Remote QA Analyst — Elevate Quality & Release Readiness

Optum; La Crosse (WI); Remote; USD 73,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum is seeking a Quality Analyst to lead end-to-end quality strategy and validate functionality and workflow stability through manual testing. You will strengthen QA processes, improve test coverage, and mentor peers to ensure release readiness across features and product areas.

You’ll perform risk-based testing, collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Operations, and explore opportunities for test automation while guiding defect triage and resolution.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of manual software testing in product or application environments using risk-based approaches, end-to-end defect lifecycle management, and QA methodologies.
• 5+ years of creating, executing, and improving test plans, test cases, and test scripts for complex applications and multi-step workflows.
• 5+ years of translating complex requirements, configuration dependencies, and business rules into clear, testable scenarios and traceability artifacts.
• 5+ years of analytical and troubleshooting skills, including defect triage, root cause analysis, and partnering with Engineering to drive resolution.
• 5+ years of Agile delivery experience and cross-functional collaboration with Product, Engineering, and Operations.
• 1+ years of leveraging AI or automation tools within the software delivery lifecycle to improve quality, efficiency, or insight.
• United States citizenship is required for this position.
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance (Confidential/Secret or Top-Secret).

Responsibilities

• Lead manual QA test planning and execution for assigned initiatives within the product area, including effort estimation and risk assessment.
• Design, review, and maintain test documentation (strategy, plans, cases, traceability) across functional, integration, regression, and UAT testing.
• Refine requirements and acceptance criteria with Product, Engineering, and Operations; identify gaps and cross-system impacts.
• Own defect lifecycle leadership: write defects with steps, lead triage, prioritize, and drive resolution through verification.
• Establish and improve regression suites and release testing; keep assets current with releases and config changes.
• Support test environment readiness and data needs; coordinate dependencies with Systems Management & Configuration and other teams.
• Perform root cause analysis on recurring defects and drive preventive improvements.
• Contribute to QA modernization by identifying automation opportunities and working with Quality Engineers.
• Mentor QA team members on test design, documentation standards, and domain understanding; provide peer review.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and cross-team forums; communicate QA status, risks, and dependencies clearly.

Skills

Manual testing

Risk-based testing

Agile

Defect tracking

Mentoring

Automation awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or MIS

Equivalent education/experience

Tools

Azure DevOps

Jira

Test management tools

Job description

Optum is seeking a Quality Analyst to lead end-to-end quality strategy and validate functionality and workflow stability through manual testing. You will strengthen QA processes, improve test coverage, and mentor peers to ensure release readiness across features and product areas.

You’ll perform risk-based testing, collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Operations, and explore opportunities for test automation while guiding defect triage and resolution.