Software QA Career Guide

Quality assurance is one of the most important stages in the software design process. A software QA specialist, or quality assurance specialist, debugs the code used to make software work. A QA specialist ensures end users are able to accomplish the tasks they expect to do using the software on their computers.

Software QA specialists play an essential role when new software is designed and when existing software programs are updated. They perform different types of testing, including attempting to mimic the way end users will operate the product to determine if any bugs occur or unexpected problems arise during operations. Technical knowledge of different software testing protocols is required. Many testers have formal education and training in the field, although some have learned on-the-job or worked their way into the position from within the broader field of software development. As with all computer and IT careers, special certifications are always a plus and sometimes a requirement for employers.

Software QA specialists work in an office environment, and his workplace challenges are mental, rather than physical. Strong attention to detail is always required for software QA specialists. This position is necessary in many different types of companies. Any tech business or other business designing its own software will need a software QA specialist.

To learn more about what a software QA specialist does, browse the career profiles below. Each profile is based on the real-world experiences of people in the field who have shared their insider knowledge with us. You can learn about educational and career backgrounds, salaries, what typical day looks like in the field, and more.