Software Quality Assurance Jobs
QA, or software quality assurance, is an essential part of the software production process. Modern computer programs, particularly those written for the use of large organizations or produced for sale to the general public, are typically made up of millions of lines of programming, and a simple error of one misplaced letter, number, or decimal point can have significant consequences.
People in QA positions help to catch programming and operational errors in software prior to distribution, helping to protect the reputation and success of the software company, and ensuring that the end-user is provided with a product that lives up to the requirements and standards demanded by the competitive software marketplace.
People in QA jobs typically work in the offices of software companies, working with programmers and project managers in order to detect problems, coordinate fixes, and update project plans to accommodate needed changes to the code.
Entry-level QA jobs may require only a proven familiarity with computers for user-experience testing of software, but generally call for either formal training in programming, or several years of programming experience, for jobs involving direct interaction with the software code. Higher-level positions, such as Quality Assurance manager, may require at least a bachelor’s degree in a programming-related discipline, as well as five or more years of software quality assurance experience.
