Software Development Engineer in Test: IT Quality Assurance, Journey

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Remote; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Washington, Employment Security Department ITSD division, is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test to support enterprise testing across applications. The role emphasizes telework with occasional in-office meetings or events, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure reliable systems for agency staff and partners.

Ideal candidates will have experience in QA, test planning, relational databases, and automation scripting or development of automated tests, with a

Qualifications

• Experience analyzing requirements and creating and executing test plans.
• Experience documenting results and identifying risks before production.
• Experience querying relational databases.
• Experience scripting or building applications for automated testing.
• Experience planning, designing, and executing manual and automated tests.

Responsibilities

• Develop Enterprise Application test plans from product comprehension.
• Set up test environments and build tests with required resources.
• Create and organize test cases under test plans; run manual and automated tests.
• Report software defects and test results; identify risks and issues.

Skills

QA testing

test plan analysis

Agile methods

SQL querying

Education

Associate’s degree in IT

Bachelor’s degree in IT

Six years IT QA experience

Tools

Microsoft 365

Azure Cloud

Azure DevOps

Power Platform

Job description

The ideal candidate for this Software Development Engineer in Test (IT Quality Assurance, Journey) role is a software testing professional who understands how quality assurance contributes to the successful delivery of applications in an enterprise.

Candidates with experience analyzing requirements, creating and executing test plans, documenting results, and identifying risks before software is deployed into production.

Candidates will partner with cross-functional teams to support system enhancements, new implementations, and ongoing maintenance efforts. Their work helps ensure applications function as intended and provide a reliable experience for agency staff, partners, and customers.

The Innovation & Technology Office, Information Technology Services (ITSD) Division of the Employment Security Department (ESD) manages, develops, supports, and maintains the agency’s computer systems, web technologies, network and data communications and the data warehouse. It also provides technical assistance for installation and operation of personal computers and software. This full-time/permanent role is primarily telework; however, you may need to report to the office for occasional meetings or special events.

Enterprise Applications (EA) is a business area of ITSD consisting of functional teams responsible for enterprise testing, system operations and application development. This position exists on the Testing Team under Enterprise Applications and reports to the Software QA Supervisor.

Some of your duties may include:

Developing product comprehension to design Enterprise Application (EA) test plans.

• Get assignments from backlog and break down their contents.
• Investigate target data, users, and processing.
• Analyze business requirements, system specifications and related information.
• Work with development and subject-matter experts to resolve testing needs.

Setup test environment and build tests.

• Identify required resources to build test environment.
• Coordinate with developers, infrastructure and subject-matter experts to establish or update databases, hardware, software, services, permission and tools.
• Setup test environment with deployed application to test.

Create test cases, run tests, and manage test results.

• Script testing steps in test cases with simulated data inputs and expected outputs.
• Create and organize test cases under test plan.
• Execute manual and automated test cases.

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1: Six (6) years’ experience as an information technology (IT) quality assurance professional.

Option 2: Associate’s degree in IT or closely related field AND four (4) years as an IT quality assurance professional.

Option 3: Bachelor’s degree in IT or closely related field AND two (2) years as an IT quality assurance professional.

In addition to one of the above options, you must also have the following experience:

• Experience querying relational databases.
• Experience programming scripts and/or building applications in object-oriented languages for automated testing purposes.
• Experience planning, designing, and executing manual and automated software tests.
• Experience reporting software defects.

Ability to demonstrate and adhere to the following ESD Employee Competencies:

• Accountability: Accept personal responsibility for work and actions.
• Communication Effectiveness: Effectively convey ideas and information.
• Critical Thinking: Use purposeful and reflective judgment to process, analyze, interpret, explain, evaluate, illustrate, and compare information.
• Customer Service: Commit to providing value-added services to external and internal customers.
• Inclusiveness: Actively contribute to a work environment that embraces diversity and uses diverse perspectives to help achieve organizational goals.
• Interpersonal abilities: The ability to relate to your co-workers, mitigate conflict, and inspire others to participate.

Security: Preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of ESD systems and data in accordance with the policies, procedures, and best practices established and maintained by the ESD information security team. Immediately report any Security event, incident, or breach in reporting.

Required equity competencies:

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

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working in a team using agile methods.
• Experience using Microsoft 365, Azure Cloud, Azure DevOps and/or Power Platform services.
• Accessibility Testing or other usability testing methods.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.
• This position has access to federal tax information and therefore, per RCW 41.04.821 and the IRS publication 1075, is required to have a criminal history record check through the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Why work with us?

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Lydia White or at 360-819-6996 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact [e-mail] or [phone] or toll free [phone], Washington Relay 711.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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