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Software Quality Assurance Analysts & Testers

Also called: Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst), Software Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA Engineer), Software Quality Engineer, Software Test Engineer

Where in the military? In the military: see titles from the Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy.

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What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics
  • product and service development
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • reading work related information
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
  • notice when problems happen

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Analytical Thinking
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Dependability

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Development environment software
  • Apache Subversion SVN Hot Technology
  • Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Apache Hive Hot Technology
  • Blackboard software
Program testing software
  • JUnit Hot Technology
  • Selenium Hot Technology In Demand

Education

Education: (rated 4 of 5)
bachelor's degree or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$98,220
$48,960
$153,250
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about software quality assurance analysts and testers.