Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Software Test Engineer
A Software Test Engineer is a professional who is responsible for planing, designing and performing tests for software and hardware products to ensure that they meet the specified requirements. They design, create, and execute test cases, evaluate results, and report any defects or issues found during testing. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Software Test Engineers.
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Main Responsibilities of Software Test Engineer
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Software Test Engineer:
Analyze
Analyze product requirements.
Analyze, review and assess user requirements, specifications and models for test-ability.
Analyze test results and reported deviations from expected system behaviour.
Assist in
Assist in managing the test platforms.
Assist in the elicitation and development of succinct and testable requirements.
Assist in the evaluation of manual testing tools for automation opportunities.
Assist product development engineers in the diagnosis and replication of product failures.
Assist with the implementation of automated testing.
Automate
Automate test plans using python.
Automate tests and tests own code.
Build
Build an agile-friendly test automation framework and implement agreed test automation tools.
Build and maintain test set for modules and circuit pack testing.
Build comprehensive team testing goals and supervise progress on improving developed metrics.
Build rapid prototypes and work on fast paced projects.
Collaborate with
Collaborate closely with others in the R&D organization.
Collaborate with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders on software projects it.
Collaborate with peers to identify opportunities for process improvement.
Collaborate with team to build performance test suite.
Collaborate with the Development team to help improve our homegrown testing framework.
Collaborate with User Experience design team to increase product's usability and effectiveness.
Communicate
Communicate status frequently in daily Scrum.
Complete
Complete test development and execution activities per processes to exceed all quality.
Conduct
Conduct functional and performance, load and reliability testing.
Conduct test plan reviews with stakeholders.
Contribute to
Contribute to the quality and effectiveness of the team.
Convert
Convert existing manual test cases to run within our existing Automation Frameworks.
Coordinate
Coordinate and leads sync calls with local and overseas partners.
Coordinate individual and team status with the manager and project manager during all project phases.
Coordinate with DevOps engineers on the use and automation of the build pipeline.
Create
Create and maintain the Document Plan.
Create bug reports and follow through to resolution.
Create detailed, comprehensive and well-structured test plans and test cases.
Create incredible software and UX that rivals the best software you've ever used.
Create test designs for software features and functions.
Create test environment for new and upcoming features.
Debug
Debug and narrow down the product issues.
Debug, model and characterize product performance and scalability.
Define
Define and execute manual test plans for Android apps.
Define test module and mapping test case / result for verification the requirement.
Define tests and test coverage, with assistance from the team.
Design
Design and develop scripts for product automation test with support.
Design and develop test scenarios and methodologies for automation and simulation frameworks.
Design and validate Customer use cases.
Design and write test documentation.
Design detailed test cases based on requirements and test plan.
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Develop
Develop and maintain system and user acceptance tests and scripts based on product requirements.
Develop application guidelines and standards as pertaining to test automation tooling .
Develop a test culture within the team.
Develop formal manual and automated protocols and acceptance criteria for features.
Develop initial test harness framework & automation platforms.
Develop maintainable test automation frameworks, tools, and automated test suites.
Develop or improve or fix test tools.
Develop release test plans.
Develop test harnesses, simulations, and automation infrastructure.
Diagnose
Diagnose and document advanced application issues received from customer support.
Direct
Direct the development of new concepts from initial design to market release.
Direct support personnel and project activities.
Document
Document all non-conformances in the project defect tracking tool.
Document process, designs, test results, and analysis.
Document and work to resolve all problems.Drive and ensure the accuracy of software requirements with the System Engineering team.
Drive
Drive changes related to the CM process and tools.
Drive overall metric and reporting capabilities.
Engage
Engage in cross team collaboration to enhance the test efficiency across the groups.
Ensure
Ensure teams follow the organization's established policies and procedures.
Ensure test plans align with the development schedule and project milestones.
Ensure that data is accurate, timely and objective.
Establish
Establish quality process to ensure software quality in a continuous integration.
Evaluate
Evaluate application performance and report variances from standards.
Evaluate options for complex experimental problems.
Evaluate script failures at a high level.
Execute
Execute all levels of testing (Functional, Integration, Regression, Post-Release).
Execute and log tests in various testing phases (preparation, integration, FAT, etc).
Execute testing during all stages of development and release cycle.
Execute test plans, procedures, and scenarios for unit and system testing.
Follow
Follow direction and manages priorities as directed.
Follow standards defined by the Food and Drug Administration for the medical device industry.
Go through
Go through the full QA life cycle, from requirements to defects to product release.
Go through the QA cycle for new features / improvements with minimal supervision.
Guide
Guide the team to develop test strategies in an agile work environment.
Help
Help customer support investigate and troubleshoot customer issues.
Help designing / developing automation testing frameworks.
Help reduce technical debt by working on legacy features that don't have written requirements.
Help to develop frameworks and configurations.
Help us test, write automated tests and deliver high-quality features that delight our customers.
Help with coordinating weekly production releases.
Identify
Identify, analyze and solve technical problems with minimal support from test and development team.
Identify and create test data and test cases.
Identify defects in product, debug and work with developers towards resolution.
Identify improvements to the testing processes.
Identify manual tests that can be automated to improve test efficiency.
Identify opportunities for automated tests or testing tools and implement those ideas.
Identify, record, document and thoroughly track bugs.
Identify, track and resolve software defects.
Identify, track bugs throughout testing and produce.
Impact
Impact analysis and define test execution plan / test cases.
Implement
Implement advanced software test standards and methods and conducts complex software tests.
Implement best-fit automation framework and corresponding tests.
Implement cross-Browser and cross-device tests.
Influence
Influence the feature development and Improving product quality and customer experience.
Isolate
Isolate, characterize and log new software defects with detailed defect reports.
Keep
Keep rack and bench system configurations up to date and running tests.
Lead
Lead all tests, and prove that the software meets major architectural requirements.
Lead automation as an essential piece of successful software delivery.
Lead by example, demonstrating software craftsmanship and best practices.
Lead defect analysis and reporting.
Learn
Learn end-to-end data flows in order to automate testing of the entire application suite.
Liaise between
Liaise between Manufacturing, Engineering and contract manufacturers on assembly development.
Liaise between several product development teams to ensure accuracy of process and product quality.
Manage
Manage all communications related to QA Status on a daily basis during execution.
Manage and control document following company process.
Manage manual tests cases, and E2E automation tests.
Manage the design and implementation process and evidence gathering.
Monitor
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
Monitor documentation maintenance throughout all phases of research and development.
Oversee
Oversee the investigation and evaluation of existing technologies.
Participate in
Participate in code reviews, retrospectives, and review Pull Requests using Git.
Participate in defining project goals.
Participate in the continuous improvement of test processes and methodologies.
Perform
Perform activities concerning the document baseline work for validation releases.
Perform basic security testing of different web applications and APIs.
Perform CM for software work products.
Perform detailed analysis of test results and adjusts test cases accordingly.
Perform integration and acceptance testing through automation for new software builds.
Perform regression, integration and release testing for applications.
Perform test case and test case run analysis to determine adequacy of test cases.
Plan
Plan, coordinate and support of System Integration activities.
Plan, design, document and perform tests for software and hardware products.
Prepare
Prepare and file defect reports and report testing progress.
Prepare test reports on test results and problems and provide test logs as necessary.
Prepare test summaries for software increments that include metrics on coverage.
Process
Process improvements and documentation.
Provide
Provide detailed estimates for all testing tasks related to a user story.
Provide integration testing support to browser-based web applications written in JavaScript.
Provide mentorship and lead strong development practices inside the team.
Provide mentorship to new members of the Team.
Provide support for fault isolation.
Provide technical input / feedback to the development team.
Provide test area with parameters for sample testing and specifies tests to be performed.
Raise
Raise Non-conformity report of fault found during software verification and validation.
Ramp in
Ramp in triage and debug domains for the Data Lake and ETL pipelines.
Record
Record and analyze test data.
Re-create
Re-create, analyse and suggest potential solutions of reported errors.
Report
Report and document defects using Jira.
Report test results, browser / platform coverage and defects / issues.
Retain
Retain Audit compliance while supporting end users during their testing cycle.
Review
Review Feature Descriptions and provide input to ensure they are testable.
Review of test cases and test execution results.
Review of test cases / test scripts.
Review PRD, SFS, Test plans, and other documentations.
Review testing processes and standards as well as ensuring team members' adherence to compliance.
Run
Run formal protocols for software feature.
Setup
Setup Regression suites, run performance tests, and review results.
Solve
Solve test failures according to automation log files.
Stay current with
Stay current with the latest, most relevant QA technologies and trends.
Supervise
Supervise Requirement deliveries and assist in release work.
Support
Support existing internal customers for the Enterprise Platform.
Support lab technicians in the reliability lab.
Support User Acceptance Testing and provide assistance as needed.
Take
Take initiative to recommend and implement quality process improvements.
Test
Test and document software for client applications.
Test for edge case conditions and find creative ways to break the algorithms.
Track
Track quality assurance metrics, like defect densities and open defect counts.
Track testing progress and defects via Rally.
Train
Train production operators in function and maintenance of test infrastructure and test processes.
Understand
Understand and apply automated test strategies to the entire development life cycle.
Understand and test dependencies between algorithm outputs and other system components.
Understand FDA Regulations, quality documents and apply to software development.
Understand how to read and query data from back-end sources.
Use
Use a combination of manual and automated testing to ensure high quality releases.
Use analytical and testing skills to turn requirements into test cases.
Use source debuggers and visual development environments.
Use testing skills to ensure the delivery of high-quality products without wasting resources.
Use user-centered test design to deliver software features and functions.
Validate
Validate data from source to target tables.
Validate various features and products in our cloud-based architecture.
Work with
Work across the team to ensure the team is predictable, productive, and delivering high quality.
Work closely with the Development and Product teams to help us release new integrations.
Work closely with various cross-functional product teams.
Work towards departmental and project deadlines.
Work with cross functional IT teams to understand impacts and determine the best plan forward.
Work with developers to maintain and expand the testing infrastructure.
Work with Lab teams to expand the lab to procure test sets, servers, non-revs, etc..
Work with offshore team on tasks and suggesting test scenarios.
Work with QA leads to develop and improve effectiveness of automation.
Work with software & engineering teams to ensure alignment of architecture and user requirements.
Work with teammates to constantly improve our processes.
Work with the development and QA team to develop and execute the test plans.
Work with the Development team and proactively escalate any critical functionality issue.
Work with the development team to resolve any issues that arise out of the testing process.
Work with the team to increase the test coverage.
Work with users or Business Analysts to ensure products are meeting client's needs.
Write
Write and review test plans for new product features.
Write clear and well thought out defect reports.
Write initial test suites for manual & automated testing.
Write, modify, and debug software for client applications.
Write test plans for new features.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Software Test Engineer:
Software Testing
Software Engineering
Windows
Linux
Test Automation
Testing
Performance Testing
Automation
AWS
GIT
Azure
Android
Automated Testing
Scrum
Unix
CSS
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Software Test Engineer:
Written and oral communication skills
Analytical ability
Problem-solving attitude
Attention to detail
Detail-oriented
Work independently with little direction
Flexible
Self-motivated
Team player
Troubleshooting skills
Interpersonal skills
Creative
Manage multiple projects to meet schedules in a dynamic and fast paced environment
Collaborative
Organizational capacity
