. He/She is involved in tasks that include software design, source code development, review and control, configuration management and integration of software. He participates in a wide range of quality assurance testing and analyses to ensure that product meets or exceeds specified quality standards and end-user requirements before release. He works in a team setting and is proficient in programming languages required by the organisation. He is familiar with international quality standards and processes, as well as applicable test automation tools. The Quality Assurance Engineer takes pride in delivering quality service to internal stakeholders and is meticulous in conducting tests to ensure product quality requirements are met. He should be able to anticipate problems in the development process, and develop and articulate innovative and effective solutions to address them and prevent re-occurrence.
What Does a Quality Assurance Engineer Do?
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
Develop plans to execute quality testing
- Obtain technical documents to understand user requirements, product specifications and intended outcomes
- Identify relevant features for quality testing
- Develop test plans
- Develop quality testing approach and steps to satisfy test objectives
- Create test scenarios that complies with established testing procedures and guidelines
- Work with relevant teams to plan for quality testing based on established testing procedures and guidelines
Perform quality testing
- Conduct quality assurance tests against design requirements, and specifications
- Analyse results from quality assurance tests to determine if the product fulfils performance standards and functional requirements as detailed in design requirements and specifications
- Identify issues that arise from quality assurance tests
- Apply existing procedures to solve routine or standard problems
- Trace issues to relevant development stage and teams
- Document quality assurance testing outcomes
- Automate quality assurance testing for suitable types of tests and test processes
- Keep track of improvements made to enhance quality of products
Optimise quality processes
- Identify opportunities to decrease time and cost spent on system quality assurance processes
- Propose improvements to optimise quality assurance testing process
- Conduct research on industry best practices and new methodologies, practices and technologies to optimise quality assurance processes
Do You Have the Skills for This Role?
A Quality Assurance Engineer needs 4 core competencies. Here's what's required and at what level.
Supporting Skills
Global Perspective
BasicStaying Relevant
Sense Making
BasicThinking Critically
Developing People
BasicInteracting with Others
Collaboration
BasicInteracting with Others
SkillsFuture Skill Levels
3 levelsBasic
Recognise and understand fundamental concepts. Apply skills in routine situations with guidance.
Intermediate
Apply skills in varied situations independently. Analyse problems and adapt approaches as needed.
Advanced
Lead and innovate in complex situations. Evaluate strategies, guide teams, and drive improvements.
Technical Skills & Competencies (TSC) Levels
6 levelsFollow
Carry out routine tasks under close supervision. Follow established procedures and guidelines.
Assist
Perform tasks with some independence. Assist in non-routine situations and apply established techniques.
Apply
Apply skills and knowledge independently in varied situations. Analyse problems and adapt approaches.
Analyse
Analyse complex situations and develop solutions. Guide and mentor junior colleagues.
Strategise
Set strategic direction and drive innovation. Evaluate trade-offs and make high-impact decisions.
Transform
Lead industry transformation. Establish standards, shape policy, and provide expert advisory.
Technical Skills & Competencies
A Quality Assurance Engineer requires 17 technical skills at specific proficiency levels.
Quality Standards
Level 4Governance and Compliance
Assess existing quality standards and align processes and activities with IT product and service quality expectations
Applications Development
Level 3Development and Implementation
Develop basic applications with secure features, run routine application tests, and conduct debugging to resolve errors
Budgeting
Level 3Business Finance
Prepare business unit’s operational budgets
Business Needs Analysis
Level 3Business and Project Management
Elicit and analyse business requirements from key stakeholders and assess relevant solutions and their potential impact
Business Performance Management
Level 3General Management
Monitor performance of the department
Networking
Level 3Business Development
Identify and analyse business opportunities
Partnership Management
Level 3Stakeholder and Contract Management
Support the development and coordination of partnerships with external stakeholders and organisations
Problem Management
Level 3Operations and User Support
Handle specific problems from diagnosis and prioritisation to the identification and implementation of solutions
Process Improvement and Optimisation
Level 3Business and Project Management
Identify and Implement the adoption of process improvement and optimisation methods
Project Management
Level 3Business and Project Management
Oversee small projects or programmes, managing timelines, resources, risks and stakeholdersOversee small projects or programmes, managing timelines, resources, risks and stakeholders
Quality Assurance
Level 3Development and Implementation
Conduct quality assurance (QA) audits and consolidate results and identify lapses and discrepancies
Software Design
Level 3Design and Architecture
Design simple software components, assessing functionality of different elements, and produce design documentation
Software Testing
Level 3Development and Implementation
Design test scenarios and implement new or complex tests, investigating issues or gaps between actual and expected results
Stakeholder Management
Level 3Stakeholder and Contract Management
Serve as the organisation's main contact point for stakeholder communications, clarifying responsibilities among stakholders, and engaging them to align expectations
Strategy Implementation
Level 3Strategy Planning and Implementation
Analyse strategies for critical business functions to ensure plans are within risk mitigation factors
Test Planning
Level 3Development and Implementation
Determine requirements and develop a phase test plan, identifying optimal schedules and means for executing test scripts
Configuration Tracking
Level 2Development and Implementation
Verify accuracy, completeness and currency of information in configuration logs and review unauthorised changes, diversions or inappropriate use of software assets
European Skills Framework
ESCOSkills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential
Optional
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