DEPARTMENT: Information Technology (IT)

JOB TITLE: Software Quality Analyst

REPORTS TO: Software Quality Assurance Manager

JOB PURPOSE: The Software Quality Analyst position exists to ensure that software changes are tested and validated prior to releasing them into our production environment. This position is responsible for the full QA lifecycle within an agile team. Manual testing and automated testing skills are used in the functional and regression phases based on the feature and the fit. Additional skills in performance and security testing are required along with the capability to assess testing needs beyond the obvious.

The Software Quality Analyst works closely with Developers and Business Analysts in an agile sprint format, developing and executing test plans and test cases using automated test methodologies and manual test execution. The QA team members must ensure that the entire QA lifecycle (including feature conception/design, functional testing, security testing, performance testing, regression testing and deployment) is complete for any feature or code output of the given team. Deep knowledge of QA methodology, automation, and AF-specific products and tools is required to fill this position successfully.

DEPARTMENTAL EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEE

• Solid analytic and problem-solving skills*
• Adheres to AF Policy and Procedures
• Acts as a role model within and outside AF
• Looks for opportunities to share knowledge and act as a mentor
• Performs duties as team workload necessitates
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude
• Communicates regularly with supervisor about team and department issues
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload
• Consistently reports to work on time and prepared to perform duties of the position
• Meets team and department productivity standards

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Test Planning

• Develop high-level test plans covering all testing phases, including test script automation.
• Align business and functional requirements
• Participate in the grooming of the team’s agile user stories
• Challenge assumptions, question and understand how the software will be utilized

Functional Test Execution

• Conduct manual testing for AF’s entire range of software products (client/server applications, web-based products, and data/web services); automated testing utilized where appropriate
• Use SQL statements for querying data and manipulating test scenarios (for manual and automation)
• Collaborate with developers and BAs to validate test findings
• Identify and log defects using defect tracking tools. Validate solutions when completed

Automated Test Planning/Execution

• Work collaboratively with application developers, business, and testing teams to identify automation strategies, design automated tests, troubleshoot issues, and implement scalable test automation solutions.
• Conduct ongoing automated testing (during development, nearing release, and prior to deployment)

Team Support

• Participate in troubleshooting priority defects (support Technical Services)
• Continually seek opportunities to increase Member satisfaction and deepen Member relationships.

Process Adherence / Improvement

• Provide ongoing feedback/improvements to the AF Agile process
• Promote continuous improvement regarding the use of testing tools and quality metrics

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Development priorities are determined by the Product Manager and BA’s. Support diversions are added as needed, with the approval of the Product Manager. The agile team functions in a self-organizing manner, taking the necessary tasks to complete the priority development items. In our agile environment, team members are specialized in the Development, QA, and BA roles. QA team members normally focus on the QA tasks of functional testing and automation testing.

The QA Manager will occasionally assign outside work, as needed, to complete extraneous tasks. The Software Quality Analyst must function autonomously when determining work assignments within their agile teams.

The functional testing work product of the Software Quality Analyst is peer-reviewed within the Agile Team. Occasionally, the QA Manager reviews specific work products prior to production deployment. The Software Quality Analyst is largely autonomous with respect to their work product. Thus, only highly skilled, self-starting individuals with great work ethics are qualified for the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience, Education and Licensure

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field
• Minimum three years of testing experience
• Minimum one years of automation testing experience; descriptive programming
• Analyst-quality problem-solving skills required
• Industry-related certifications are a plus
• Insurance industry experience/knowledge a plus

Language Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to train and/or explain product behaviors, new features, and updated functionality
• Ability to function as a liaison between the business, technical organization, and operational areas
• Quickly understand business issues and data challenges of Member's organization and industries.
• Interact professionally with a diverse project team, including executives, managers, technical IT staff, and subject matter experts.

Mathematical Skills

• Solid analytic and problem-solving skills*

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to identify and resolve critical issues
• Recognize areas for improvement in internal processes and provide solutions.

Other Key Competencies

• High attention to detail
• Experience in strategizing and completing functional testing projects
• Experience building feature and product-based automated testing strategies
• Working knowledge of testing web services using SOAP UI
• Working knowledge of QA’s role within the Agile software development process
• Working knowledge of database modeling and design; strong SQL / query skills
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Team player, open-minded, and flexible
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in creating high-level test plans, detailed test cases, and test automation scripts for products that have been released into commercial environments.
• Web services, client/server, and web-based testing experience
• Work productively on an independent basis and as part of a team
• Some experience writing automated test scripts, preferably with UFT or Cypress

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

AF is a remote working environment.