GCI's Analyst I, Quality Assurance will provide professional services support in IT quality assurance efforts at GCI. This position contributes to success by testing, evaluating, assessing, investigating, and troubleshooting IT systems and integrations. This position writes, revises, and verifies quality standards and test procedures for program design and product evaluation to attain quality of applications economically and efficiently resolving bugs, defects and other potential issues.

Quality Assurance:

• Perform quality assurance and testing activities.
• Develop, document, and execute test plans and test cases in accordance with functional requirements and technical specifications.
• Create and execute regression test plans.
• Validate system application functionality across various hosted and on prem solutions, integrations, integrated systems, operational processes, and custom development ensuring their alignment with design specifications, and database updates.
• Write clear, concise defects and/or bugs and effectively communicate with developers and project team members to isolate problems.
• Work closely with technical resources and testers on review and resolution of issues.
• Review test plans and cases written by others for coverage and completeness.
• Review requirements and design documentation and participate in design reviews.
• Assist Project Manager and/or Scrum master's in planning and estimating efforts - providing input/clarity on testing requirements and level of effort estimates.
• Conduct QA on support processes to ensure that the application and support solution meets quality standards and business needs.
• Work collaboratively with developers, business system analysts, project managers, and scrum masters to ensure quality product development and successful project deliveries.
• Assist in developing and maintaining quality assurance procedures and standard.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

Required:

• Must be technically astute, highly organized and have a reputation for meeting deadlines and budget commitments.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, particularly in the ability to communicate with, and understand the needs of, non-technical internal clients are essential. Instinctively senses issues and opportunities.
• Understanding of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) leveraging traditional Waterfall, Agile, LEAN-Agile, SAFe, and/or blended frameworks.
• Testing experience in internal software application and/or hosted development and systems integration.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and multi-task in a dynamic, complex and rapidly changing environment.
• Must be able to reconcile divergent demands and prioritize individual workload.
• Must have the ability to successfully interact and collaborate with colleagues, customers, operating and technical staff and other GCI departments.
• Must be able to function autonomously on assigned projects with minimal direction.
• Strong analytical skills, problem-solving skills and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to create and execute test plans and test scripts.
• JIRA, Zephyr or other test system software experience including planning, creating and executing test cases.
• Active participation in sessions with the business stakeholders

Desirable:

• User Acceptance Test Planning and Implementation experience for hosted and/or on-premises applications and integrations
• Telecommunications Industry Experience
• Test Automation or Monitoring Experience
• Netcracker platform experience or other order to billing/CRM/Financial software package
• Experience testing: Website development, User Experience (UX) Design, Mobile Apps, Telecom software and systems, financial systems, engineering systems and switching, mobile device design, Cloud based solutions, Next gen connected devices, E-commerce, CRM, e-payment, and/or order to cash product process development lifecycles
• SQL scripting skills in Oracle and MS SQL
• Testing experience in a production environment with regular and frequent code releases
• Business analysis and/or Project Management skills
• Ability to use and create or configure automated testing tools for testing such as scripts or other available testing tools
• Experience with development of electronic presentation materials, MS Teams, Zoom, Skype and the ability to handle ad-hoc question-and-answer sessions is also desirable.
• Functional testing experience
• Familiarity with JIRA, Confluence, Kanban
• Functional understanding of Intranet and Internet technologies including, HTTP, FTP servers, application servers, and internet protocols
• Experience with web analytics/reporting tools

Certifications: Industry specific certifications are highly valued and contribute toward education.

• Software Test Certifications desirable
• Project Management Institute Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP and/or PMP-ACP) is highly desirable
• Agile Certified Professional (ACP), IC Agile, LEAN Six Sigma is highly desirable
• Certified Scrum Master (SAFE Certification is beneficial) is desirable
• Applications, Programming, and Software certifications desirable.
• ITIL Certification (V3 or 4), Foundation, Practitioner, Intermediate, Expert, Managing Professional, Strategic Leader, Master is desirable

Level Definition:

Position Title: Analyst I, Quality Assurance

Grade: E03

Additional Job Requirements: This is an entry level position working under close supervision; requiring the ability to provide assistance to higher level staff.

Essential Duties for this position:

• Identify, develop, document, and execute test plans and test cases in accordance with functional requirements and technical specifications.
• Validate application functionality meets the client’s requirements, including data accuracy, visual presentation and alignment with design specifications.
• Record and report in detail all defects in the defect module within JIRA.
• Effectively communicate with developers and clientele to isolate core issues causing system defects.
• Evaluate incoming client requests for prioritization against backlog - providing input/clarity and on testing requirements and document level of effort estimates per request.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of three (3) years quality assurance/product/project management or monitoring experience.
• Project experience a plus, Telecommunication experience is preferred, IT project experience preferred.
• High School diploma or equivalent is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is required preferably in Business, Technology, or Computer Science or relevant field required.
• Or a combination of relevant education and/or work experience sufficient to perform the duties may substitute for the degree on a year for year basis.

Because GCI is a federal contractor subject to Executive Order 14042, GCI employees may be required in the future to be fully vaccinated* against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. If this occurs , GCI will consider requests for accommodation if an individual’s medical condition, disability, or sincerely held religious belief prohibits receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Physical Requirements: Physical effort may include stooping, kneeling, touching, feeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions. Clarity of vision to see near, mid-range, and color. Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Working Conditions: The work area must be quiet and free of distractions. Lighting must be adequate and without glare. Distracting noises should be kept to a minimum. The employee’s desk must be adequate, designed to safely accommodate the equipment the employee must use, e.g., computer, printer, keyboard, monitor etc. The employee must have reliable connectivity to the internet to access GCI via VPN. Employee workstation must comply with GCI’s ergonomics standards. Occasional business travel required.

The company and its subsidiaries operate in a 24/7 environment providing critical services to Alaskans and may need to respond to public health and safety matters or other business emergencies. Due to business needs employees may be contacted outside of the core business hours to respond to the immediate emergency. As such, you will be requested to provide emergency after hours contact numbers, to include your home and cell phone numbers if you have those services.

Driving Requirements (if applicable): Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and a satisfactory driving record.

EEO: We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or another characteristic protected by law.

Disclaimer: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, and responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job.