Quality Assurance Engineer

To apply for the Quality Assurance Engineer position at PA, candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field, alongside proficiency in programming for test automation using languages such as Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript. Hands-on experience with automation tools like Playwright and knowledge of Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) frameworks like Cucumber are also essential. Furthermore, a solid understanding of the QA lifecycle and experience in test management within an agile environment will strengthen your application.

As a Quality Assurance Engineer at PA, you will play a pivotal role in the software development lifecycle by ensuring the highest quality standards for health data platforms. Your responsibilities will include developing and maintaining test automation scripts, applying varying test strategies for API and UI testing, and collaborating closely with developers and product owners. You will contribute to CI/CD pipelines, ensuring automated testing is effectively integrated, while maintaining and advocating for QA best practices across the team.

Quality Assurance Engineers at PA work with various modern tools and technologies including programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript for test automation. Familiarity with test automation tools such as Playwright, BDD frameworks like Cucumber, continuous integration tools like GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps, and database querying with SQL will be critical. Having experience in Shell/Bash scripting to streamline workflows is also advantageous.

PA is dedicated to the professional growth of its employees, and as a Quality Assurance Engineer, you'll have opportunities to undertake training in the latest testing methodologies and tools. Regular team workshops, access to online learning platforms, and mentorship from experienced professionals will help you expand your skill set. PA supports a culture of continuous learning and innovation, ensuring that you stay at the forefront of the QA field.

At PA, Quality Assurance Engineers enjoy a flexible hybrid working schedule, allowing a blend of remote and on-site work from our Boston office at Tower Point. Our working environment promotes collaboration and innovation, with access to modern resources and a culture that encourages sharing knowledge across teams. Additionally, the supportive atmosphere and diverse team dynamics make it an engaging place to grow your career.

When answering this question, focus on your familiarity with specific tools and languages you’ve used for test automation. Detail any projects where you implemented test automation and the impact it had on the development cycle. Highlight your problem-solving skills and any challenges you faced and overcame in past projects.

To effectively prioritize tasks, discuss utilizing test planning strategies and collaboration with team members to understand deadlines and project goals. Describe how you balance between manual and automated testing efforts and adjust priorities based on project status and stakeholder requests.

Mention your experience with specific BDD frameworks, such as Cucumber, and explain how you've used them to foster collaboration among tech and non-tech team members. Provide examples of scenarios you’ve developed and how they contributed to better requirement understanding and test coverage.

Demonstrate your understanding of test strategy by discussing how you analyze requirements and create test cases that cover all functional and non-functional aspects. Highlight your use of exploratory testing and the importance of iterative processes to achieve comprehensive coverage.

Share your practical experience in integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps. Discuss the testing strategies you implemented during the build process and how these contributed to improving delivery speed and quality.

Explain your approach to a bug lifecycle: identifying, reporting, and prioritizing critical bugs, while also discussing your collaboration with development teams to ensure efficient resolution. Stress the importance of feedback loops in continuously improving product quality.

Discuss relevant QA metrics such as defect density, test coverage percentage, and test execution time, explaining how each metric provides insights into the quality of the product and the effectiveness of the testing process. Be prepared to outline how you utilize these metrics to improve QA practices.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to outline a specific project where you encountered challenges. Emphasize how you addressed the challenges, the solutions you implemented, and the successful outcome to showcase your problem-solving abilities.

Explain your strategies for staying informed, such as participating in online QA communities, attending webinars, following industry leaders on social media, or committing to ongoing education. Emphasize your proactive approach to learning and adapting to the fast-paced QA landscape.

Discuss the importance of effective communication within the QA process, from clarifying requirements with stakeholders to relaying important test results to the development team. Highlight your experience in advocating for QA best practices and fostering a collaborative team environment.