Scoring:

• 20% - Cost
• 10% - Knowledge, skills and experience as a Quality Assurance Tester in software development
• 20% - Knowledge, skills and experience using automated testing tools
• 30% - Ability to design and implement testing models for major development/migration projects
• 20% - Knowledge and techniques for the types of testing required in a system migration

Job Description:

• Are you a Software Development Sr. Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist looking for a unique career boosting opportunity? The State of Utah Department of Government Operations, Division of Technology Services (DTS) seeks an highly experienced QA Designer/Technician to participate in a major system migration in support of the Utah Department of Corrections and the Board of Pardons & Parole.
• The project itself is to migrate the large, mission-critical O-TRACK system database and its data from Informix to a new platform, transfer it from OnPrem to a Cloud environment, make any needed reconnections to the front-end application, segregate several modules, establish microservices and make defined enhancements.
• It will be the role of this Quality Assurance Specialist on the project to both design and implement the methods, techniques, tools and processes for the multi-tiered testing activities. The testing targets could include database structure, data transfer, application code, screen integrity, screen functionality, jobs and reports results, performance testing, authentication and security integrities, user acceptance and system regression testing. It will require the selection, preparation and use of one or more automated testing tools. This testing function must be tightly integrated into the Project Management Process for the sequential work flow. It will require close collaboration with other database and development team members, and user subject matter experts. It will require precise documentation and reporting. It will require maintaining momentum and meeting deadlines.
• The chosen candidate will engage with existing in-house QA testers (2) for knowledge base information, and cross-mentoring for them to continue the techniques and tools acquired during the project.
• The person fulfilling this role will have mastered, achieved and delivered on the highest level of Quality Assurance testing design and execution on a large system migration project.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Context: This position is a key "gatekeeping, go/no-go" function. As the project unfolds, there will be critical milestone points at which conversion/ migration steps with the database(s), related application screens, reports, etc. will have been performed/delivered. At designated points, one or more levels of testing must be done to validate and report on the success or failure of those actions, and the integrity of the resulting system and its data.

The Primary Duties are to identify, design, set up and prepare, execute and report on the appropriate and applicable test results, with guidance. This is to include the selection and use of both manual and automated testing tools, as deemed most advantageous.

As suggestions only, testing targets may include:

• Database structure
• Data transfer
• Application code
• Screen integrity
• Screen functionality
• Jobs and reports results
• System performance
• Authentication and security
• User acceptance content
• System regression
• Other targets defined within the project

Design and establish the quality assurance testing activities:

• Identify the testing targets for the project.
• Provide input on the timing and sequencing of testing events.
• Design leadup, collaboration points and the in-out gates for tests.
• Define the objectives and criteria for each target test.
• Determine the type of testing approach for each target test.
• Determine the tool (or tasks) and develop the test procedures.
• Acquire selected tool(s) and have them installed/configured.
• Design templates or forms to be used in testing activities.
• Design and create records to record and report results.
• Establish the test function repositories for test tools and results.
• Collaborate with other project participants on all of the above.

Investigate, recommend and operate automated testing tools:

• Identify specific target test areas where tools should be used.
• Identify specific objective criteria for conducting tools research.
• Conduct/document thorough research on available test products.
• Run criteria-based comparisons of top ranked discovered products.
• Formulate concrete recommendations for the acquisition of tools.
• Receive, install, configure, customize and stand up tools.
• Prepare/load specific tests and related data cases, when needed.
• Run automated tests of target areas when scheduled in work flows.
• Format, present and retain automated test results.

Member of Project Team(s):

• Participate in planning sessions to coordinate testing requirements.
• Participate in other meetings to address and report testing activities.
• Follow team Software Development Methodology (SDM) processes.
• Use development tracking software to collaborate/document testing.
• Address and enforce standards with development teams.
• Fulfill the Internal Testing duties on delivered/assigned products.
• Provide feedback on common or unique errors found in testing.
• Prioritize assignments and work flow to meet established deadlines.

Target Areas Testing:

• Follow the team SDM for the target area testing steps.
• Use the tracking software to document testing activities and results.
• Use tracking software to coordinate and assign issues with others.
• Test delivered targets to ensure all requirements have been met.
• Test delivered products to ensure they meet standards.
• Test delivered products to ensure the correct data is returned.
• Test delivered products to ensure security requirements are met.
• Test delivered products to ensure related screens function correctly.
• Document testing activities that are complete and accurate.
• Prepare test scenarios and data to guide testing activities.
• Load testing scenarios into automated test tools.
• Report and return "failed" products for rework.
• Provide detailed information on "failed" products.
• Forward-assign "passed" products on to the next project phase.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Experience

• Principles, theories, and practices of computer science.
• Concepts of computer hardware operation/application development.
• Concepts of computer screens, pages, features, functions, coding.
• Relational and other databases and database analysis software.
• Learn and use automated software applications.
• Understand project definitions, scope, objectives, business work flow processes and diagrams, application and database requirements, business functional specifications, design and technical specifications, business and technical standards documents, test case scenarios and other analysis and design tasks and reports.
• Use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions.
• Find/collect raw, meta, calculated data/information from data sources.
• Use computer software programs to store data, retrieve stored data, analyze retrieved data, and arrange results in a presentable format.
• Review and analyze data, summarize report findings, interpret results and make recommendations.
• Identify problems or potential problem areas, recommend solutions.
• Evaluate information against a set of standards.
• Gather and document business requirements.
• Define and document standards for use and operation of software.
• Convert standards, specifications and requirements into test plans.
• Develop test cases to evaluate the success of changes.
• Test applications using standard methodologies and techniques.
• Test applications for requirements, quality, responsiveness, performance, accessibility, data integrity, functionality, user acceptance.
• Test systems for compliance with regulations, policies, procedures, operational practices.
• Prepare software documentation and testing records for future reference and maintenance needs.
• Anticipate the impact that new or modified software will have on existing standards and systems.
• Plan, organize and prioritize time and workload in order to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.
• Deal with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism.
• Work effectively with a work group or team to complete tasks.
• Build Team spirit and cohesiveness.
• Organize, chair, facilitate, document meetings.
• Communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, orally; and understand information presented orally.
• Communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; and read and understand information presented in writing.
• Help customers identify better ways to utilize a system's capabilities.