Contract Software Quality Assurance Engineer Jobs

PURPOSE

The Software QA Engineer is responsible for validating software quality through test planning, test execution, defect tracking, release verification, and data validation. This role works closely with software developers, business stakeholders, support teams, and end users to ensure applications meet functional requirements, data integrity expectations, usability standards, and organizational quality expectations.

This position is primarily focused on functional, regression, integration, system, and release testing. The role uses approved productivity tools, scripting, and repeatable workflows to improve efficiency and quality, but it is not the primary owner of enterprise test automation strategy, framework development, or CI/CD test infrastructure.  

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review business, functional, and technical requirements to identify test scope, quality risks, edge cases, and data validation needs.
• Create, maintain, and execute test plans, test cases, and test scenarios for new features, enhancements, and defect fixes.
• Perform manual testing for functional, regression, integration, system, and release validation activities.
• Validate application behavior and underlying data outcomes, including verification of create, read, update, and delete processing where applicable.
• Query databases to confirm expected system behavior, data accuracy, and data integrity following application changes.
• Document, reproduce, and track software defects; verify fixes and perform retesting.
• Work closely with developers, business stakeholders, support teams, and end users to clarify expected behavior and resolve quality issues.
• Participate in release readiness and post-change validation to confirm software is fit for deployment.
• Maintain QA documentation, test evidence, test data, and other supporting materials needed for effective validation.
• Use sound judgment to identify opportunities to improve QA efficiency, coverage, and repeatability.
• Create or maintain lightweight scripts, utilities, checklists, templates, or other repeatable workflows that improve testing effectiveness and reduce repetitive manual effort.
• Partner with Automation QA and Engineering teams to identify repetitive or high-value test activities that may be candidates for broader automation.

PREFERRED SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in software quality assurance, software testing, or a related role.
• Experience creating and executing test cases for business applications or software systems.
• Experience identifying, documenting, and tracking software defects through resolution.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle and software testing fundamentals.
• Working knowledge of SQL querying fundamentals for data validation and test support, including the ability to verify expected create, read, update, and delete outcomes.
• Ability to analyze requirements and translate them into effective test coverage.
• Strong written, verbal, and organizational communication skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities, and collaborate effectively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Azure DevOps Server for work item tracking, workflow management, test case management, and bug tracking.
• Experience validating data in Microsoft SQL Server.
• Familiarity with IIS and web application deployment or configuration concepts as they relate to QA and troubleshooting.
• Experience testing applications built on a C#/.NET technology stack.
• Experience supporting release validation, user acceptance testing, or production verification activities.
• Experience testing web-based, desktop, or enterprise applications.
• Exposure to log analysis, data validation, or basic scripting for test support.
• Experience with end-user business systems, operational workflows, or imaging-related environments, if applicable.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Tools and Environment

This role commonly works with the following tools and technologies:

• Azure DevOps Server
• Microsoft SQL Server
• Microsoft O365
• IIS
• C#/.NET application environment