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Lead software tester skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Brandon Chicotsky,

Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical lead software tester skills. We ranked the top skills for lead software testers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 7.1% of lead software tester resumes contained test cases as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a lead software tester needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 lead software tester skills for your resume and career

1. Test Cases

Here's how lead software testers use test cases:

Developed test procedure and test cases based on specific requirements, including identification of test methods.
Developed and maintained comprehensive test cases and procedures for all aspect of verification.

2. Software Development

Software development is the mechanism by which programmers create computer programs. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a framework for developing applications that follow technological needs and consumer requirements. It consists of many stages. The SDLC establishes an international standard that software developers can use to enhance and create their programs. It provides a well-defined framework for software developers to pursue in the production, maintenance, and design of premium quality software. The aim of the software development process is to create high-quality software on time and within budget.

Here's how lead software testers use software development:

Received Department of Energy Award for outstanding service and quality of Information Technology Software Development.
Provided critical input to requirements and design phases of software development.

3. Scrum

Scrum is a lean structure for communicating, designing, and promoting complex products, with a focus on programming development. It has been applied to a variety of areas, including manufacturing, testing, new technology, and marketing techniques. Scrum is a simple framework that helps people, organizations, and teams generate value by providing many solutions to complicated problems.

Here's how lead software testers use scrum:

Collaborated with cross-functional teams throughout Agile Scrum development process.
Organized and facilitated scrum meetings such as Sprint Planning meetings, daily stand-ups and sprint retrospective meetings.

4. Test Automation

Here's how lead software testers use test automation:

Initiated adoption of test automation, increasing efficiency and allowing greater test coverage.
Implemented Test Automation Approach, developed test automation strategy/test plans.

5. Java

Java is a widely-known programming language that was invented in 1995 and is owned by Oracle. It is a server-side language that was created to let app developers "write once, run anywhere". It is easy and simple to learn and use and is powerful, fast, and secure. This object-oriented programming language lets the code be reused that automatically lowers the development cost. Java is specially used for android apps, web and application servers, games, database connections, etc. This programming language is closely related to C++ making it easier for the users to switch between the two.

Here's how lead software testers use java:

Performed Functional, Negative, Regression and Smoke Tests on the new enhancements added to the web application using Java.
Performed significant work with web hosted SQL and Java based applications and database intensive software.

6. Test Results

Here's how lead software testers use test results:

Developed scripts in Windows Shell, VB, XML and PERL to improve test coverage and better evaluate test results.
Define and track quality assurance metrics such as: defects, defect counts, test results and test status.

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7. QA

QA, or Quality Assurance is a procedure that entails all of the steps taken to avoid any errors in the manufacturing process or in the production of the goods that a company produces. It can also include ensuring the consistency of the services rendered. Quality assurance ensures that the quality of the service delivered to consumers meets or exceeds the promised expectations. This greatly aids in the prevention of any complications that might arise after the goods or services have been distributed. It makes sure that customers are satisfied.

Here's how lead software testers use qa:

Applied regulations and standards for mission critical systems and devices on design verification and validation to QA organization activities.
Led a QA testing team in-house and overseas in developing and implementing efficient quality-assurance methodologies.

8. Regression

Here's how lead software testers use regression:

Utilized in-house specific automated quality assurance program to capture UseCases and performed regression suite testing using created UseCases's.
Developed checklist for quick regression test of overall functionality.

9. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how lead software testers use c++:

Performed testing of desktop and web applications developed in Visual Basic, Visual C++ and VB.NET.
Developed unit tests to validate particular behavior for C++ applications.

10. C #

Here's how lead software testers use c #:

Designed/maintained automation using in-house C # automation library.

11. Jenkins

Jenkins is an open source automation server that is free to use. It aids continuous deployment and execution by automating the aspects of product creation related to building, analyzing, and deploying. It is a system based on the server that runs in servlet containers like Apache Tomcat. Jenkins is a Java-based fully accessible automation platform with plugins designed for Continuous Integration.

Here's how lead software testers use jenkins:

Have setup a slave machine in Jenkins built server which is used to verify the Daily builds.
Worked on distributed test automation execution on different environment as part of Continuous Integration Process using Selenium Grid and Jenkins.

12. Selenium

Selenium is a free (open-source) portable framework for testing web applications. It is used to validate web applications across different web browsers and platforms. The portal can be used by applying multiple programming languages like Java, C#, Python, etc to create test scripts, without the need to learn a test scripting language.

Here's how lead software testers use selenium:

Automated and maintained test scripts using Selenium WebDriver.
Performed Tool evaluation on Selenium and conducted a POC for its use in place of QTP.

13. Jira

Here's how lead software testers use jira:

Experienced using test management tools AGILE, Agility, BITS, JIRA, Vantage, and TestDrive.
Experience with automated tools as well as collaboration and tracking tools, JIRA and Confluence Wiki.

14. Test Scripts

Test scripts validate the quality of the software or app being tested. An effective test script has all the steps to be taken to use a software program as well as the ending result of each step.

Here's how lead software testers use test scripts:

Collaborated with stakeholders and users to gather business requirements and develop functional specifications and test scripts.
Developed Automated Test Scripts for Validating Air Refueling Software.

15. API

Here's how lead software testers use api:

Verified Web service API requests and responses using Advanced Rest Client, XML, Soap UI and Groovy scripting.
Developed and executed XML scripts to simulate order input via API calls to printers.

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What skills help Lead Software Testers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What lead software tester skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Brandon Chicotsky

Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Marketing at the TCU Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University

Continually upskill, and each week (or more often), demo software that helps create efficiencies and accelerations in your workflow. Do this in collaboration with a senior colleague to strengthen your discernments and implementation potential. Be an "all in" professional beyond any one particular strategy at work. Embody the industry, attend conferences, and internalize the insights and language of your categories' thought leaders.

What soft skills should all lead software testers possess?

Sal Aurigemma Ph.D.

Associate Professor of CIS, J. Bradley Oxley Professor of Computer Information Systems, University of Tulsa

All the soft skills are important, but a few are absolutely critical in today's hybrid workforce. With the uncertainty of COVID delaying the return to the office, many companies are embracing hybrid work and/or 100% remote for some or all of their employees. Today's employees must be able to effectively communicate over a range of different modalities, both synchronously and asynchronously, while still being able to actively build and maintain relationships as they participate in one or more teams of coworkers, customers, and other stakeholders. Today's IT workers need to be honest with themselves on the work environments they can and cannot succeed within.

What hard/technical skills are most important for lead software testers?

Travis Mandel Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Being comfortable with refactoring code is definitely one of the big ones here. Absolutely no one writes perfect code right off the bat - a good software engineer should recognize that and always be open and receptive to suggestions about improving their code. Even in the absence of such suggestions, a software engineer must be able to independently recognize that "the tower is about to fall over"! Meaning, if the code is turning into a real mess, a good software engineer will be able to realize that and independently begin refactoring it into a better state, even if that takes time away from implementing new features.

Another one I'll mention briefly is designing class inheritance diagrams to solve a new problem. The right structure here can allow components to be easily re-used and extended. But the wrong structure can lead to disastrous consequences, so it requires a lot of thought about how things will likely evolve in the future.

Do you want to know more?

List of lead software tester skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a lead software tester resume and required skills for a lead software tester to have include:

Test Cases
Software Development
Scrum
Test Automation
Java
Test Results
QA
Regression
C++
C #
Jenkins
Selenium
Jira
Test Scripts
API
Status Reports

User Acceptance
Test Procedures
Linux
Test Strategy
SDLC
Test Execution
Configuration Management
Test Data
Test Coverage
Debugging
Automation Scripts
Api Testing
Test Environment
Test Reports
Lifecycle Management
TFS

Process Improvement
XML
UAT
System Integration
UI
Technical Support
Unix
End Testing
SQL Server
User Stories
Ruby
Confluence
User Interface
Test Scenarios
Production Environment
Android

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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