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What does a senior quality assurance engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Frank McCown Ph.D.
What does a senior quality assurance engineer do

A senior quality assurance engineer oversees the testing procedures conducted in software development, ensuring technical accuracy and efficiency. They are primarily responsible for working alongside software designers and quality engineers, reviewing quality control reports, inspecting specifications, and devising particular test procedures. Moreover, it is also essential to troubleshoot issues and identify any inconsistencies or bugs. As someone with more experience in the team, they must supervise and serve as a mentor to the younger quality assurance engineers in the joint effort to develop efficient software.

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Senior quality assurance engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior quality assurance engineer resumes:

  • 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.
  • Debug daily sanity test automation runs and fix, develop/enhancing automation scripts using python base on feature requirement.
  • Project involve adding and changing data validation rules implement in java.
  • Validate request and response XML/ JSON.
  • Programme control systems and support SCADA systems.
  • Automate the validation of database output against JSON response.
  • Used TFS for reporting of bug, bug tracking and sending updates.
  • Implement JAVA framework JUNIT as the controller for maintaining the flow of execution.
  • Unattend batch run of automation scripts from ALM and also using windows scheduler.
  • Deliver reserve / stability or other samples to QC cage in the WIP cooler.
  • Design the control systems, HMI's configurations and execute the startup and commissioning.
  • Review test documents and witness testing for the new automation systems and plant-wide SCADA network.

Senior quality assurance engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Senior Quality Assurance Engineers are proficient in QA, Java, and Python.

We break down the percentage of Senior Quality Assurance Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • QA, 9%

    Collaborated with developers, QA members and management using the Agile Scrum project management methodology.

  • Java, 7%

    Performed various testing methods like functional, usability navigational and system testing by creating automated scripts using Java and Selenium WebDriver.

  • Python, 6%

    Authored python scripting to test mechanical button press jig for company s proprietary wireless ID/security solution.

  • Test Automation, 5%

    Mentored team members as a Technical Lead, ensuring timely progress by anticipating or eliminating roadblocks in test automation projects.

  • API, 4%

    Developed custom application based on the Test Director API to facilitate automation approach.

  • Regression, 4%

    Investigated and recommended new Automated Testing Tools to management under a new Initiative to create better Automated Regression Tests.

"qa," "java," and "python" are among the most common skills that senior quality assurance engineers use at work. You can find even more senior quality assurance engineer responsibilities below, including:

All senior quality assurance engineer skills

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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
Senior Quality Assurance Engineer Resume
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Compare different senior quality assurance engineers

Senior quality assurance engineer vs. Quality analyst

Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure. They do the operation and maintenance of the auxiliary equipment pumping oil. It is their duty to set the wells so they will function based on the production schedules and switch the oil flow between tanks. They even install the pumping systems.

If we compare the average senior quality assurance engineer annual salary with that of a quality analyst, we find that quality analysts typically earn a $34,845 lower salary than senior quality assurance engineers make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between senior quality assurance engineers and quality analysts are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like qa, java, and regression.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior quality assurance engineer are more likely to require skills like "python," "test automation," "api," and "ui." On the other hand, a job as a quality analyst requires skills like "customer service," "data analysis," "corrective action," and "process improvement." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Quality analysts earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $77,710. On the other hand, senior quality assurance engineers are paid more in the telecommunication industry with an average salary of $112,284.On average, quality analysts reach lower levels of education than senior quality assurance engineers. Quality analysts are 5.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior quality assurance engineer vs. Test engineer

Test engineers are professionals who observe and record the quality of products, which includes functionality, durability, speed, and safety. They are responsible for checking the materials and procedures thoroughly throughout the production cycle. It is their duty to run tests on different criteria to identify and fix technical issues. They analyze reactions to determine the causes of malfunctions and recommend potential improvements. Moreover, they test products before they are launched to ensure customers get high-quality and functional products.

A career as a test engineer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a senior quality assurance engineer. In fact, test engineers salary is $26,970 lower than the salary of senior quality assurance engineers per year.A few skills overlap for senior quality assurance engineers and test engineers. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "qa," "java," and "python. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior quality assurance engineer resumes. While senior quality assurance engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "test automation," "api," "git," and "selenium web," test engineers use skills like "test equipment," "troubleshoot," "data analysis," and "rf."

Test engineers earn a lower average salary than senior quality assurance engineers. But test engineers earn the highest pay in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $88,414. Additionally, senior quality assurance engineers earn the highest salaries in the telecommunication with average pay of $112,284 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Test engineers tend to reach lower levels of education than senior quality assurance engineers. In fact, they're 5.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior quality assurance engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Frank McCown Ph.D.Frank McCown Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Harding University

Software continues to move to mobile devices and the web and away from desktop applications. The pandemic has encouraged growth in applications that make in-person transactions go away, and that trend will likely continue. Obviously AI-enabled or assisted applications will continue to grow.

Senior quality assurance engineer vs. Lead engineer

A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are also responsible for addressing issues and concerns, assessing risks, monitoring the budget, coordinating with clients and architects, and even training workers. Furthermore, as a lead engineer, it is crucial to conduct regular inspections to ensure the quality of work and maintain a safe environment for all workers.

On average scale, lead engineers bring in lower salaries than senior quality assurance engineers. In fact, they earn a $21,875 lower salary per year.senior quality assurance engineers and lead engineers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "qa," "java," and "python," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior quality assurance engineers are more likely to have skills like "test automation," "regression," "scrum," and "test scripts." But a lead engineer is more likely to have skills like "architecture," "javascript," "database," and "project management."

Lead engineers earn the highest salary when working in the automotive industry, where they receive an average salary of $110,872. Comparatively, senior quality assurance engineers have the highest earning potential in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $112,284.When it comes to education, lead engineers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to senior quality assurance engineers. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior quality assurance engineer vs. Senior software development engineer

A senior software development engineer specializes in leading the efforts in designing and developing software and information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around installing and repairing existing computer systems, conducting regular maintenance checks, troubleshooting, testing new designs, and performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of operations, improving them to achieve optimal performance. Furthermore, as a senior software development engineer, it is essential to monitor and encourage the team, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Senior software development engineers average a higher salary than the annual salary of senior quality assurance engineers. The difference is about $10,124 per year.While their salaries may vary, senior quality assurance engineers and senior software development engineers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "qa," "java," and "python. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "c #," "test results," "manual test cases," and "selenium web" are skills that commonly show up on senior quality assurance engineer resumes. On the other hand, senior software development engineers use skills like software development, database, code reviews, and c on their resumes.The automotive industry tends to pay the highest salaries for senior software development engineers, with average annual pay of $134,736. Comparatively, the highest senior quality assurance engineer annual salary comes from the telecommunication industry.senior software development engineers reach similar levels of education compared to senior quality assurance engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior quality assurance engineer

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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