Sr. Quality Assurance Analyst

Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions is a premier implementer of cutting-edge software solutions. Synergy brings the experience and expertise necessary to deliver capability that provides tangible ROI to our customers. Synergy's core areas of expertise are in the fields of Digital Transformation, Cloud Solutions, SaaS and Low-Code/No-Code solutions, Emerging Technologies, Data analytics and Visualization, Information Assurance, and Business Process Re-Engineering.

Synergy offers its employees a generous portfolio of core and voluntary benefits including group medical, dental, and vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k) with immediately vested company match, PTO/Sick Leave, 11 paid federal holidays, company paid life, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition and training reimbursement, fitness/wellness reimbursement, a referral bonus program, and life management programs.

At Synergy, you'll be challenged and given the opportunity to grow in your career path. In fact, growth is such a big deal to us that you will have dedicated career coaches available for every employee, company-funded certification opportunities, education reimbursement, and a general open-door policy so that you have support when you need it. Our team is eager to learn, fast-paced, and quality-driven-if that sounds like you, Synergy has a position for you!

This position is designated as work-from-home.

Description:

• Synergy Business Innovation & Solutions, a leader in delivering cutting-edge software solutions, is seeking an experienced Senior Quality Assurance (QA) analyst to join our growing government client team. As a Senior QA analyst, you will play a critical role in ensuring the functionality, quality, and integration of software products through both manual and automated testing processes.
• This role demands expertise in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), quality assurance standards, and a strong ability to analyze and develop test plans and cases for complex software applications.
  You will have the opportunity to apply your extensive experience to support client engagements, improve product quality assurance practices, and contribute to business development efforts. At Synergy, we offer a dynamic environment for growth, learning, and career advancement.

Essential Functions & Duties:

• Lead Quality Assurance Activities: Serve as an expert QA Analyst, providing technical leadership to junior QA team members and guiding them through best practices.
• Test Planning & Execution: Develop and execute manual and automated tests, including functional, system, regression, and integration tests for web applications. Create detailed test plans and cases derived from user stories and functional requirements.
• Provide input on automated testing scripts to be created and added to automation repository.
• Assist with reviewing and providing guidance with using automated repetitive tests to improve testing efficiency and coverage.
• Work closely to be effective in sprint planning, estimating and scheduling work for the sprint team, often cross collaborating with other sprint teams.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage priority shifts and scope changes within the epics and work efforts.
• Collaboration with Teams: Work closely with software/product designers to define quality assurance parameters, ensuring comprehensive test coverage and high-quality product delivery.
• Integration Testing: Design and execute integration tests for complex systems, including web services (RESTful APIs, SOAP APIs) and other integrations.
• Defect Management: Manage defects within corporate defect tracking systems and ensure efficient defect reporting and resolution.
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain clear and concise documentation for testing procedures, reports, and test results. Regularly update stakeholders and team members on the status of testing activities.
• Deployment Validation: Ensure successful deployment of software releases with minimal deficiencies and defects in production.
• Mentorship: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior QA analysts, fostering their growth in testing methodologies and tools.

Skills, Qualifications and Certifications of Best Candidates:

• Manual & Automated Testing Expertise: Proven experience in both manual black-box testing and automated testing for web applications, APIs, and other integrated systems.
• Automated Test Scripting: Ability to review and execute scripts using tools like Selenium or FitNesse to improve testing efficiency and coverage. Utilization of Python is a plus.
• Test Case Development: Strong ability to develop test cases based on user stories, ensuring comprehensive coverage of system functionality.
• SQL Proficiency: Expertise in executing and reading complex SQL queries to validate data and system behavior.
• Integration & API Testing: Experience in white-box testing of RESTful APIs, SOAP APIs, and web services.
• Test Management Tools: Familiarity with test management tools (e.g., Jira, Quality Center) to track test cases, defects, and test execution.
• SDLC & Agile Methodologies: Solid experience with various Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models and Agile methodologies, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of quality software.
• Analytical Skills: High-level analytical skills and a keen attention to detail, with the ability to think critically and troubleshoot complex issues.
• Automation Integration: Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI) for seamless, continuous testing. Experience with GitLab is a plus.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills for effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams and reporting on testing progress.
• Defect Tracking & Resolution: Proven experience managing and tracking defects, ensuring issues are addressed in a timely manner.
• Security Clearance: Ability to obtain a Security+ certification, if required, and undergo a background investigation for federal government positions.

Preferred qualifications:

• Technical Skills: Experience with Linux, JBoss, Docker/OpenShift, and Appian.
• Cross-functional Teamwork: Ability to prioritize and coordinate test development activities, collaborating effectively with various teams, including development, production support, and incident resolution.
• Independent Troubleshooting: Experience troubleshooting both software and operating system-level installation/configuration issues.
• Leadership & Coaching: Ability to guide and support other QA team members, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices.

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain a Federal Government Position of Trust.
• Must pass a background investigation.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or Computer Engineering degree; or an Engineering degree from an accredited* institution. A required certification may be accepted in lieu of education requirement. *The U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs located at identifies accredited postsecondary institutions and programs that are within the U.S. and its territories.

• In accordance with DOD Cyber Workforce Qualifications Matrices Management, Security+ is required for candidates that do not possess a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or Computer Engineering degree; or a degree in Engineering from an accredited* institution. The U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs located at identifies accredited postsecondary institutions and programs that are within the U.S. and its territories. Certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.

Compensation for roles at Synergy varies depending on a wide variety of factors including but not limited to the requirements of the role; education and certifications; knowledge, training, skills and abilities; level of experience; geographic location; and alignment with market data, law, and other business and organizational needs.As required by local law, the posted pay range represents the lowest to the highest pay that Synergy believes in good faith it might pay for this particular job, depending on the circumstances. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

A reasonable estimate of the current pay range is: $68,000-95,000

Essential Job Function Physical Requirements: The physical requirements of this position are critical in evaluating the qualifications and abilities of an applicant or employee. The physical efforts needed to perform the essential duties of this job 90% of the time are repetitive motions, grasping, holding, and finger dexterity of the hands, reading, writing, eye-hand coordination, color distinction, and full visual abilities, hearing, talking, sitting, and use of IT equipment, phones, and office machines.

To a reduced degree, <30% of the time, candidates may have to stand, walk, lift 0-30 pounds, push or pull objects, climb stairs, bend, squat, reach, drive a car, or work overtime.

Synergy is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against applicants for employment or its employees on the basis of age, race (including hair texture/style), creed, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military or veteran status, sex, medical condition, pregnancy (childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), physical or mental disability, personal appearance, organ donation and hair length associated with race, genetic information or characteristics, family responsibilities, familial status, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, status as a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, political affiliation, arrest records and criminal convictions, credit information, matriculation, homeless status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state and local law. Discrimination or harassment based upon these protected categories is expressly prohibited. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including job selection, assignment, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, discipline and termination.