Careers in manual testing
Manual testers test software parameters and, by doing so, link the technical world with the business world. They’re responsible for investigating how the end users can utilize software and ensuring it’s as user-friendly as possible. They do it by inspecting all elements of the software, following all possible user paths, and examining all actions users can perform very thoroughly.
Junior Quality Assurance Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 0+ months
Time typically spent in this role: 2-3 years
Optional career paths: Junior UX Designer, Junior Business Analyst, Junior QA Automation Engineer
Important note: Junior engineers aren’t usually required to possess all skills and experience listed below.
Responsibilities
- Improving the quality of the digital product
- Test execution
- Reporting
- Attending team meetings
- Working closely with an assigned mentor
- Asking questions and learning from colleagues
Skills & traits
- Interest in testing software
- Basic knowledge of the different types of testing
- Basic knowledge of databases and HTTP protocols
- Basic understanding of SDLC (software development life cycle) and STLC (software testing life cycle)
- Investigative approach
- Good communication skills
- Basic knowledge of Agile methodology
Tools
- Test management tools (e.g., Zephyr)
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Regular Quality Assurance Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 2-3 years as a Junior Quality Assurance Engineer
Time typically spent in this role: 2-3 years
Optional career paths: UX Designer, Business Analyst, QA Automation Engineer
Responsibilities
- Improving the quality of the digital product
- Obtaining thorough knowledge of the system
- Working independently on an assigned task
- Reporting
- Creating test plans, test scenarios, test cases
- Reviewing and executing test cases
- Bug-testing
- Attending meetings with developers and asking questions
Skills & traits
- Working experience with different types of testing
- Good knowledge of databases and HTTP protocols
- Good understanding of SDLC (software development life cycle) and STLC (software testing life cycle)
- Independence and responsibility
- Attention to detail
- Analytical thinking
- Self-organization
- Assertiveness
- Investigative approach
- Creativity
- Very good communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and be very specific about issues
- Experience with Agile
Tools
- Test management tools (e.g., Zephyr)
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 5-6 years
Time typically spent in this role: 4+ years
Responsibilities
- Ensuring high quality of the digital product
- Obtaining thorough knowledge of the system
- Proposing changes to processes
- Proposing improvements to the software
- Training and leading other team members
- Being a mentor for junior engineers
- Working independently on an assigned task
- Reporting
- Creating test plans, test scenarios, test cases
- Reviewing and executing test cases
- Bug-testing
- Attending meetings with developers and asking questions
Skills & traits
- Thorough experience with different types of testing
- Very good knowledge of databases and HTTP protocols
- Very good understanding of SDLC (software development life cycle) and STLC (software testing life cycle)
- Being inquisitive and proactive
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
- Independence and accountability
- Self-organization
- Assertiveness
- Investigative approach
- Creativity
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Good leadership skills
- Working experience with Agile
Tools
- Test management tools (e.g., Zephyr)
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
QA Lead
Prior relevant experience: 10 years
Time typically spent in this role: 5+ years
Responsibilities
- Ensuring high quality of the digital product
- Obtaining thorough knowledge of the system
- Creating processes
- Selecting tech stack
- Building and managing the team
- Interviewing candidates
- Training and motivating others
- Problem-solving
- Reporting
- Leading meetings with stakeholders
Skills & traits
- Thorough experience with different types of testing
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills
- Very good organizational skills
- Very good knowledge of databases and HTTP protocols
- Excellent understanding of SDLC (software development life cycle) and STLC (software testing life cycle)
- Strong investigation skills
- Creativity and imagination
- Strong attention to detail
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Very good analytical skills
- Accountability and responsibility
- Thorough experience with Agile
Tools
- Test management tools (e.g., Zephyr)
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Careers in test automation
QA Automation Engineers use their creativity and analytical skills to automate tests, making them easily repeatable and less error-prone. They share their end goal, which is to heighten the overall product quality, with other testers. It is important to note that QA Automation Engineers vastly benefit from at least some manual testing experience and/or knowledge.
Junior QA Automation Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 0+ months
Time typically spent in this role: 2-3 years
Important note: Junior engineers aren’t usually required to possess all skills and experience listed below.
Responsibilities
- Improving the quality of the digital product
- Automation scripting
- Test scripting and test debugging
- Writing and reviewing test cases
- Test execution
- Defect tracking
- Reporting
- Attending team meetings
- Asking questions and learning from colleagues
Skills & traits
- Basic knowledge of functional testing
- Basic knowledge of test automation
- Basic proficiency in at least one programming language
- Some knowledge of Agile methodology
- Good collaboration and communication skills
- Good analytical and problem-solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to listen and ask questions
Tools
- Test automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Tricentis Tosca) - exposure to multiple test automation tools is a plus
- Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Regular QA Automation Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 2-3 years as a Junior QA Automation Engineer or a Regular Quality Assurance Engineer
Time typically spent in this role: 2-3 years
Responsibilities
- Improving the quality of the digital product
- Automation scripting
- Test scripting and test debugging
- Test execution
- Writing and reviewing test cases
- Defect tracking
- Writing reports
- Test framework maintenance
- Actively participating in team meetings and meetings with other stakeholders
Skills & traits
- Very good knowledge of test automation
- Working experience with Selenium
- Working experience with at least one programming language, preferably Java, Javascript, Python, C#, or Ruby
- Working experience with Agile methodology
- Good knowledge of functional testing
- Some familiarity with various automation frameworks
- Basic knowledge of backend testing
- Basic understanding of API web services
- Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Very good communication skills, including active listening and the ability to ask the right questions
- Good report-writing skills
- Attention to detail
- Accountability
- Some understanding of CI/CD and DevOps is a plus
Tools
- Selenium
- Selection of test automation tools
- Docker
- Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Documentation software (e.g., Confluence)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Senior QA Automation Engineer
Prior relevant experience: 5-6 years
Time typically spent in this role: 4+ years
Responsibilities
- Ensuring the overall quality of the digital product
- Planning quality assurance activities and prioritizing tasks
- Automation tools selection (per product/client requirements)
- Test framework design
- Automation framework development
- Automation scripting
- Continuous maintenance of the automation ecosystem
- CI/CD planning and CI/CD setup
- Test requirement analysis
- Test scripting, test debugging, test execution, and test analysis
- Writing and reviewing test cases
- Defect tracking and management
- Reporting
- Conducting meetings with developers and other stakeholders
- Working independently or leading a group of automation consultants
Skills & traits
- Thorough experience with test automation
- Thorough experience with Selenium
- Very good knowledge of at least one programming language, preferably Java, Javascript, Python, C#, or Ruby
- Working experience with Agile methodology
- Working experience with functional testing
- Working experience with backend test automation
- Working experience with API web services test automation
- Working experience with various automation frameworks, databases, and any cloud environment
- Basic understanding of CI/CD and DevOps
- Excellent teamwork, communication, and leadership skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good report-writing skills
- Time management skills
- Prioritization skills
- Attention to detail
- Accountability
Tools
- Selenium
- Selection of test automation tools
- Docker
- Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Documentation software (e.g., Confluence)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
Test Automation Architect
Prior relevant experience: 10 years
Time typically spent in this role: 5+ years
Responsibilities
- Designing and developing automation frameworks
- Ensuring high quality of digital products
- Leading and managing the organization’s test automation team or test center of excellence
- Conducting regular meetings with all stakeholders
- Automation scripting
- Maintenance of the automation ecosystem
- CI/CD planning, setup, and maintenance
- Reporting
Skills & traits
- Thorough experience with all types of testing activities
- Thorough experience with Selenium
- Very good knowledge of at least one programming language, preferably Java, Javascript, Python, C#, or Ruby
- Thorough experience with Agile methodology
- Working experience with various automation frameworks, databases, and cloud environments
- Good understanding of CI/CD and DevOps
- Excellent teamwork, communication, and leadership skills
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good report-writing skills
- Good time management skills
- Prioritization skills
- Attention to detail
- Accountability
Tools
- Test automation tools
- Ticketing systems (e.g., Jira)
- Documentation software (e.g., Confluence)
- Communication tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom)
- Code management tools
- Design/modeling tools
- IDEs
- Cloud platforms
Recommended certifications and courses
Many open-source tools mentioned above have no certifying body offering official tests. However, one can utilize courses and tutorials available online, both for free and premium ones, to hone their testing skills and become acquainted with tools.
Manual Testing
- ISTQB Fundamentals
- STLC - software testing life cycle online courses
Automation Testing
- Java Programming courses
- SOAP UI Certifications from SmartBear
- Tosca Certifications from Tricentis
- AWS and other Cloud Certifications on a fundamental level
Work with us
Maxima Consulting is a people-centric company that delivers managed software testing services and outsourced quality assurance teams to clients in many countries and industries. Regardless of whether you’re a skilled QA Engineer with years of experience or a creative problem-solver who just got interested in software testing, we encourage you to browse our current vacancies or to send us a message with your spontaneous application!
