Quality Assurance Engineer : How to get started

Quality is something that no one wants to compromise with. Developing high-quality software is an issue of great importance to companies all over the world. Quality software products not only fulfil requirements with accuracy but also provide a seamless user experience.

Software development is a long-term process that involves multiple stages like designing, developing, testing, and maintenance. There is a large scope of errors in various stages of the software development life cycle which can lower the overall quality of the product and hence, it is important to ensure that the quality standards are maintained throughout the stages of development. If you think that a Quality Assurance Engineer (QAE) handles this crucial task, then you are right!

Read below to find out what it takes to become a QAE.

What is the role of a QA Engineer?

The role of a QA Engineer involves continuously assessing the software for bugs, suggesting improvements that are in accordance with the SRS(Software Requirements Specifications), communicating with the developers, preparing test cases to evaluate the performance of the software and documenting the results.

Listed are some of the duties of a QAE –

• To create standards and protocols for the developers to follow to maintain the quality standards
• To execute tests and assess the functionality of the software. Testing includes unit testing, integration testing and system testing and must be done to look out for potential errors and bugs in the software
• To communicate efficiently with the development and design teams to fix inadequacies and errors detected during testing and clarify software requirements.
• To work closely with product development and testing teams to ensure timely delivery of the project.
• To verify that the product meets the requirements specified in the SRS.
• To analyse product features and suggest changes to enhance them to make them more efficient and user-friendly. Usually, such ideas are brought to the table during brainstorming or JAD(Joint Application Development) sessions.
• To stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments, standards and regulations.

What are the skills required for this role?

A diverse skill set is required for the role of QA engineer. A combination of strong technical skills and soft skills is required to excel at this position. The following competencies are looked for :

Technical Skills

1. Good programming skills – have knowledge of at least one programming language such as C++, Java, Python , or Rust for writing automated test scripts.
2. Understanding of Computer Science fundamentals such as Data structures and algorithms(DSA), Database management system(DBMS), Operating systems(OS) and Object-oriented programming(OOPS).
3. DevOps-Familiarity with version control systems like Git for maintaining the code is required.
4. Experience in testing – command over Agile testing and test driven development is desired. Apart from that, the candidate must be proficient in working with automated software testing tools like Selenium and Appium.
5. Knowledge of SDLC- the candidates must possess clear understanding of the software development life cycle to write efficient test cases. Awareness of various SDLC models like waterfall model, spiral model, and prototype model is necessary.

Soft Skills

1. Communication skills – A QA engineer has to interact with various teams working in the project and thus needs to effectively and concisely communicate the requirements and changes.He/she must be an active listener and be a quick learner.
2. Time Management – The work requires adherence to strict deadlines and hence great time management skills should come handy.
3. Attention to detail – Intricacies regarding the project must be taken care of and an eye for detail is essential to thrive.
4. Team work – It is by far the most important skill a QAE should possess as constant interaction and cooperation between various teams is required through multiple stages of development.

Steps to become a QAE

1. A degree in Computer science or software engineering is required. The courses taught in the curriculum develop the competencies required for the role.
2. Gain practical experience in the field through internships and programs.
3. Certifications can also add significant weight to your profile.
4. Furnish an impactful resume for applications. The resume should include your projects and any experience in the related field to reflect your skillset. Leadership and co-curricular activities that demonstrate the above-mentioned soft skills must also be highlighted in the resume.
5. Network with industry professionals and seek out potential recruiters through websites like LinkedIn. Networking can help one get a referral for a job position in a company.
6. Apply for relevant job openings on/off campus. Searching for job roles as a QA engineer on websites such as Indeed or Glassdoor is another option.
7. Prepare well in advance for the technical and behavioural interview rounds.

Amazon QAE program

Amazon actively hires candidates for a summer internship role of a QAE. The applications open around March every year and the selection process is as follows:

1. Resume shortlisting – the resumes of all the applicants are thoroughly analysed and potential candidates proceed to the next round.
2. Online assessment – an online assessment is scheduled wherein coding questions and questions related to debugging of a piece of code are asked. Candidates who clear the cutoff are selected to appear for interviews.
3. Phone interview – questions in the telephonic interview round revolve around coding fundamentals, test cases and leadership skills.
4. Technical interview – More in-depth questions on coding, test case enumeration. test planning and debugging are asked.

Candidates who are shortlisted after the entire process are given confirmation within a week.

What is the salary offered?

The salary of a QA Engineer depends on various factors such as experience, skills and performance. It can range anywhere between 10 – 28 lakhs per annum in India.

While, the expected average pay for an entry level engineer around 10-12 lakhs, senior QAEs earn upto 28-30 lakhs per annum as well.

The average salary of a Quality assistance engineer in the U.S. is between $60k-$80k and can go upto $90k with around four years of experience.

Frequently asked questions: Are coding skills required to be a QAE?

Yes, Coding skills are required to be a QA engineer. As the work of a QAE revolves around writing fluent test cases for softwares, coding skills should come handy.

Do I require knowledge of competitive coding for QA role?

No. Competitive coding skills are not required for this role. While, having a knowledge of CP would not do any harm but it is not essentially needed.

Is a degree in CSE mandatory for this role?

While there is no hard rule for this but having a bachelors degree in computer science, electrical engineering or related fields with a strong portfolio is desired.

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