Senior Software Tester

 

 

Summary: The Software Tester III (senior grade) performs all aspects of product testing including Functional, Regression, Performance, Usability, and Integration at the highest level of proficiency.  This individual provides leadership in the development, publication, and implementation of test plans, the writing and maintenance of automated test scripts, and the development of testing standards and quality metrics.  This position requires advanced knowledge of software engineering and testing methodologies, software development lifecycles, and business terms, concepts, language, and processes for application functionality such as inventory, point of sale, member management, accounting, reporting, personal training and scheduling.  Must have the motivation and ability to perform critical analysis about how users will interact with the software being tested, and turn those thoughts into detailed tests.  This position requires a Bachelors degree, preferably in Computer Science or a related field, a minimum of 7 years experience in the field of software testing/quality assurance, as well as a related professional certification.

 

  Responsibilities:

• Leads the software testing team in the tracking and resolution of issues 

• Acts as the primary point of contact for Development, Project Managers, and Customer Advocates with regard to testing. 

• Works with the Development team and Product Owner to prioritize the resolution of defects throughout the testing cycle. 

• Participates in design meetings from a testing perspective and presents the strategy for testing. 

• Defines test phases and execution plans for each phase, ensuring that the methodology is applied appropriately. 

• Trains and mentors other software testing engineers. 

• Expresses recommendations based on client desires, product architecture, cost, quality, and delivery timelines 

• Ensures cross-team and cross-department coordination and cooperation 

• Provides oversight to all test activities and analysis on a given project 

• Participates in requirements definition, verifies that requirements are testable, and provides preliminary recommendations for how each will be tested. 

• Ensures that testing of multiple efforts is progressing as appropriate. 

• Presents ideas and solutions to small or large audiences of customers and upper management 

• Expresses recommendations based on client desires, product architecture, cost, quality, and delivery timelines 

• Develops, publishes, and implements test plans, test cases, and automated test scripts 

• Produces test scripts that are pertinent to current software enhancements 

• Performs all aspects of product testing including functional, regression, performance, usability, and integration 

• Performs “Ad Hoc” testing 

• Works closely with development and support teams to ensure total product quality 

• Participate in a collaborative team environment functioning within the SCRUM (agile) methodology 

• Understands a product’s purpose and then ensures the testing strategy substantiates that purpose 

• Communicates desired functionality with development teams and product owners 

• Prepares and facilitates software demonstrations 

• Verifies software matches customer expectations; assists developers with producing software components that meet or exceed customer expectations 

• Discovers and analyzes requirements (written and oral) to derive test plans, test estimates, scripts, and reports 

• Learns multiple software products, hardware devices, and software platforms, and applies testing skills accordingly 

• Develops a solid understanding of a tested product’s intended performance 

• Coordinates the identification and resolution of software issues between multiple departments, groups, and locations 

• Ensures cross-team and cross-department cooperation 

• Utilizes automated test tools to improve test efficiency and repeatability

Skills Required:

• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret technical data  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a multi-tasking environment 

• Excellent troubleshooting skills 

• Makes appropriate and effective use of team approach to problem solving 

Education Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field from an accredited college or university  

• 7 years of testing experience that covers multiple platforms, architectures, programming languages, development and testing methodologies, and software development lifecycles. An advanced degree may substitute for experience. 

• CSTE or equivalent testing certification 

• 3 years experience with Linux/Apache/Tomcat 

• 2 years experience serving as the lead tester of a software testing team 

• Advanced SQL experience 

• Experience working in an Agile programming environment 

• Experience with QA tools (Mercury preferred) for automation, coverage, error analysis and error reporting 

• Experience testing thin-client (Browser based) applications

 • Experience testing mainframe, interactive-based applications