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How much do software quality operations associate jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for software quality operations associate in California is $26.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.03 and $31.06 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software quality operations associate?

A Software Quality Operations Associate is a professional who supports the quality assurance (QA) processes within a software development organization. Their main responsibilities include monitoring software quality, helping to implement QA procedures, coordinating testing activities, and ensuring that software products meet established standards before release. They often work closely with QA engineers, developers, and product managers to track defects, document issues, and improve workflow efficiency. This role is essential for maintaining high software quality and facilitating smooth operations within the QA team.

What are some of the typical challenges faced by a software quality operations associate when coordinating between development and QA teams?

One of the main challenges for a Software Quality Operations Associate is ensuring clear and timely communication between development and QA teams, especially when managing tight release schedules. Balancing the need for rapid deployment with thorough testing can create pressure to prioritize tasks and manage resources efficiently. Additionally, adapting to shifting project requirements and quickly resolving bugs or discrepancies requires strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Proactively fostering collaboration and maintaining detailed documentation help overcome these obstacles and contribute to smoother software delivery.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software quality operations associate, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Quality Operations Associate, you need a solid understanding of software development processes, quality assurance principles, and a relevant degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with test management tools (like JIRA or TestRail), bug tracking systems, and automation frameworks is typically required, along with any relevant QA certifications. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you excel in identifying issues and collaborating with development teams. These skills ensure the delivery of high-quality software products and support efficient, error-free operations.

What is the difference between Software Quality Operations Associate vs Software Quality Analyst?

AspectSoftware Quality Operations AssociateSoftware Quality Analyst
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, quality assurance, or related fieldUsually requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, or related discipline
Work EnvironmentWorks within software development teams, focusing on process and operationsFocuses on testing, identifying bugs, and analyzing software quality
Employer & Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, software firms, and IT departmentsWidely used in software development, IT, and quality assurance sectors

The Software Quality Operations Associate primarily handles quality processes and operational tasks within software teams, while the Software Quality Analyst concentrates on testing and analyzing software quality. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to software development, but they focus on different aspects of quality assurance.

What are popular job titles related to Software Quality Operations Associate jobs in California?

For Software Quality Operations Associate jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Software Quality Operations Associate jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Quality Operations Associate jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Software Quality Operations Associate jobs?

Cities in California with the most Software Quality Operations Associate job openings:

Software Quality Operations Associate jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Quality Operations Associate job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $55,285 per year, or $26.6 per hour.

Software Quality Operations Specialist

Waymo

Mountain View, CA

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

The Software Quality Operations (SWQOPS) team is at the heart of ensuring the safety, reliability, and quality of the Waymo Driver. Our mission is to build an adaptable and scalable operation, increasingly powered by AI, to deliver the crucial insights necessary to confidently deploy and grow Waymo's autonomous vehicle service.  

Waymo is experiencing unprecedented growth, rapidly expanding into new cities and launching new vehicle platforms. SWQOps, particularly our Technical Specialists, are critical to this expansion, enabling us to scale safely and efficiently.

Why this team is Essential to Waymo's Success:

    In this role you will:

  • Partner with Engineering to design, test, and deploy cutting-edge Machine Learning (ML) and Generative AI (Gen-AI) models and tools to drive step-change improvements in issue discovery & detection, triage efficiency, and quality assurance.
  • Leverage AI-powered insights and traditional triage signals to proactively identify emerging on-road issue trends, new risk scenarios, and edge cases. Develop and refine data-driven strategies for issue discovery and monitoring, enhanced by ML model outputs
  • Serve as the key link between AI/ML development and operational execution. Define and document new policies, guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that integrate AI tools and insights into daily vendor workflows.
  • Design and implement robust quality control processes for both human and AI-generated outputs. Perform meta-quality checks, validate the integrity of vendor work, and provide feedback to improve both human and model performance.
  • Act as the subject matter expert for our Software Quality Operations, working closely with stakeholders, program leads, and vendor teams to ensure seamless adoption and maximum impact of AI/ML advancements in our quality processes. Be the trusted source for creating and updating technical policies, guidelines, and standard operating procedures for new scopes, platforms, and driving signals
  • Provide technical leadership and consultation to stakeholders to enhance our workflows and quality. You'll be at the forefront of identifying and escalating issues with our tools, providing technical requirements to engineering, and driving user testing to support the development and deployment of new tooling features.
  • A proven ability to work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment while maintaining good judgment.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with a wide range of individuals in a diverse and dynamic work environment.

     You have:

  • BS/BA degree or 4 years of relevant work experience in AV Software Quality Operations
  • Increased competency in supporting all phases of the machine learning development lifecycle, from data preparation and training to validation, deployment, and continuous monitoring.
  • Experience with ML testing and validation, including dataset quality assurance, bias detection, edge-case scenario testing, and performance evaluation using statistical metrics.
  • Ability to quickly learn and implement new concepts and utilize proprietary tools. Strong understanding of driving rules and regulations.
  • Must have the ability to provide occasional on-call availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays, as well as the flexibility to attend meetings outside of standard hours to collaborate with our global team.

      We prefer:

  • Demonstrated strong execution with ability to drive outcomes. 
  • Experience working with offshore teams / multiple local operations hubs.
  • Basic SQL querying.
  • Competency in LLM / transformer models, and / or ML for robotics domain experience.
  • A greater focus on using your subject matter expertise for results analysis and direct customer consultation in the development of new and improved. solutions.
  • Self-motivated with basic skills in task planning and time management.

Apply