QA Tester

Position Summary Effectual QA Testers are members of the Public Sector Program Management team responsible for ensuring that customer-facing projects are delivered with exceptional customer satisfaction and technical excellence. The QA Tester ensures product quality throughout the software lifecycle by analyzing requirements, reviewing designs, defining scope, and executing comprehensive manual and automated test plans that validate functionality, performance, and end-user needs. They have hands-on experience performing QA testing for software development and modernization initiatives spanning Java, JavaScript, DB2, and PostgreSQL technologies and expertise in validating on-prem to cloud migration initiatives. Effectual QA Testers are “Brand Ambassadors” and are expected to stay current on leading practices to deliver high-quality, well-conceived solutions to customers. A Glimpse into the Daily Routine of a QA Tester The QA Tester executes detailed test plans and scripts to verify application functionality, performance, and security. They collaborate closely with developers, project managers, and system architects to identify potential defects early in the development lifecycle. The role requires documenting, tracking, and reporting defects, while working with teams to prioritize resolutions. Be available during core customer hours, support in-person collaboration which is essential to ensure effective communication and teamwork. QA Testers also participate in daily stand-ups and sprint planning sessions to ensure QA activities align with project timelines and review requirements and design specifications to guarantee comprehensive test coverage and completeness. Your expertise will be critical in driving both application development and successful cloud migration initiatives. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive manual and automated test plans, test cases, and test scenarios for cloud-based applications and modernization initiatives Manage and execute the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC), including requirements analysis, test planning, test case development, environment setup, test execution, and test cycle closure Translate user stories and business requirements into detailed test scenarios and test plans Perform functional, regression, integration, performance, usability, and user acceptance testing across multiple environments, including development and modernization initiatives in Java, JavaScript, DB2, and PostgreSQL Validate migration processes for on-prem to cloud modernization projects to ensure data integrity, application functionality, and performance compliance Conduct manual and automated testing to ensure product quality, functionality, and performance Identify, document, and communicate defects, anomalies, and potential issues clearly using established defect tracking tools Collaborate with development, operations, and business teams to analyze root causes of defects, define corrective actions, and verify resolution effectiveness Review user interfaces for consistency, usability, and functionality Track testing metrics and generate reports to assess progress and provide insights for continuous improvement Participate in Sprint Planning and Story Pointing exercises to provide estimates on testing complexity, risks, and resource requirements Ensure QA practices adhere to public sector standards, compliance requirements, and organizational quality frameworks Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by providing feedback on testing strategies, methodologies, and automation opportunities Qualifications Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in related discipline AND Minimum Experience: 4 years’ experience in editing technical documents preferably specialized cloud technologies OR at least 1Professional Level Certification OR Substitution/Alternative to Minimum Education and Experience: Must have at least 6 years of on-the-job experience OR at least 1Professional Level Certification in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree Be able to work remotely but, be able to go on-site as requested and/or occasionally on-site in Washington DC Must be a US Citizen 4+ years of experience in specialized cloud QA testing Certifications: ISTQB Certified Tester (Foundation or Advanced Level), Certified Scrum Tester or equivalent Agile/DevOps QA certification Strong hands-on experience in QA testing for development and modernization projects using Java, JavaScript, DB2, and PostgreSQL Demonstrated experience with on-prem to cloud migration testing Proven ability to develop and execute test plans, test cases, and automation scripts Proficiency with QA tools such as JIRA, HP ALM, Selenium, or equivalent testing frameworks Demonstrated experience coordinating complex projects in government environments Experience with Agile tools such as Jira, Confluence, and other project tracking systems Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment You are able to work with distributed teams and handle multiple workstreams simultaneously. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills Experienced in drafting comprehensive documents using Microsoft Office suite Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate and engage stakeholders Hardworking and self-motivated, with the ability to work in team and individual settings Detail-oriented and able to stand behind the quality of the work Able to properly understand and communicate level of effort, define due dates, and meet deadlines Ability to work Eastern Standard Time Zone schedule Nice-to-Have Skills and Experience Active Clearance or Public Trust (DOJ Preferred) Experience with automated testing frameworks and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines Familiarity with performance testing tools such as LoadRunner, JMeter, or equivalent AWS Certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect) Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for QA testing and modernization initiatives Exposure to government security standards and compliance requirements (FISMA, NIST, FedRAMP) Experience mentoring junior QA testers and providing guidance on best practices Understanding of containerization and orchestration technologies like Docker and Kubernetes in QA environments Experience in leading Agile transformation initiatives within large, complex organizations Familiarity with software development technologies such as Java frameworks (JSF, Spring Boot), WebSphere, GlassFish, and z/OS Physical Demands and Work Environment The work is generally performed in an office environment. Physical demands include sitting, keyboarding, verbal communication, written communication. Employees are occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. This job description may not be inclusive of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described, and may be amended anytime at the sole discretion of the Employer. Duties and responsibilities are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship. Effectual Inc. is an EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected classification in its hiring, promoting, or any other job-related opportunity.