Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
15-1253.00
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.
Sample of reported job titles: Automation Tester, Computer Consultant, Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst), Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer), Quality Engineer, Software Quality Assurance Analyst (SQA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer), Software Quality Engineer, Software Test Engineer, Test Engineer
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
- Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
- Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
- Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
- Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
- Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
- Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
- Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
- Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
- Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
- Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
- Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
- Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
- Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
- Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
- Design or develop automated testing tools.
- Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
- Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
- Coordinate user or third-party testing.
- Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
- Conduct historical analyses of test results.
- Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
- Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.
- Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
- Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Technology Skills
- Access software - Citrix cloud computing software; PuTTY
- Accounting software - Tax software
- Administration software - Software distribution management software
- Analytical or scientific software - Data analysis software; Dynamic modeling software; IBM SPSS Statistics π₯; MathWorks Simulink; Minitab; SAS π₯; Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE; StataCorp Stata; The MathWorks MATLAB π₯
- Application server software - Docker π₯; GitHub π₯; Oracle Application Server; Oracle WebLogic Server; Red Hat OpenShift π₯; Red Hat WildFly; Spring Boot π₯; VMWare ESX Server
- Backup or archival software - Backup and archival software; Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software - IBM Cognos Impromptu; MicroStrategy; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau π₯
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software - Dropbox; Google Drive; Microsoft SharePoint π₯; Slack π₯
- Cloud-based management software - Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation π₯; IBM WebSphere; Splunk Enterprise π₯
- Clustering software - VMware
- Communications server software - IBM Domino
- Computer aided design CAD software - Autodesk AutoCAD π₯; Bentley MicroStation π₯; Dassault Systemes CATIA
- Computer based training software - Moodle
- Configuration management software - Automated installation software; Chef π₯; Configuration management software; Deployment software; IBM Rational ClearCase; Patch management software; Perforce Helix software; Puppet π₯; Red Hat Ansible Engine; Revision control software; Visible Razor
- Content workflow software - Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office; Twiki; Workflow software
- Customer relationship management CRM software - Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Oracle Eloqua; Salesforce software π₯
- Data base management system software - Amazon Data Pipeline; Amazon DynamoDB π₯; Amazon Kinesis; Apache Cassandra π₯; Apache Flume; Apache Hadoop π₯; Apache HBase; Apache Oozie; Apache Pig; Apache Solr; Apache Sqoop; Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS; Data definition language DDL; Data manipulation language DML; Distributed database management software; Elasticsearch π₯; Microsoft transact-structural query language T-SQL; MongoDB π₯; MySQL π₯; NoSQL π₯; Oracle PL/SQL π₯; Relational database management software; SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise; Structured Query Report SQR; Talend Big Data Integration; Teradata Database π₯
- Data base reporting software - DataVision; Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS π₯; Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer; Oracle Business Intelligence Suite; Oracle Reports; SAP Business Intelligence; SAP Crystal Reports
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Data base user interface and query software -
ADO.NET; Airtable; Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 π₯; Amazon Redshift π₯; Amazon Web Services AWS software
; Apache Hive π₯; Blackboard software; FileMaker Pro; IBM DB2 π₯; IEA Software Emerald; Microsoft Access π₯; Microsoft SQL Server π₯; Oracle Database π₯; Oracle JDBC; Structured query language SQL ; Transact-SQL π₯
- Data mining software - Google Analytics π₯
- Desktop communications software - Skype
- Desktop publishing software - Adobe InDesign π₯; Microsoft Publisher
- Development environment software - A programming language APL; ABC Compiler; Ada; Adobe ActionScript; Algorithmic language ALGOL; American National Standards Institute ANSI C; Apache Ant; Apache Kafka π₯; Apache Maven π₯; Apache Subversion SVN π₯; AWK; B-Method; Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC; Bigloo Scheme; C π₯; Call-processing language CPL; Canu; Common business oriented language COBOL; Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66; CruiseControl; Eclipse IDE π₯; Embarcadero JBuilder; Embedded systems development software; Event-driven State-machines Programming; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; Forth; Gambit Scheme; Go π₯; Haskell; IBM Rational ClearQuest; IBM Rational Rose XDE; ICON programming language; Integrated development environment IDE software; Interface definition language IDL; Interstate connection ICON; J; JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA; List processing language LISP; Microsoft .NET Framework π₯; Microsoft Azure software π₯; Microsoft ESP SDK; Microsoft PowerShell π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Visual SourceSafe; Microsoft Visual Studio π₯; Microsoft Windows SDK; MUMPS M; National Instruments LabVIEW; Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE π₯; Pascal; Programming language one PL/I; Prolog; Restructured extended executor REXX; Ruby π₯; Scheme; String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL; Symantec Visual Cafe; Verilog; Web application software; Web service definition language WDSL; Xcode; XML Path Language XPATH
- Device drivers or system software - Microsoft DirectX
- Document management software - Adobe Acrobat π₯; Document management system software
- Electronic mail software - Google Gmail; IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook π₯
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Enterprise application integration software -
Atlassian Bamboo π₯; Enterprise application integration EAI software; Extensible markup language XML π₯; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Jenkins CI ; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS π₯; Oracle Fusion Middleware; SAP NetWeaver
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Enterprise resource planning ERP software; Microsoft Dynamics π₯; Microsoft Dynamics GP; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Fusion Applications; Oracle Hyperion; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft π₯; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP Business Objects; SAP software π₯
- Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software
- Expert system software - Ansible software π₯
- Filesystem software - File server software
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File versioning software -
Git ; Version control software
- Financial analysis software - Delphi Technology; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software π₯; Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphical user interface development software - Graphical user interface GUI builder software; Graphical user interface GUI design software; Salesforce Visualforce
- Graphics or photo imaging software - Adobe Creative Cloud software π₯; Adobe Illustrator π₯; Adobe Photoshop π₯; GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP; JamBoard; Open Graphics Library OpenGL; SmugMug Flickr; Trimble SketchUp Pro π₯
- Human resources software - Human resource management software HRMS
- Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Information retrieval or search software - Apache Avro; LexisNexis
- Instant messaging software - Blink; GroupMe
- Internet browser software - Apple Safari; Microsoft Internet Explorer; Mozilla Firefox; Web browser software
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software - Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
- Medical software - Epic Systems π₯
- Metadata management software - Quest Erwin Data Modeler; Talend Data Fabric
- Network conferencing software - LogMeIn GoToWebinar
- Network monitoring software - Nagios; Wireshark
- Network operation system software - IBM z/OS operating systems
- Network security and virtual private network VPN equipment software - Firewall software; Network intrusion detection software; Virtual private networking VPN software
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Object or component oriented development software -
ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ; Acresso InstallAnywhere; Advanced business application programming ABAP; Apache Groovy; Apache JMeter; Apache Spark π₯; Apple Cocoa; C# ; C++ π₯; Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML; Common Lisp Object System CLOS; Component object model COM software; Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture CSLA; Distributed component object model DCOM software; Document Object Model DOM Scripting; E++ pattern language; Eiffel; Embarcadero Delphi; jQuery π₯; Jupyter Notebook; Microsoft ActiveX; Microsoft Visual Basic.NET; Microsoft Visual C# .NET; Modula; Oberon; Objective C π₯; Objective Caml; Oracle Java ; Perl π₯; Python ; R π₯; SAP PowerBuilder; Scala π₯; Simple API for XML SAX; Smalltalk; Swift π₯
- Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM π₯; PostgreSQL π₯
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Office suite software -
LibreOffice; Microsoft Office software
-
Operating system software -
Apple macOS π₯; Bash π₯; Cisco IOS; Disk operating system DOS; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; IBM AIX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux ; Magellan Firmware; Microsoft Windows π₯; Microsoft Windows Server π₯; Operating system shells; Oracle Solaris; Postman; QNX; Real time operating system RTOS software; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script π₯; Ubuntu; UNIX π₯; UNIX Shell π₯; VMWare Workstation; Win CE; Wind River Systems VxWorks; Wind River VxWorks
- Platform interconnectivity software - Migration software
- Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
- Presentation software - Google Slides; Microsoft PowerPoint π₯
- Process mapping and design software - Microsoft Visio π₯
-
Program testing software -
Borland SilkTest; Bugzilla; Debugview; Defect tracking software; Dynamic analysis software; ej-technologies JProfiler; Fault testing software; FileMon; FitNesse; Functional testing software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; Hewlett-Packard HP QuickTest Professional; Hewlett-Packard HP TestDirector for Quality Center; Hewlett-Packard HP WinRunner; IBM Rational PurifyPlus; IBM Rational Robot; Integration testing software; Interoperability testing software; JUnit π₯; Load testing software; Migration testing software; Mutation testing software; NUnit; Recovery testing software; RegMon; Regression testing software; Security testing software; Selenium ; SmartBear Software AutomatedQA TestComplete; Source code editor software; Static analysis software; Stress testing software; System testing software; Test design software; Test implementation software; TestNG; Unit testing software; Usability testing software; Watir; YourKit Java Profiler
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Project management software -
Atlassian Confluence π₯; Atlassian JIRA ; Microsoft Project π₯; Microsoft Team Foundation Server π₯; Microsoft Teams π₯; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management π₯
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software - IBM Rational RequisitePro; Requirements management software; Unified modeling language UML
-
Spreadsheet software -
Google Sheets π₯; Microsoft Excel
- Storage networking software - Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 π₯; Storage area network SAN software
- Transaction security and virus protection software - Anti-spyware software; Antivirus software; Encryption software; McAfee; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software
- Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS; IBM Middleware; Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS); Object Management Group Object Request Broker; Web server software
- Video conferencing software - Cisco Webex π₯; FaceTime; Google Meet; LogMeIn GoToMeeting; Zoom π₯
- Video creation and editing software - Adobe After Effects π₯; Flipgrid; Loom; Screencastify; YouTube
- Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Dreamweaver; Google Sites; LinkedIn π₯; Social media sites
-
Web platform development software -
Adobe Flex; AJAX π₯; Allaire ColdFusion; Apache Struts; Apache Tomcat π₯; Backbone.js; Cascading style sheets CSS π₯; Django π₯; Drupal π₯; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Enterprise JavaBeans; Ext JS; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Extensible stylesheet language transformations XSLT; Google Angular π₯; Hypertext markup language HTML π₯; JavaScript ; JavaScript Object Notation JSON π₯; LAMP Stack; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC; Node.js π₯; Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP π₯; PHP π₯; React π₯; RESTful API; Ruby on Rails π₯; Spring Framework π₯
- Word processing software - 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs π₯; Microsoft OneNote; Microsoft Word π₯
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Develop testing routines or procedures.
- Develop detailed project plans.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.
- Document operational activities.
- Compile technical information or documentation.
- Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
- Document design or development procedures.
- Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
- Install computer software.
- Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.
- Create databases to store electronic data.
- Develop performance metrics or standards related to information technology.
- Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Test software performance.
- Provide customer service to clients or users.
- Manage documentation to ensure organization or accuracy.
- Read documents to gather technical information.
- Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
- Analyze data to identify trends or relationships among variables.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
- Assess database performance.
- Prepare data for analysis.