Career Details
Career Details
Back to top

Career Details

15-1253.00 - Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers


Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
N/A
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment
N/A
Estimate
Change in Employment %
N/A
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
  • Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
  • Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
  • Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
  • Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
  • Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
  • Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
  • Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
  • Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
  • Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
  • Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
  • Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
  • Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
  • Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
  • Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
  • Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
  • Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
  • Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
  • Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
  • Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
  • Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
  • Design or develop automated testing tools.
  • Coordinate user or third-party testing.
  • Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
  • Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
  • Conduct historical analyses of test results.
Generic
  • Modify existing software to correct errors, allow it to adapt to new hardware, or to improve its performance.
  • Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
  • Store, retrieve, and manipulate data for analysis of system capabilities and requirements.
Supplemental
  • Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 85%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 70%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 65%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Mathematics
  • 61%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Administration and Management
  • 50%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 System boards processors interfaces or modules
  • Graphics processing unit GPU
  • Multi-core central processing unit CPU
 Computers
  • Application servers
  • Computer servers
  • Directory servers
  • Laptop computers
  • Notebook computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
  • Mainframe computers
  • Mainframe operating systems
  • Supercomputers
 Network service equipment
  • Computer network routers
 Cameras
  • Digital cameras
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Human resource management software HRMS
  • Atlassian JIRAHOT
  • ConfluenceHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Microsoft SharePointHOT
  • Microsoft Team Foundation Server
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
  • Slack
  • Ansible softwareHOT
  • Google DriveHOT
  • LibreOffice
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Tax software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
  • Microsoft DynamicsHOT
  • Microsoft Dynamics GPHOT
  • NetSuite ERPHOT
  • Oracle Fusion ApplicationsHOT
  • Oracle HyperionHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoftHOT
  • Oracle PeopleSoft FinancialsHOT
  • SAPHOT
  • SAP Business ObjectsHOT
  • Delphi Technology
  • Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Creative CloudHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flash
  • Adobe Systems Adobe IllustratorHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe PhotoshopHOT
  • GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP
  • JamBoard
  • Microsoft VisioHOT
  • Open Graphics Library OpenGL
  • SmugMug FlickrHOT
  • Trimble SketchUp ProHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffectsHOT
  • Flipgrid
  • Loom
  • Screencastify
  • YouTubeHOT
  • 3M Post-it App
  • Evernote
  • Google DocsHOT
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Google Slides
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
  • Google Sites
  • LinkedInHOT
  • Social media sitesHOT
  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe InDesignHOT
  • Microsoft Publisher
 Content management software
  • Emerald Software Group Emerald Green Office
  • Twiki
  • Workflow software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe AcrobatHOT
  • Document management system software
  • Dropbox
  • Apache Subversion SVNHOT
  • GitHOT
  • Version control software
 Data management and query software
  • Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge
  • Oracle Eloqua
  • Salesforce softwareHOT
  • Amazon Data Pipeline
  • Amazon DynamoDBHOT
  • Amazon Kinesis
  • Apache CassandraHOT
  • Apache Flume
  • Apache HadoopHOT
  • Apache Hbase
  • Apache Oozie
  • Apache PigHOT
  • Apache SolrHOT
  • Apache Sqoop
  • Computer Associates integrated data management system CA-IDMS
  • Data definition language DDL
  • Data manipulation language DML
  • Distributed database management software
  • ElasticsearchHOT
  • Microsoft transact-structural query language T-SQL
  • MongoDBHOT
  • MySQLHOT
  • NoSQLHOT
  • Oracle DBMS
  • Oracle PL/SQLHOT
  • Relational database management softwareHOT
  • SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise
  • Structured Query Report SQR
  • Talend Big Data Integration
  • Teradata DatabaseHOT
  • DataVision
  • Microsoft SQL Server Reporting ServicesHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Discoverer
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Suite
  • Oracle Reports
  • SAP Business Intelligence
  • SAP Crystal ReportsHOT
  • ADO.NET
  • Airtable
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2HOT
  • Amazon RedshiftHOT
  • Amazon Web Services AWS softwareHOT
  • Apache HiveHOT
  • Blackboard software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • FileMaker Pro
  • IBM DB2
  • IEA Software Emerald
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Microsoft SQL ServerHOT
  • Oracle JDBCHOT
  • Oracle softwareHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
  • Transact-SQLHOT
  • Google AnalyticsHOT
  • Apache Avro
  • LexisNexis
  • CA Erwin Data Modeler
  • Talend Data Fabric
  • Hibernate ORM
  • PostgreSQLHOT
  • Apache HTTP ServerHOT
  • Apache Webserver
  • Customer information control system CICS
  • IBM Middleware
  • Microsoft Internet Information Service IIS
  • Object Management Group Object Request Broker
  • Web server software
  • IBM Cognos ImpromptuHOT
  • MicroStrategyHOT
  • Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise EditionHOT
  • Qlik Tech QlikViewHOT
  • TableauHOT
 Development software
  • Automated installation software
  • Chef
  • Configuration management software
  • Deployment software
  • IBM Rational ClearCase
  • Patch management software
  • Perforce Helix software
  • PuppetHOT
  • Red Hat Ansible Engine
  • Revision control software
  • VMWareHOT
  • Visible Razor
  • A programming language APL
  • ABC Compiler
  • AWK
  • Ada
  • Adobe Systems Adobe ActionScript
  • Algorithmic language ALGOL
  • American National Standards Institute ANSI C
  • Apache AntHOT
  • Apache KafkaHOT
  • Apache Maven
  • Assembler
  • B-Method
  • Beginner's all-purpose symbolic instruction code BASIC
  • Bigloo Scheme
  • C
  • Call-processing language CPL
  • Common business oriented language COBOLHOT
  • Computer On-line Real-time Applications Language CORAL 66
  • CruiseControl
  • Eclipse IDEHOT
  • Embarcadero JBuilder
  • Embedded systems development software
  • Event-driven State-machines Programming
  • Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
  • Forth
  • Gambit Scheme
  • GoHOT
  • Haskell
  • IBM Rational ClearQuest
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer
  • IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer D93
  • ICON programming language
  • Integrated development environment IDE softwareHOT
  • Interface definition language IDL
  • Interstate connection ICON
  • J
  • JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA
  • List processing language LISP
  • MUMPS M
  • Microsoft .NET FrameworkHOT
  • Microsoft AzureHOT
  • Microsoft ESP SDK
  • Microsoft PowerShellHOT
  • Microsoft Visual BasicHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScriptHOT
  • Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBAHOT
  • Microsoft Visual SourceSafe
  • Microsoft Visual StudioHOT
  • Microsoft Windows SDK
  • National Instruments LabVIEWHOT
  • Pascal
  • Programming language one PL/I
  • Prolog
  • Restructured extended executor REXX
  • RubyHOT
  • Scheme programming language
  • String oriented symbolic language SNOBOL
  • Subversion
  • Sun Microsystems Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE
  • Symantec Visual Cafe
  • Verilog
  • Web service definition language WDSL
  • XML Path Language XPATH
  • Xcode
  • Atlassian BambooHOT
  • Enterprise application integration EAI software
  • Extensible markup language XMLHOT
  • IBM InfoSphere DataStage
  • IBM WebSphereHOT
  • Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSISHOT
  • Oracle Fusion MiddlewareHOT
  • SAP Netweaver
  • Graphical user interface GUI builder software
  • Graphical user interface GUI design software
  • Salesforce VisualforceHOT
  • ABC: the AspectBench Compiler for AspectJ
  • Acresso InstallAnywhere
  • Advanced business application programming ABAPHOT
  • Apache GroovyHOT
  • Apache SparkHOT
  • Apple Cocoa
  • C#HOT
  • C++HOT
  • Collaborative Application Markup Language CAML
  • Common Lisp Object System CLOS
  • Component object model COM software
  • Component-based Scalable Logical Architecture CSLA
  • Distributed component object model DCOM software
  • Document Object Model DOM Scripting
  • E++ pattern language
  • Eiffel
  • Embarcadero Delphi
  • Jupyter Notebook
  • Microsoft ActiveX
  • Microsoft Visual Basic.NET
  • Microsoft Visual C# .NET
  • Modula
  • Oberon
  • Objective CHOT
  • Objective Caml
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • Practical extraction and reporting language PerlHOT
  • PythonHOT
  • RHOT
  • SAP PowerBuilder
  • ScalaHOT
  • Self
  • Simple API for XML SAX
  • Smalltalk
  • SwiftHOT
  • jQueryHOT
  • Borland SilkTest
  • Bugzilla
  • Debugview
  • Defect tracking software
  • Dynamic analysis software
  • Fault testing software
  • FileMon
  • FitNesse
  • Functional testing software
  • Hewlett Packard LoadRunner
  • Hewlett-Packard HP QuickTest Professional
  • Hewlett-Packard HP TestDirector for Quality Center
  • Hewlett-Packard HP WinRunner
  • IBM Rational PurifyPlus
  • IBM Rational Robot
  • Integration testing software
  • Interoperability testing software
  • JUnitHOT
  • Load testing software
  • Migration testing software
  • Mutation testing software
  • Nunit
  • Recovery testing software
  • RegMon
  • Regression testing software
  • Security testing software
  • SeleniumHOT
  • SmartBear Software AutomatedQA TestComplete
  • Source code editor software
  • Static analysis software
  • Stress testing software
  • System testing software
  • Test design software
  • Test implementation software
  • TestNG
  • Unit testing software
  • Usability testing software
  • Watir
  • YourKit Java Profiler
  • ej-technologies JProfiler
  • IBM Rational Requisite Pro
  • Requirements management software
  • Unified modeling language UMLHOT
  • AJAXHOT
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Flex
  • Allaire ColdFusion
  • Apache StrutsHOT
  • Apache TomcatHOT
  • Backbone.jsHOT
  • Cascading Style Sheets CSSHOT
  • DjangoHOT
  • DrupalHOT
  • Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML
  • Enterprise JavaBeans
  • Ext JS
  • Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML
  • Extensible stylesheet language transformations XSLT
  • Google AngularJSHOT
  • Hypertext markup language HTMLHOT
  • JavaScriptHOT
  • JavaScript Object Notation JSONHOT
  • LAMP Stack
  • Microsoft ASP.NETHOT
  • Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVCHOT
  • Microsoft Active Server Pages ASPHOT
  • Node.jsHOT
  • Oracle JavaServer Pages JSPHOT
  • PHP: Hypertext PreprocessorHOT
  • ReactHOT
  • Ruby on RailsHOT
  • Spring FrameworkHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Bentley MicroStationHOT
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Data analysis software
  • Dynamic modeling software
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsHOT
  • MinitabHOT
  • SASHOT
  • Simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis SPICE
  • StataCorp Stata
  • The MathWorks MATLABHOT
  • The MathWorks Simulink
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Epic SystemsHOT
 Network applications software
  • DockerHOT
  • GitHubHOT
  • Oracle Application Server
  • Oracle WebLogic ServerHOT
  • Red Hat OpenShiftHOT
  • Red Hat WildFlyHOT
  • Spring BootHOT
  • VMWare ESX Server
  • Skype
  • Apple Safari
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Web browser software
 Network management software
  • NagiosHOT
  • WiresharkHOT
  • Software distribution management software
  • Voice over internet protocol VoiP system softwareHOT
 Networking software
  • CitrixHOT
  • PuTTY
  • IBM Domino
  • Amazon Simple Storage Service S3HOT
  • Storage area network SAN software
  • Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormationHOT
  • Migration software
 Operating environment software
  • File server software
  • IBM z/OS operating systems
  • Apple macOSHOT
  • BashHOT
  • Cisco Systems IOS
  • Disk operating system DOS
  • Hewlett Packard HP-UX
  • IBM AIX
  • Job control language JCL
  • KornShell
  • LinuxHOT
  • Magellan Firmware
  • Microsoft WindowsHOT
  • Microsoft Windows ServerHOT
  • Operating system shells
  • Oracle SolarisHOT
  • QNX
  • Real time operating system RTOS software
  • Red Hat Enterprise LinuxHOT
  • Shell scriptHOT
  • UNIXHOT
  • UNIX ShellHOT
  • Ubuntu
  • VMWare Workstation
  • Win CE
  • Wind River Systems VxWorks
  • Wind River VxWorks
 Security and protection software
  • Firewall software
  • Network intrusion detection software
  • Virtual private networking VPN softwareHOT
  • Anti-spyware software
  • Antivirus software
  • Encryption software
  • McAfee
  • SymantecHOT
 Utility and device driver software
  • Microsoft DirectX
  • Backup and archival software
  • Veritas NetBackup
 Information exchange software
  • Google Gmail
  • IBM NotesHOT
  • Microsoft ExchangeHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
  • Cisco Systems Webex
  • FaceTime
  • Google Meet
  • LogMeIn GoToMeeting
  • Zoom
  • LogMeIn GoToWebinar
  • Blink
  • GroupMe
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
 System management software
  • IBM Power Systems software
  • Splunk EnterpriseHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Peirce College
Jobs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.