IT Quality Assurance - Senior/Specialist

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in Olympia, WA is seeking a Senior IT Quality Assurance professional to lead QA testing for multiple projects. You will design test strategies, define acceptance criteria, and manage data and scripts for both manual and automated testing.

The role emphasizes reliability, performance, and security in a complex public sector environment. You will mentor junior testers, coordinate with development teams, and supervise test environments while

Qualifications

• Ten years of testing experience in a software development environment with manual and automated test scripts.
• Experience writing and executing test scripts across smoke, system, performance, regression, and user acceptance tests.
• Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of software testing experience as an alternative.
• Ability to learn and grow and to meet the needs of others.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA test activities for assigned projects and define test approaches.
• Design and execute testing strategies, create acceptance criteria and test data.
• Develop and maintain manual and automated test scripts and frameworks.
• Coordinate testing with interface partners and manage test environments.
• Conduct User Acceptance Testing and performance/stress testing activities.

Skills

Coding automated test scripts

Manual testing

Test planning

Performance testing

User Acceptance Testing

Mentoring testers

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Test automation platform

Job description

Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Job Title: IT Quality Assurance- Senior/Specialist

Location: Olympia, WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)

Closes: October 20th, 2026

Salary: $92,760.00 - $124,752.00 Annually

IT plays an important role in helping DCYF support children, youth, and families by providing the technology and systems staff need to deliver effective services. From supporting social workers and Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities to developing innovative solutions, DCYF IT helps staff work more efficiently and improve outcomes for children and families across Washington.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity

This position leads Quality Assurance (QA) Test activities for assigned projects and plays a critical role in the DCYF IT software development process. It is responsible for designing and executing comprehensive testing strategies, including defining test approaches, developing acceptance criteria, creating and managing test data, and building both manual and automated test scripts. The role independently evaluates software solutions and development processes to ensure they meet business objectives, while identifying defects, risks, and opportunities for improvement. It also involves analyzing performance and security, maintaining test artifacts, and leveraging advanced tools and methods to support high-quality, reliable system delivery.

Some Of What You Will Get To Do

• Manage test activities on assigned project teams.
• Leads, mentors, and coaches lower-level testers by assigning and reviewing their work, providing advanced support in complex problem-solving.
• Represent QA in agile team meetings and design sessions to collaborate with development staff on test approach and to refine acceptance criteria.
• Research system requirements, user stories, topic papers, technical documents, and design documents to design test plans for each release.
• Create system and business relevant test cases, system test scripts & dependency data.
• Conduct usability testing to verify software meets UI standards and complies with ADA requirements.
• Oversee test resources, maintain shared test environments, and coordinate test activities.
• Develop, maintain and execute manual and automated test scripts, run system batches and coordinate testing with interface partners.
• Conduct User Acceptance Testing by setting up complex dependency data and validating potential incidents.
• Develop and conduct performance and stress tests using automated testing tools.
• Oversee 5 IT QA Journey positions in performing day-to-day QA testing activities.
• Track test results, document outcomes using the incident tracking application.

Required Qualifications

Ten years of testing experience in a software development environment such as: writing manual and automated test scripts, executing test scripts, smoke test, system test, performance test, regression test, user-acceptance test.

OR

A bachelor's degree and 7 years of testing experience in a software development environment such as: writing manual and automated test scripts, executing test scripts, smoke test, system test, performance test, regression test, user-acceptance test.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Additional Qualifications

• Five years of experience in leading QA test projects such as; coding automated test scripts, design test automation platform, executing test scripts, generating test data, managing user acceptance test programs, troubleshooting test systems, running bug triage meetings, evaluating conformance to technical requirements. (may be gained concurrently with the experience above).
• Experience may be gained concurrent.

Preferred/Desirable Competency Statement

• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in a public sector environment
• Ability to evaluate automated or AI-generated outputs for accuracy, fairness, and appropriateness
• Understanding of data governance, privacy, and ethical considerations in technology use
• Commitment to continuous learning and adaptation to evolving technologies

Supplemental Information

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please contact DCYF recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or [e-mail]. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read About Our Benefits

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre‑tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information. Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro‑rated basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full‑time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full‑time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part‑time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part‑time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357‑31‑165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro‑rated basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full‑time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357‑58‑175, an employer may authorize a lump‑sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357‑31‑165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026