QA Engineer
Individuals with a background in computer science, strong analytical skills and a desire to help create valid and reliable computer programs, may enjoy a career as a QA (quality assurance) engineer. QA engineers assist hardware and software programmers by evaluating new and existing computer programs for effectiveness.
QA Engineer Job Description
QA engineers strive to answer two basic questions. First, does the product being tested perform as it was designed to perform? And second, does the product perform well consistently? QA engineers work in a variety of different fields to assess the quality of manufactured products, but many work in the computer science field alongside programmers to help evaluate systems, correct problems and inform consumers how to use programs. A QA engineer must be able to work well with a team in order to create the best product possible for consumers, while keeping in mind time constraints and budget demands.
QA Engineer Education, Training and Certification
Most entry level jobs for QA engineers require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field. Some companies will hire technicians with a two year degree from schools of technology, but available jobs and opportunities for growth will be more limited. Some highly specialized fields require advanced degrees or degrees in a related area, such as business or health management. For inexperienced workers, an internship can be a valuable learning tool. Continuing education provided by employers, universities or other outlets is crucial as it can help workers land a job, stay relevant or earn a promotion.
QA Engineer Jobs and Career Outlook
Most jobs for QA engineers occur in office buildings, but depending on the field, workers could also be found in laboratory or industrial settings. Most QA engineers work 40 hours or more and have to deal with time constraints for completion of a project. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for software engineers is expected to increase much faster than average, as compared to the demand for computer programmers, which is expected to decrease as jobs are filled by offshore workers. Companies will always require employees to integrate networks and protect consumers’ privacy. Keeping informed about the latest technological advances is a necessity.
QA Engineer Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other reliable sources, the median salary for computer software engineers is $85,000. An entry level engineer has a median salary of $58,000, while a highly experienced engineer has a median salary of $87,000. Only a small percentage of workers made less than $54,000 or more than $128,000 per year. Fluency in a variety of different programming languages, an advanced degree and strong management skills can lead to promotion and a higher salary. The salary of a QA engineer employed in another field, such as manufacturing, would vary considerably.
The demand for QA engineers is growing considerably as an increasing number of industries try to adapt to rapidly changing and increasingly complex technology. The best way to find open positions is to seek out well known companies and enquire personally, check online job boards, as well as newspaper job classifieds.