Software Test Engineer Job Description

Tom Potanski

Last updated on November 25, 2024 | 6 min read

Job Description Template

General overview of the role

A Software Test Engineer is responsible for ensuring software applications’ quality, reliability, and performance through rigorous testing processes. This role involves designing and executing test plans, identifying and documenting defects, and collaborating closely with developers and other teams to ensure that software products meet the required standards before release. The Software Test Engineer plays a critical role in manual and automated testing and builds high-quality software by detecting issues early in the development lifecycle.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Develop detailed test plans, cases, and scripts based on software requirements and specifications.
• Define testing goals, metrics, and objectives to ensure complete coverage of application features.
• Collaborate with product owners, developers, and business analysts to understand requirements and identify potential risks and testing scenarios.
• Execute manual testing of software applications, including functional, regression, integration, and system testing.
• Identify, document, and track defects, issues, and improvements using bug-tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Bugzilla, or similar).
• Perform exploratory testing to find edge cases and unexpected behavior.
• Develop and maintain automated test scripts to improve efficiency and repeatability of testing (using tools such as Selenium, QTP, TestNG, or similar).
• Execute automated test cases and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous testing.
• Monitor and debug test automation failures to ensure that automation coverage is up-to-date.
• Perform load, stress, and performance testing to ensure the software can handle expected workloads and performance criteria.
• Use performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner) to simulate real-world user traffic and identify performance bottlenecks.
• Maintain and update test documentation, including test cases, scripts, and data.
• Work with the development team to address security-related issues.

Required skills and experience

• Strong understanding of software testing principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Experience in various types of testing such as functional, regression, integration, system, and acceptance testing.
• Proven experience in manual testing, including the ability to design and execute test cases based on software specifications and requirements.
• Familiarity with defect tracking tools (e.g., Jira, Bugzilla, Redmine).
• Experience with test automation tools such as Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, or similar.
• Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript) to create and maintain automated test scripts.
• Knowledge of software development methodologies, particularly Agile (Scrum, Kanban), and how testing fits into these processes.
• Experience in working within a DevOps or CI/CD environment to ensure quality is integrated throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Familiarity with performance testing tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar.
• Ability to analyze performance bottlenecks and suggest performance improvements.
• Experience with databases and the ability to write and execute SQL queries to validate data (e.g., using MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server).
• Ability to verify backend functionality, data integrity, and consistency.

Nice to have/preferred skills and experience (not required)

• Experience testing software in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and ensuring compatibility with cloud services.
• Familiarity with security testing tools (e.g., Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP) and techniques (e.g., penetration testing, vulnerability assessments).
• Experience with mobile application testing (iOS, Android) and tools like Appium or XCUITest.
• Experience with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI to support continuous testing and integration.
• Familiarity with test management tools like TestRail, Quality Center, or Zephyr for test planning, execution, and tracking.
• Proficiency in API testing tools such as Postman, SoapUI, or similar.
• Understanding of RESTful and SOAP APIs and the ability to test and validate API functionality.

What we offer

• Extensive health and wellness coverage.
• Work-from-home options and flexible hours.
• Paid time off for vacations, holidays, and sick leave.

Here are a few more benefits that, according to Forbes, are valued by employees:

• Retirement savings plans with employer matching, such as 401(k) plans, are significant to employees.
• Early leave on Fridays.
• 4-day work week.
• Private dental insurance.

About us

We recommend including general information about the company, such as its mission, values, and industry focus. For instance, you could say:

“DevsData LLC is an IT recruitment agency that connects top tech talent with leading companies to drive innovation and success. Their diverse team of US specialists brings unique viewpoints and cultural insights, boosting their capacity to meet client demands and build inclusive work cultures. Over the past eight years, DevsData LLC has successfully completed more than 80 projects for startups and corporate clients in the US and Europe.”

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Contact DevsData LLC

If you’re looking to hire a qualified Software Test Engineer, contact DevsData LLC at [email protected] or visit www.devsdata.com. The company’s recruitment process is thorough and efficient, utilizing a vast database of over 65000 professionals.

They are renowned for their rigorous 90-minute interviews to assess candidates’ technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

Additionally, DevsData LLC holds a government-approved recruitment license, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.