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What is a senior quality assurance engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Aaron Napierala
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A senior quality assurance engineer ensures the quality of software applications and systems. They design, implement, and execute test plans, as well as identify, analyze, and report defects. Senior quality assurance engineers also collaborate with development teams to improve testability and ensure quality standards. They may lead a team and work with cross-functional teams to establish quality processes. A senior quality assurance engineer uses analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as excellent communication and leadership.

What general advice would you give to a senior quality assurance engineer?

Aaron NapieralaAaron Napierala LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Defiance College

The most important advice I can offer, is to let them know to work toward something they are passionate about. Many people have the impression that CS is all about programming. While programming can, and does, deal with programming, an education in CS lays the foundation for students to work with technology, whatever that might be. If students are not passionate about what they are doing, I believe students would be hard-pressed to achieve their true potential. If you have a solid foundation, but nothing to build on top of that, where are you? This is why I always recommend students explore other areas, outside of CS, that they are excited to learn more about, to complement their technical knowledge. If students can't relate to people outside of their discipline, I think they will be limited on what they can do and ultimately not satisfied.
ScoreSenior Quality Assurance EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.8

Avg. Salary $106,802

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 31.99%

male 68.01%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior quality assurance engineer?

Pros

  • High salary potential

  • Opportunities for career growth and advancement

  • Challenging and intellectually stimulating work

  • Potential for remote work or flexible schedules

  • Satisfaction of ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty

Cons

  • High-pressure environment with tight deadlines and high expectations

  • Potential for long hours and high stress levels during critical project phases

  • Limited opportunities for creativity or innovation in some cases

  • Potential for burnout due to high workload and pressure

  • Possibility of working on projects or products that are not personally interesting or fulfilling.

Senior quality assurance engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior quality assurance engineer

  1. Explore senior quality assurance engineer education requirements

    Most common senior quality assurance engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    69.1 %

    Master's

    19.3 %

    Associate

    6.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior quality assurance engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    QA9.20%
    Java7.04%
    Python5.71%
    Test Automation4.63%
    API3.80%
  3. Complete relevant senior quality assurance engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior quality assurance engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior quality assurance engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior quality assurance engineer resumes.
  4. Research senior quality assurance engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Design and manage test paths using ruby.
    • Manage, design and operate the staging lab used for regression, capacity, stress, performance, and UI testing.
    • Manage onsite and offshore resources by communicating acceptance time frames and testing requirements.
    • Maintain coordination between onsite and offshore very smooth with daily status calls and achieve timely and quality deliverable.
  5. Get senior quality assurance engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior quality assurance engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior quality assurance engineer include quality assurance engineer, quality assurance analyst team lead and quality assurance tester.
  6. Prepare your senior quality assurance engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior quality assurance engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior quality assurance engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior quality assurance engineer resume templates

    Build a professional senior quality assurance engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior quality assurance engineer resume.
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    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
    Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for senior quality assurance engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior quality assurance engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior quality assurance engineer job

Zippi

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Average senior quality assurance engineer salary

The average senior quality assurance engineer salary in the United States is $106,802 per year or $51 per hour. Senior quality assurance engineer salaries range between $82,000 and $138,000 per year.

Average senior quality assurance engineer salary
$106,802 Yearly
$51.35 hourly

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How do senior quality assurance engineers rate their job?

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Senior quality assurance engineer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2020
Pros

I like testing because it can be interesting. Things can change but also stay the same. I like routine but not repetition doing the same thing. Testing isn't the best job but a good job.

Cons

Some things you test can be really picky to pass. It's likely they will always fail the first time. Some test seem to always pass and seek insufficient. I always look at productivity but also efficiency. So if not necessary by customer and always passes I can't see why a part of the test he removed especially if another part of the test will fail if it does. Options I am always open to.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2019
Pros

New field to work with compassion.

Cons

Low pay structure as compared to the efforts put in.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

Interaction with colleagues

Cons

I prefer having fun joking while working, a barrier between people doesn't make me feel good.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
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.

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