Software Testing Jobs
The primary focus of software testing jobs involves detecting software errors - or "bugs" - before a product reaches the market. It is a tremendous responsibility, as even the smallest bugs can have expensive consequences. A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) study* found that software errors cost the U.S. economy an estimated $59.5 billion annually, while feasible improvements in the software testing arena could potentially reduce those costs by $22.2 billion. These findings underscore the urgent need for qualified software testing professionals, and justify the high salaries they are able to command.
Opportunities for individuals interested in a software testing career are abundant - companies are actively seeking to hire software testers at every level. Whether you're looking to establish or advance your software testing career, specialized training and International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) certification can provide the knowledge, skills and credentials you need to succeed.
Software Testing Jobs Available Now
Run a query on any major job-search site, and you'll find thousands of software testing jobs listed, from entry-level, to senior-level, to manager and director positions. Here is a sampling of some of the software testing jobs available as of November 2010:
- Software Quality Assurance (QA) Job Descriptions
- QA/System Test Engineer: QA/system test engineers are responsible for system-level testing of software platforms and infrastructure, through writing test plans, testing specifications and certifying requirements. Often working with global companies like MCI, they design, develop and execute automated or manual tests, utilities and test automation tools. QA/system test engineers also create test schedules, identify quality issues, track software defects, perform quality assessments and report quality status. Additional duties for this software testing job include performing testing on loads, stress, uptime and scalability, as well as serving as a quality advocate to identify product weaknesses and improve processes and procedures. Often, they will mentor junior software test engineers.
- Senior Software QA Engineer: Top IT companies such as Intel depend on these high-level pros to support production staff and software engineers in improving design quality. They typically provide automation strategies and testing methods to ensure compliance with software design and requirements specifications. Senior software QA engineers also test products through all phases of the development life cycle, including functional testing, regression/integration testing and performance testing. They are often required to develop custom test tools to solve customer-reported problems. Professionals in this senior-level software testing career also develop automated tests at either the application programming interface (API) or user interface (UI) level of moderate or greater complexity, and employ best test practices in their design. Often, they will oversee QA work across multiple projects. A senior software QA engineer typically works toward continuous process improvements to increase the efficiency of QA and development. Some may coach and mentor other QA staff, as well.
- Software Test Engineer Job Descriptions
- Software Test Engineer: Software test engineers often work for leading technology companies such as Motorola, executing test strategies to ensure a product is compliant with design specifications and user expectations. They may write and execute automated test plans and cases, and analyze and report code bugs. Individuals in these software testing jobs are typically involved in white box and black box testing, regression and load/performance testing, and application security testing. The main duties of a software test engineer are providing continuous test improvement and feedback to resolve issues, ultimately helping a software provider meet customer demands by delivering properly performing products in a timely manner.
- Senior Software/Web Test Engineer: In this type of senior-level software testing career, test engineers may be employed by a cutting-edge tech company like Cisco Systems, building and supporting cloud-based infrastructure and caching systems behind a variety of APIs used in mobile devices and personalized websites. They will often supervise the design and development of test strategies, test plans and automated test cases for merchandising or other product delivery systems. They will also typically analyze data and present their findings to senior management and other stakeholders. Some may interface with software developers to influence design with testability in mind. Overall, the senior software test engineer's responsibility is to work closely with all project stakeholders to ensure a successful, high-quality software release.
Salary Ranges for Software Testing Jobs
Software testing salaries vary according to employer, industry, location and specific role. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reports the average annual salary for computer systems analysts - including software testers - was $80,430 as of May 2009. However, specialized training and certification can lead to substantially higher salaries.
BLS findings indicated that test engineers in the top earning bracket made in excess of $119,170 per year as of May 2009, while salary data reported by GlassDoor.com showed that software development test engineers enjoyed compensation packages (including salary, bonus and profit sharing) as high as $169,000 per year in November 2010.
When professionals obtain the training and certification required for a senior-level software testing career, they generally enjoy a corresponding bump in pay. National salary data from Indeed.com showed that senior software test engineers had an average income at least 10% higher than mid-level test engineers in November 2010.
Typically, the best and highest-paying software testing jobs go to experienced professionals with specialized training and industry certification.
Education and Training
Most software testing jobs call for a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering or a related field, with senior-level positions often requiring advanced training in executing automated testing tools and processes.
Many top technology employers prefer to hire candidates with software testing certification, such as the ISTQB® Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) credential. Industry-specific experience or knowledge in fields such as accounting, finance, investing, manufacturing or video gaming can also boost marketability.
To launch or advance your software testing career, you can build on your bachelor's degree by pursuing specialized software testing training through continuing education programs.
The professional education choice of many successful IT specialists - including test analysts, test engineers, test consultants, test managers, user acceptance testers and software developers - is the 100% online master certificate program offered by Villanova University.
IT professionals who complete Villanova's Master Certificate in Software Testing program have the advanced skills and technical knowledge required for the best software testing jobs. They are able to:
- Understand general testing principles that guide software testing.
- Exhibit fluency with bug-tracking systems and QA tools and techniques.
- Demonstrate the role of regression testing and impact analysis in maintenance.
- Evaluate and select the proper test techniques for real-world business software problems.
- Sit for the ISTQB® CTFL exam, with the benefit of practice tests covering each module's important terms and standards.
- Compete for high-level software testing jobs with excellent salary potential.
The master certificate program consists of three courses. Students will receive a handsomely framed certificate of achievement from Villanova University upon completion of each course and the entire master certificate program. They are also eligible to earn valuable professional development units (PDUs) and continuing education units (CEUs).
Want to Qualify for the Best Software Testing Jobs and Increase Your Earnings? Get Certified!
Competing for high-level software testing jobs requires advanced knowledge and technical skills. Together with a degree and experience, your Villanova master certificate and ISTQB® certification prove that you can apply software testing techniques and principals to reduce errors, improve design quality and increase profitability. Not only will these industry-recognized credentials give you a feeling of accomplishment, they communicate a commitment to excellence in your professional software testing career. Gain the respect and income you deserve by earning your Master Certificate in Software Testing and becoming ISTQB® certified!
* The Economic Impacts of Inadequate Infrastructure for Software Testing. National Institute of Standards and Technology, May 2002.
