Quality Assurance Specialist at Critical Mass in San Jose

Job description

Quality Assurance Specialist Role The Quality Assurance Specialist is responsible for ensuring quality assurance (QA) standards and client satisfaction are consistently delivered across digital projects. This role executes structured, well-defined QA activities with speed, accuracy, and high quality to support the overall agility and effectiveness of the QA team. Working closely with QA Leads, QA team members, project managers, designers, and developers, the Quality Assurance Specialist helps ensure that project requirements, design specifications, and quality standards are met throughout the project lifecycle. Responsibilities Quality Assurance & Testing Ensure project quality aligns with business requirements and design specifications. Analyze project requirements, user stories, tickets, and technical documentation to identify testing needs. Identify gaps, ambiguities, and risks within project requirements and communicate findings to stakeholders. Create, maintain, and execute comprehensive test plans, test cases, test scripts, checklists, and traceability matrices. Perform functional and non-functional testing across digital products and platforms. Execute regression testing to validate system stability following updates and releases. Apply industry-standard testing methodologies, strategies, and QA best practices. Defect Management & Reporting Identify, document, and track defects through resolution using defect management tools. Communicate test results, quality issues, risks, and recommendations to project teams, project managers, and QA leadership. Create quality reports and metrics to support project and organizational performance tracking. Provide clear, concise, and actionable feedback to stakeholders. Collaboration & Communication Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared project goals. Participate in project meetings, status updates, planning sessions, and QA reviews. Provide timely communication regarding testing progress, risks, blockers, and project status. Support onboarding and knowledge-sharing efforts for new QA team members. Continuous Improvement Contribute to QA estimation activities and project planning efforts. Continuously expand knowledge of QA processes, testing methodologies, automation tools, accessibility standards, and emerging technologies. Support process improvements that enhance quality, efficiency, and team effectiveness. Promote best practices related to software quality, usability, accessibility, and performance. Professional Competencies Demonstrate proficiency in QA principles, practices, and Agile software development methodologies. Communicate effectively with individuals and groups across varying levels of the organization. Adapt communication style to suit different audiences and situations. Show resilience under pressure and maintain a positive, solution-oriented approach. Demonstrate continuous learning, professional growth, and commitment to self-development. Experience Required Qualifications Minimum of 2 years of experience in Software Quality Assurance. Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Working knowledge of Agile software development methodologies. Experience collaborating with both local and offshore teams. Experience using task management and defect-tracking tools such as Jira or similar platforms. Strong working knowledge of Windows and/or macOS environments. Preferred Qualifications ISTQB Certification or equivalent QA certification. Additional quality assurance, testing, or software quality certifications. Experience with collaboration and project management tools such as Jira, Confluence, and Box. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and MS Project. Language Requirements English proficiency at approximately B2 level or higher in reading, writing, and verbal communication. What we offe