Systems Testing/QA Specialist - Intermediate

Johnson Service Group • Toronto, ON, CA • 1d ago

Senior Quality Assurance Specialist
Role Overview
The Intermediate Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist is responsible for executing and supporting quality assurance activities to ensure enterprise applications meet business, technical, and regulatory requirements. This role focuses on hands-on manual and automated testing across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), working under the guidance of senior QA staff and project leadership while collaborating closely with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities Testing Strategy & Planning

Develop, maintain, and execute end-to-end testing strategies, test plans, test cases, and test scripts.
Advise on testing approaches, tools, environments, and resource requirements.
Plan and coordinate testing efforts for both large and small systems across GUI and non-GUI environments.

Test Execution & Defect Management

Execute functional, integration, system, regression, performance, stress, load, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
Validate expected versus actual results and ensure systems behave correctly under varying conditions.
Identify, document, track, and manage defects using tools such as Azure DevOps, ALM, JIRA, Bugzilla, TestRail, or Zephyr.
Work closely with development teams to reproduce, troubleshoot, and resolve defects.

Automation & Performance Testing

Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and scripts using tools such as UFT (QTP), Selenium, TestComplete, Postman, ThunderClient, JMeter, or LoadRunner.
Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.
Analyze performance bottlenecks and system scalability issues.

Data & Backend Testing

Validate data integrity, accuracy, and consistency across systems and databases.
Perform backend testing using SQL and database tools (Oracle and/or SQL Server).
Test data migrations, transformations, and integrations across formats including XML, JSON, CSV, and Excel.
Develop and manage robust test data strategies while ensuring data privacy and security.

Accessibility, Security & Compliance

Ensure compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards.
Conduct accessibility testing using tools and screen readers such as JAWS and NVDA.
Perform basic security testing and collaborate with security specialists for advanced testing.
Ensure testing processes align with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Collaboration & Agile Delivery

Collaborate with developers, business analysts, and project managers to clarify requirements and assess impacts.
Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
Support Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall delivery methodologies.

Reporting, Documentation & Knowledge Transfer

Maintain detailed documentation of test coverage, results, metrics, and quality reports.
Provide input into user manuals, release notes, and stakeholder presentations.
Deliver regular status reports highlighting progress, risks, issues, and next steps.
Perform structured knowledge transfer through documentation, walkthroughs, and one-on-one sessions prior to assignment completion.

Required Skills & Experience (Must Haves)

Experience supporting test strategies, test plans, test cases, and test data.
Strong hands-on experience with manual testing and exposure to automated testing.
Experience using Azure DevOps for test management and defect tracking.
Working knowledge of test automation frameworks and scripting.
Proficiency writing SQL queries for data validation and backend testing (Oracle and/or SQL Server).
Experience with API testing using tools such as ThunderClient or Postman.
Demonstrated experience supporting AODA and WCAG AA accessibility testing activities.
Experience validating data stored in databases and file formats including XML, JSON, CSV, and Excel.

Technical Skills (45%)

Manual testing across web applications, APIs, and enterprise systems.
Exposure to automated testing tools such as UFT/QTP, Selenium, JMeter, or LoadRunner.
SQL scripting and database testing fundamentals.
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps testing practices.
Experience testing authentication and authorization workflows.
Understanding of multi-tier (3/N-tier) application architectures.

Core Skills (30%)

Solid understanding of SDLC and STLC phases.
Experience supporting SIT, SAT, and UAT activities.
Ability to investigate defects and assist with root cause analysis.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Ability to manage assigned tasks, meet deadlines, and escalate risks appropriately.

General Skills (20%)

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong collaboration and stakeholder management abilities.
Experience working in both Agile and Waterfall environments.
Proven ability to deliver quality results in complex, multi-team environments.

Desirable Qualifications

Working knowledge of at least one programming or scripting language (e.g., Python, JavaScript, VBA, VBS).
Experience testing Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) applications.
Familiarity with cloud migrations (on-prem to Azure).
Public sector experience, particularly with education or student information systems.

#LI-LM1
#D480