Software testing and quality assurance​
Relevant Coursework:
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CSCE 1030 - Computer Science I
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CSCE 1040 - Computer Science II
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CSCE 2100 - Foundations of Computing
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CSCE 2110 - Foundations of Data Structures
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CSCE 3444 - Software Engineering (essential for understanding testing methodologies and software lifecycle management)
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CSCE 3550 - Foundations of Cybersecurity (relevant for testing secure systems)
Recommended Electives:
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Software Testing: Learn automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, JUnit) and performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter).
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DevOps Practices: Explore CI/CD integration and tools like Jenkins for automating test pipelines.
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Cloud-based Testing: Understand cloud-native testing solutions for scalability.
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AI in Testing: Study AI-driven testing techniques for predictive analysis and error detection.
Median Total Comp: (will be updated with resources)
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Quality Assurance Engineer: $70,000 - $100,000+ annually
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Test Automation Engineer: $75,000 - $110,000+ annually
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Performance Tester: $70,000 - $105,000+ annually
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User Acceptance Tester: $60,000 - $90,000+ annually
Top Tech Companies:
Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook (Meta), Apple, IBM, Oracle, SAP, Adobe, Salesforce, VMware, Cisco, Dell Technologies, HP Enterprise, Intuit, Autodesk, Symantec, Red Hat, Slack, Atlassian
Quality Assurance Engineer
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Software Testing Fundamentals:
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Understanding of software testing principles, methodologies, and testing levels (e.g., unit testing, integration testing, system testing).
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Knowledge of software development life cycles (SDLC) and testing phases.
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Test Case Design:
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Creating comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test scripts based on requirements and use cases.
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Using testing techniques like boundary value analysis and equivalence partitioning.
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Manual Testing:
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Proficiency in manual testing techniques, including functional, regression, and exploratory testing.
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Defect identification, tracking, and reporting.
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Test Management Tools:
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Familiarity with test management and bug tracking tools like JIRA, TestRail, or Zephyr.
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Managing test cases, test execution, and defect workflows.
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Test Documentation:
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Writing test plans, test strategy documents, and test summary reports.
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Keeping detailed records of test results and issues.
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Cross-Browser and Cross-Platform Testing:
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Testing applications across different web browsers and operating systems.
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Ensuring compatibility and responsiveness.
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Accessibility Testing (Optional):
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Awareness of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and testing for accessibility compliance.
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Localization and Internationalization Testing (Optional):
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Testing software for different languages and regions.
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Handling localization and internationalization challenges.
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Usability Testing (Optional):
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Conducting usability tests to assess the user-friendliness of software interfaces.
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Gathering user feedback.
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Continuous Learning:
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Staying updated with the latest testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
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Engaging with the testing community, attending conferences, and participating in online forums.
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Test Automation Engine
Test Automation Fundamentals
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Understanding of test automation principles, benefits, and best practices.
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Knowledge of test automation frameworks.
Test Automation Tools
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Proficiency in test automation tools like Selenium, Appium, or TestComplete for web and mobile application testing.
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Scripting languages for automation (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript).
Test Framework Development
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Designing and developing test automation frameworks to support test scripts.
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Creating reusable components and libraries.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
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Integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.
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Executing automated tests as part of the build process.
Version Control Systems
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Familiarity with version control systems like Git for managing test scripts.
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Collaborating with development teams.
Data-Driven and Keyword-Driven Testing
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Implementing data-driven and keyword-driven testing approaches.
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Parameterizing test scripts for multiple test scenarios.
Test Automation Reporting
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Generating test automation reports and dashboards.
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Analyzing test results and identifying failures.
Performance and Load Testing (Optional)
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Knowledge of performance testing tools like JMeter or LoadRunner.
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Conducting load, stress, and performance tests.
Security Testing Automation (Optional)
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Automating security tests (e.g., penetration testing) using specialized tools.
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Identifying security vulnerabilities.
API and Web Services Testing (Optional)
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Automating API and web services testing using tools like Postman or REST Assured.
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Validating API responses and endpoints.
Mobile Test Automation (Optional)
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Automating mobile app testing using frameworks like Appium or XCTest.
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Testing mobile device compatibility.
Continuous Learning
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Staying updated with the latest test automation tools, frameworks, and trends.
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Engaging with the test automation community, attending conferences, and participating in online forums.
Performance Tester​
Performance Testing Fundamentals
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Understanding of performance testing concepts, goals, and types (e.g., load testing, stress testing, scalability testing).
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Knowledge of performance testing tools and methodologies.
Performance Testing Tools
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Proficiency in performance testing tools like JMeter, LoadRunner, or Gatling.
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Scripting performance test scenarios and defining metrics.
Load Generation and Simulation
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Creating realistic load scenarios to simulate user traffic.
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Distributing load across virtual users.
Monitoring and Profiling
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Setting up performance monitoring tools to collect performance metrics.
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Profiling application performance to identify bottlenecks.
Performance Analysis and Reporting
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Analyzing performance test results and identifying performance bottlenecks.
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Generating performance test reports and providing actionable recommendations.
Database and Backend Performance Testing (Optional)
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Conducting performance tests on backend systems, databases, and APIs.
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Identifying database performance issues and optimizing queries.
Cloud-Based Performance Testing (Optional)
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Familiarity with cloud-based performance testing solutions (e.g., AWS Load Testing, Azure Application Insights).
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Testing scalability and performance in cloud environments.
Continuous Integration and Automation (Optional)
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Integrating performance tests into CI/CD pipelines.
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Automating performance test execution for consistent quality checks.
Security and Scalability Testing (Optional)
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Conducting security tests as part of performance testing (e.g., DDoS attack simulations).
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Evaluating application scalability and reliability under load.
Continuous Learning
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Staying updated with the latest performance testing tools, methodologies, and best practices.
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Engaging with the performance testing community, attending conferences, and participating in online forums.​​
User Acceptance Tester
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Fundamentals
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Understanding of UAT principles, objectives, and scope.
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Knowledge of UAT processes within the software development life cycle (SDLC).
Test Planning and Test Cases
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Developing UAT test plans, test cases, and test scripts based on user stories and acceptance criteria.
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Ensuring test coverage and traceability.
Manual Testing
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Proficiency in manual UAT techniques, including functional, usability, and regression testing.
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Conducting exploratory testing to identify user-centric issues.
UAT Environment Setup
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Preparing UAT environments that mimic production conditions.
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Managing configuration for UAT environments.
Defect Reporting and Communication
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Identifying and documenting defects during testing.
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Collaborating with developers and stakeholders to resolve issues efficiently.
Acceptance Criteria and User Stories
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Aligning UAT efforts with user stories and acceptance criteria.
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Ensuring that software meets user expectations and functional requirements.
User Feedback and Communication
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Gathering user feedback and suggestions during UAT sessions.
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Providing clear and actionable feedback to the development team.
Regression Testing (Optional)
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Conducting regression testing to ensure new features do not impact existing functionality.
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Managing and maintaining regression test suites.
Usability Testing (Optional)
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Assessing the software's usability and overall user-friendliness.
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Providing recommendations for user interface improvements.
Accessibility Testing (Optional)
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Testing software for accessibility compliance and usability by individuals with disabilities.
Localization and Internationalization Testing (Optional)
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Testing the software for functionality across different languages, regions, and cultural considerations.
Continuous Learning
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Staying updated with UAT best practices and modern testing techniques.
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Engaging with the UAT and software testing community, attending conferences, and participating in online forums.