How to Become a QA Engineer

QA (quality assurance) engineers are responsible for detecting and correcting software coding errors before a product is released to customers. Becoming a successful QA engineer requires intelligence, problem-solving skills, coding knowledge, and constant learning, so if you’re up for the challenge, then read on for guidance on how to get started.

Step 1: Understand What a QA Engineer Does

At its core, QA engineering is the practice of ensuring a product – usually software – is of an acceptable quality according to pre-defined standards. This could involve testing the code, conducting usability studies, checking compatibility, setting up monitors and tests, and running system tests and security tests.

As a QA engineer, you may build tools that help identify problems and execute testing algorithms. Additionally, you may develop test plans and scripts to automatically check functionality, as well as manually test and code review to identify bugs, discrepancies, and fragmented designs.

Step 2: Develop the Relevant Skills

Solid coding skills will be essential for aspiring QA engineers. While some companies may require a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or a related subject, others may offer entry-level QA engineer roles to applicants with more general coding experience.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with programming languages and software development practices, including coding protocols (TCP/IP), object-oriented programming (OOP), secure coding and testing, scripting and automation, and more. Understanding diverse coding environments will be invaluable when it comes to testing and validating codes according to requirements.

Step 3: Build a Portfolio

You don’t need to have industry experience to become a QA engineer, as many employers are looking for coders with a passion for problem solving over candidates with specific job titles.

A well-rounded portfolio of your best coding projects will speak for itself and help open the door to different opportunities.

Step 4: Build a Network

Once you’ve built up your coding skills, it’s time to find opportunities in the QA space. Networking is still the most effective way to make connections in many industries, and there are a number of ways to break into the QA space.

Attending conferences, joining professional networks, and connecting with experts in the field are great places to start. Once you’ve identified specific companies, be sure to follow their social media pages and blog for additional opportunities.

Step 5: Embrace AI

As with many industries, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in QA engineering is growing and automation testing is becoming more prevalent. AI can be used to automate and scale testing operations, enabling companies to test and simulate scenarios that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to test manually.

With this in mind, aspiring QA engineers should look to dive into the world of AI by keeping up to date with the latest buzzwords, attending webinars, reading blog posts and white papers, and taking time to look into machine learning-based solutions and platforms. Knowing AI can give you a competitive edge for QA engineer job applications, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to refine your understanding of this technology.

Conclusion

Becoming a QA engineer requires mastering coding basics, expertise in problem solving, and a knack for digging deep into complex problems. While you can learn much of the skill set through practical experience, it is also ideal to supplement with formal courses and research. Additionally, looking to the future and mastering AI will set you apart and give you added confidence as you enter the field.