Senior QA Test Analyst

JOB SUMMARY

Develops and supports system testing strategies, creates test plans, and maintains communication with management, peers, project teams and other stakeholders.  Executes, facilitates, and organizes testing activities in support of all testing requirements related to on-cycle, off-cycle, and exception releases.  This includes preparing all test data and test environment requests and actively managing those requests through completion.  Selects and employs suitable processes and procedures that ensure the efficient, effective, and thorough testing of systems with input from business teams, development, and IT Support.  Leads efforts with input from the business team and others to provide Project Management (PM) with estimates of testing efforts and testing resources. Creates testing timelines for projects, including milestones, and provides daily updates to the project team of progress against timeline.
 

JOB DUTIES

• Understands and applies principles, theories and concepts related to the profession and ERCOT's culture.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Impact is generally limited to specific assignments or projects.
• May respond to inquiries and/or aid and/or guidance to lower-level workers.

ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

• Works on the most complex testing issues where analysis of situations requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Has the ability to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways
• Works with Manager, Leads and Senior QA Test Analyst to develop testing strategy and create a test plan based on the specifics of the testing effort
• Makes independent decisions except in instances of unusually complex business scenarios
• Demonstrates skills as an expert user of testing systems
• Identify functional, regression, end-to-end, system, and user acceptance testing to automate
• Develops, executes, and maintains automated tests for assigned application areas
• Develops test suites to validate and report ‘performance test parameters’ to management
• Responsible for test management, coordination, planning scripting and execution for all applications that comprises an entire business application suite
• Provides planning for integration release test plan and ensures all business application owners have reviewed and signed off by deadline
• Provides expert knowledge of business processes related to supported application area and is considered subject matter expert
• Skilled in risk analysis, trend reporting, communications, and negotiations
• Ensures all QA standards and procedures are adhered to appropriately, provides training of such standards to distributed testing teams and maintains updates as needed
• Supports the communication of the testing plan to management, peers, project team and other stakeholders
• Provides input and feedback to Manager/Senior QA Test Analyst from business team and others involved in testing effort, to provide PM with estimates of testing efforts
• Assists with the creation of testing timelines for projects, including milestones, and provides daily updates to the project team of progress against timeline
• Selects and employs suitable processes and procedures that ensure the efficient, effective, and thorough testing of systems with input from business teams, development, and IT Support
• Provide testing effort estimates, creates testing timelines for projects, including milestones, and provides updates to the project team of progress against timeline
• Coordinates and supports after hours tasks as required by the testing deliverable timelines
• Works closely with the QA and responsible testing team to ensure that workloads are clearly defined and coordinated to meet testing deliverable timelines. Escalates concerns to management if expected deadlines are at risk
• Partners with business and other project team members to create and execute test cases and scripts from the Functional Specification Document, Business Requirements Document, and Technical Design Document
• Documents result from test cases and scripts
• Analyzes and identifies system defects through integration, regression, and performance testing
• Identifies, effectively communicates and documents risks and assumptions for test plans and project timelines to the management
• Develops test suites to validate and report ‘performance test parameters’ to management
• Maintains expertise in the application and use of systems, integration, and tools within the department’s scope of testing to meet and anticipate impacts to testing deliverables
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with Market Participants and other departments to promote customer satisfaction
• Ensures the appropriate documentation and adherence to ERCOT and departmental processes and procedures within the testing team
• Represents the testing team at pipeline, project and other status meetings as assigned
• Ensures clear communication of schedules and timelines, statuses, issues, mitigations, and all other information necessary for successful testing execution

Experience

• Expert knowledge of QTEST or any other test management tool required            
• Progressively responsible experience in a test automation developer role required
• Demonstrated experience in test framework design and development required
• Coding experience with automated test frameworks, tools, services required
• Ability to effectively articulate technical challenges and solutions required
• Excellent communication, collaboration, reporting, analytical and problem-solving skills required
• Experience with SQL script development and data validation required
• Experience with Object Orientated Programming an experience supporting web-based applications, web services and supporting technologies preferred
• Experience with Java-based web application frameworks preferred
• Experience with planning, deployment and maintenance of Selenium grid infrastructures preferred
• Able to work with GUI object recognition and customization required
• Familiarity with common source control systems and configuration management
• Familiarity with advanced concepts surrounding XML, SQL Server, and Oracle RDBMS
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies

EXPERIENCE

• Sr. level - Requires minimum 5 years related work experience in excess of degree requirements

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science, MIS, or related field (Required)
• or a combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge to a major in such fields is required

Work Location: 

• Required to be on-site at the Taylor facilities at least twice a week, or more based on the business needs and as determined by the Manager
• May select a hybrid work schedule of set days to work remote and on-site or choose to work on-site 100% of the time

*Work arrangements are subject to business needs and are subject to change accordingly.

The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.  It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.  This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT.  Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time.

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

$120,000 - $165,000