Junior Tester

Location
Columbia, SC

Experience Level
Mid-Level (3 or more years of experience)

Role Overview
The Advanced Quality Assurance Analyst supports software testing, defect resolution, and systems validation initiatives for a major enterprise healthcare system modernization program within a state Medicaid agency. Working in collaboration with the Project Management Office (PMO), this role is responsible for executing tests on technical solutions to isolate and solve software issues. The analyst translates functional and technical requirements into comprehensive test cases, creates standard traceability matrices, and documents software defects to ensure high-quality, modern, and policy-compliant system delivery. This is a 12-month hybrid contract opportunity with a possibility of extension, requiring mandatory state-level criminal, credit, and E-Verify background screenings.

Key Responsibilities

Test Planning & Execution

• Translate detailed functional specifications, technical designs, business requirements, and public health policy documentation into comprehensive test cases and scenarios.
• Design, document, and execute functional, regression, smoke, usability, and boundary test cases under the direction of test leads and senior QA staff.
• Perform rigorous manual testing on technical solutions to isolate, analyze, and diagnose software issues and functional errors.
• Retest resolved defects to validate successful development remediation and system stability.

Defect Management & Traceability

• Participate actively in cross-functional defect triage sessions to assess, prioritize, and track software resolutions.
• Create and maintain end-to-end SDLC traceability from test cases to requirements and software components, assisting in the generation of requirements traceability matrices (RTM).
• Clearly communicate and document testing statuses, operational risks, and newly identified defects to platform engineers and PMO leadership.

Documentation & Standards Governance

• Create, organize, and maintain standard quality assurance documentation, test logs, and platform reports.
• Demonstrate high proficiency in agency-specific test processes, SDLC methodologies, and QA management tools.
• Align all testing activities with established IT governance standards, organizational policies, and release management schedules.

Required Qualifications

• 2 or more years of experience translating business requirements or policy documentation into detailed test cases and scenarios.
• 2 or more years of experience applying manual testing techniques (such as functional, regression, smoke, usability, and boundary testing).
• 3 or more years of experience and deep domain knowledge in healthcare operations, business processes, or Medicaid programs.
• Bachelor's degree in a technical, business, healthcare, or related field (equivalent professional experience may be substituted in lieu of formal education).
• Ability to successfully pass mandatory state-level background screenings, including criminal, credit, and E-Verify checks.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 or more years of experience validating large-scale enterprise or e-business platforms.
• 3 or more years of experience utilizing standard QA and DevOps tools (such as Jira, Azure DevOps, TestRail, or similar).
• 3 or more years of prior experience working within standard Waterfall (SDLC) and Agile/Scrum delivery methodologies.
• Technical and/or Project Management certifications from recognized industry organizations.

Core Skills & Attributes

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to clearly convey testing outcomes and technical defects.
• High attention to detail with a structured approach to documenting test results and tracking traceability.
• Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills to isolate complex system anomalies.
• Collaborative, team-oriented mindset with the ability to work productively on change-oriented enterprise projects.